NHTSA Complaint #735582 — 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA

APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS THE BRAKES HAVE NOT OPERATED OR OPERATED AT A VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT. IT APPEARS TO BE AT LOW SPEED WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR OUT. I USUALLY BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I STOP WITH NO PROBLEM. THEN DRIVE LESS THAN ONE BLOCK ON A SIDE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND THEY BARELY ENGAGE. I PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BUT IT DOES NOTHING. I TRY TO GIVE MYSELF AS MUCH ASSURED DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE AND HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY I HAVE NOT HIT ANYONE YET. I HAVE COME "REAL " CLOSE AND HAVE HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS CARS.. NO WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO RELIABLE IN JANUARY 1999, OCTOBER 20, 2000. OLDS HOT LINE REQUESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND I TOOK IT TO EARL OLDSMOBILE IN BROOKPARK, OHIO. NEITHER COULD DUPICATE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO FIX. WHEN I CALLED THE OLDSMOBILE HELP LINE(1-800-442-6537 TRACKING # C02031344) THEY REPEATED THE SAME STATEMENT AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANYONE ELSES PHONE# AT OLDSMOBILE OR GENERAL MOTORS. EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REGARD FOR SAFETY OR HUMAN LIFE. WHEN I ASKED JIM OBER OF RELIABLE OLDSMOBILE " WHAT IF I KILL A SMALL CHILD WHO STEPS IN FRONT OF ME AND I CAN NOT STOP." HIS RESPONSE WAS A FLIPPANT " PEOPLE DIE IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME." I AM NOT THAT CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF, MY CAR , OR SOMEONE ELSES CAR. THIS PROBLEM CURRENTLY HAPPENS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH 2 CARS HITTING EACH OTHER.. MY #1 FEAR IS IF A PEDESTRIAN STEPS IN FRONT OF ME. PLEASE HELP I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF. IT DOES NOT APPEAR LIKE ANYONE AT OLDSBMOBILE CARES. *AK