2000 Chevrolet Cavalier service brakes, hydraulic problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. DURING THE FAILURE THE BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE BRAKE LINES FRACTURED AND WERE POSITIONED IN A MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.”

“DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BACK PLATE FAILED ON THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND THE BRAKE FAILED. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BACKER PLATE RUSTED OUT, RESULTING IN THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM WAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH DISC AND DRUM BRAKES. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BACK PLATE. THE BACK PLATE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. EARLIER THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM. ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED, RESULTING IN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE WHEEL CYLINDER SEPARATED FROM THE CALIPERS. THE ONLY WARNING LIGHT CAME AFTER THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE LEFT ROTOR. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE CALIPERS WERE REBUILT. THE BRAKE PADS HAD LESS THAN 50 % WEAR BUT THEY WERE REPLACED AS WELL. *AK”

“I OWN A 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE FOR OVER A YEAR BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTIONING ANTILOCK BRAKES. I BROUGHT IT TO BE REPAIRED LAST YEAR AND PAID OVER $800 FOR ONE SET OF BRAKES, THE OTHER SET STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING WHEN TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS VERY PROBLEM ON SIMILAR CHEVY SUVS AND TRUCKS, BUT NOT INCLUDING THE ASTRO VAN.”

“THE VEHICLE'S TRAC OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *NM THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BRAKE BOOSTER BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. *JB”

“THE 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2003 WITH APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILEAGE. ON DECEMBER 25, 2003 WITH 34,016 MILEAGE THE BRAKE DASH LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE FLUID WAS BARELY VISIBLE WHEN CHECKED. THE MECHANIC LATER DETERMINED THE PROPORTIONING VALUE WAS LOSING A DROP OF BRAKE FLUID WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND RECEIVED FROM THE LOCAL DEALER. THE REPAIRED CAR WAS COMPLETED ON JANUARY 2, 2004. HE DIFFERENCE WAS REMARKABLE. IT WASN'T UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED THAT I REALIZE HOW MUCH IT HAD LOST IT BRAKING ABILITY. TODAY I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE IT REPAIRED BY THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER ONLY THE DEALER COULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK”

“BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN STOPPING FROM ANY SPEED. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT WAS COMMON WITH ABS. BRAKES WEAR POORLY, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES 2X SINCE PURCHASE. ENGINE STUTTERS WHEN CAR FIRST STARTED OR WHILE STANDING. KEY HOT OUT OF IGNITION, WAS TOLD RECENT RECALL AFFECTING IGNITION RELAY WOULD FIX, DID NOT. CHECK ENGINE SERVICE AND ABS LIGHTS COMING ON AND STAYING ON. CAR HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES. *JB”