2003 Buick Rendezvous service brakes, hydraulic problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO NOTICED THAT THE WARNING INDICATOR LOW BRAKE FLUIDS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES THAT CROSSED OVER FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE FRACTURED DUE TO RUST ON THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THE RUST WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE SHIELD. UPDATED 12/4/2014 *JS”

“I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I TRIED TO STOP MY CAR AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING, AND I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN LOW SO IT WOULD SLOW DOWN. AND WHEN IT SLOWED I FINALLY GOT IT TO STOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE CAR WAS PUT TOGETHER FUNNY AND THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED CAUSE ITS OVER THE EXHAUST. I DIDN'T GET HURT BUT I COULD HAVE, BUT IF IT WERE SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SLOW DOWN A CAR, OR A NEW DRIVER IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. *TR”

“WE DROVE 6.4 MILES FROM OUR RELATIVES HOUSE TO A RESTAURANT. WHEN I PARKED, MY WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSANGERS SIDE. I TOLD HER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND I RELEASED THE HOOD LATCH. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. I CALLED 911, PRIOR TO FD ARRIVAL THE FLAMES WERE PUT OUT BY SOMEONE FROM THE RESTAURANT. THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CATCHING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON FIRE. THE RESPONSE FROM BUICK VIA CLAIMS ADMISINSTRATOR BRYAN SCHWARTZ THEY CLAIM NO LIABILITY DUE TO BRAACH OF WARRANTY. I CLAIM THIS BRAKE LINE SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED OUT AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. AT 59,411 MILES THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED @ VYLETEL BUICK INCLUDED IN THIS SERVICE WAS A MULTI-POINT VEHICLE INSPECTION INCLUDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM (ALSO INCLUDING LINES,HOSES AND PARKING BRAKE) NO ISSUES WERE NOTED. *TR”

“OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD THREE FRONT HUBS REPLACED AND THE SADDLE FOR THE TRACTION SYSTEM. ALL DONE AT THE ADVISE OF A BUICK DEALER. THIS PAST YEAR I TELEPHONED BUICK AND REQUESTED THEIR HELP, AS I FELT BUICK SHOULD KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. BOTH THE ANTILOCK BRAKES AND THE TRACTION SYSTEMS ARE OFF, AND THE CAR SOUNDS AS IF IT IS RAW METAL ON METAL. I AM AGAIN OCCASIONALLY HEARING THE GRINDING NOISE, WHICH USUALLY INDICATES ANOTHER PROBLEM (WITH SUBSTANTIAL COST) IS ON THE WAY. *KB”

“I WAS PARKED ON A HILL FACING UP WARDS. I MADE A U TURN IN THE STREET TO GO DOWN THE HILL AS I ALWAYS DO. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN I LOST ALL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN BUT NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A VERY SLOW STOP. WHILE I CONTINUED DRIVING TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND NOW THE "LOW BRAKE FLUID" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WARNING CHIMES WERE RINGING CONSTANTLY. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID HITTING HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS CAUSING THE SMOKE. I COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING UNDER THE VEHICLE TOO BUT UNDER THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE LINE AND SAID THAT THE LINE RUNS UP TO THE FIRE WALL BEHIND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON IT. "REAL NICE". I HAVE TO FIND A SHOP WHO IS COMPETENT TO DO THIS JOB. I WOULD HAVE NO DOUBT BEEN IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHILE THIS HAPPENED. FROM READING SOME OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES ONLINE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. APPARENTLY ALL THESE BRAKE LINES RUN UP TO THE FIRE WALL WHERE INSTALLATION HOLDS MOISTURE AND CAUSES FAILURE. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL…”

“IN JAN 2011, FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY AND SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED WITH OEM PART. IN JUNE 2011, THE PART HAD FAILED AGAIN. PER MECHANIC, FAULT IS DUE TO SPEED SENSOR NOT RETURNING CORRECT SPEED WHEN SPEED IS < 8 MPH. PER MECHANIC, THIS WIILL INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN IT OCCURS. *TR”