1999 Chevrolet Cavalier: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Jan 28, 2004 · Brakes · MN · crash

My '99 chevrolet cavalier (z24) suffered brake failure in dec. Of 2003. The roads were icy--had been snowing all day, and it was still snowing at the time of the accident. I was traveling about 35 MPH. I applied the brakes in an easy manner, but there was no braking action. The car continued at the same rate of speed. My foot felt like it was stepping on steel--there was no brake action whatsoever. I had plenty of braking distance, as I was traveling very cautiously in these snowy conditions. (there were an above average number of accidents that day due to poor weather conditions.) I had been traveling this same stretch of road for many blocks and it was a stop and go 40 MPH stretch of road. A lexus SUV was parked at a semaphore intersection waiting at a red light. I declared brake failure at the scene, and after the officer had cleared the scene I noticed my ABS warning light was on and would not go off. I immediately took the car to have the brakes analyzed and documented for brake failure. The brake failure was duly noted and analyzed and I was told the ABS motor needed repair. When I had the repairs done at the dealership I was told there was an additional component that needed repair. The brake failure itself was alarming, but what is additionally disturbing is that I had my brakes repaired in jan. Of 2003, because I complained the ABS system was making strange, rattling noises --like it was falling apart. The dealership fixed the brakes, saying there was nothing wrong with the ABS system and they instead fixed the pads and rotars on the brakes. I thought it was odd when I looked at the bill and they said "customer complains of 'squealing brakes'. I never described the noise as squealing. Instead I complained the ABS noise was different than I had ever heard--a sound like nuts and bolts coming lose and falling apart.

Filed Jan 10, 2003 · Electrical, Engine · MO

When I bought the car in springfield mo., I only had 8 miles on the car when I drove it off the lot. I live in rolla which is only 110 miles at the most. I drove straight home and the mileage showed 265 miles, twice the mileage. Also, the car shakes and grinds when starting. They found nothing wrong with it. That was when it had less than 1000 miles. Fuel lines or something smells heavy with gas. My car eats gas more than my astro van. They said nothing was wrong. I have put three cooling systems in this car they said was wrong. Fuses keep burning out. I have replaced 65 bulbs, they said nothing is wrong. It's much worse now. When I turn the car the steering sticks then goes into the turn, they said nothing was wrong. This car has been nothing but trouble since I bought it. Ph **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**770836

Filed Mar 27, 2001 · Acceleration · CA

Vehicle accelerates on its own, after consumer removes his foot from gas pedal, the pedal has remianed locked in a depressed position causing the car's engine to continue running, as if pressure wre still being applied to the pedal, as a result the car will continue to accelerate and at times has achieved speeds of up to 80 MPH, consumer has been able to disengage the gas pedal from its locked position by either pumping the pedal until it is released or shifting the transmission into neutral, the car will slow down, but the gas pedal remains locked in a depressed position, and the continued running of the cars engine causes the wheels to grind against the brakes, vehicle has been taken in to dealer, but no one has been able to diagnose problem.

Filed Mar 26, 2001 · Brakes · GA

Brakes are grinding and wearing out fast. First set was put on before december 2000. Abs light intermittently comes on/off. Dealer is not responding to why they're wearing out so fast.

Filed Nov 22, 1999 · Suspension · NM

When hitting a bump vehicle makes a squeaking noise as the owner applies the brakes. Dealer has not seen vehicle.

Filed Apr 16, 1999 · Brakes · FL

Brakes experiencing continued grinding noise four repair attempts however vehicle continues to experience grinding noise while braking. Mjs