NHTSA Complaint #728629 — 1988 BUICK REATTA

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 1988 REATTA. SHE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO TURN INTO WENDY'S WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL COULD ONLY BE DEPRESSED ABOUT 1". IT FELT AS IF YOU WERE STANDING ON A BRICK. THE CAR DID NOT OFFER TO STOP. SHE WAS COMING UP ON THE BACK END OF A TRUCK - SHE APPLIED THE E-BRAKE - NOTHING. SHE FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED BY THROWING IT UP INTO PARK. WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE BUICK SHOP THE YELLOW ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. ALSO THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN SHOWED THE OUTLINE OF THE CAR AND THE 4 BRAKE LOCATIONS INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR (VERY SLOWLY) TO THE SERVICE DEPT BUT ABOUT HALF WAY THERE BOTH BRAKE INDICATORS ON THE DASH BOARD WENT OUT AND THE BRAKES BEGAN TO WORK NORMALLY. THE BUICK PLACE HAS HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT HAPPENED? I AM TERRIFIED TO LET MY DAUGHTER DRIVE IT AGAIN WITHOUT FINDING SOME EXPLAINATION. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN SHE'S GOING ABOUT 40-60 MPH SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP.