NHTSA Complaint #728248 — 1999 SATURN SL

THE BRAKES WITH ABS (I HAVE EXPERIENCE DRIVING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKING) TEND TO PROVIDE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, WHERE NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCED. DURING BRAKING, THE BRAKES WILL FEEL AS IF THEY ARE ONLY PARTIALLY APPLIED, SO MORE PRESSURE IS PLACED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE, EVENTUALLY DEPRESSING IT FULLY, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER BRAKING RESPONSE. THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS GLIDING ON ICE AND SIMPLY SLIDES TO A STOP IN ABOUT TWO TO THREE TIMES THE TYPICAL STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CAR DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO STOP AT ALL AND FEELS, INSTEAD, AS IF IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE ROLLING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE SATURN DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM, YET THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS (IDENTICAL SATURN CARS PROVIDED WHILE THIS CAR WAS IN THE SHOP DID NOT EXPERIENCE SIMILAR BRAKING PROBLEMS, THEY HAD HIGHER MILEAGE AND STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT). THIS ISSUE HAS RESULTED IN ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS UNDER 40 MPH (3/8/99 @ 596 MILES) AND HAS RESULTED IN AT LEAST TWELVE OTHER NEAR COLLISIONS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM THEY HAVE SANDED THE FRONT PADS (6,554 MILES), REPLACED THE FRONT PADS (11,385 MILES  BRAKES WERE GRINDING, FOUND FRONT ROTORS AND PADS TO BE OVERHEATED AND GLAZED, ONLY 40% REMAINING ON PADS), AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS (6,554 AND 11,385 MILES). THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO GO IN AGAIN TO HAVE ITS BRAKES INSPECTED AND ROTORS RESURFACED AT ONLY 22,500 MILES (BRAKING QUALITY IS DEGRADING AND THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, PULSATES, AND VIBRATES DURING BRAKING). NEITHER MY WIFE OR I FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL STOP EVERY TIME AND HOW MANY CAR LENGTHS IT WILL TAKE TO FINALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKING PROBLEM IS SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE CRUSE CONTROL IS SWITCHED TO THE ON POSITION, EVEN IF IT IS NOT ACTUALLY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLES SPEED.