Component
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR
5 NHTSA complaints about parking brake:conventional:air issues across 4 makes and 5 models.
The parking brake:conventional:air is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 5 filings from 4 manufacturers and 5 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the VOLVO VNL with 1 filings, followed by PONTIAC AZTEK and FORD F-SERIES. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VOLVO VNL | 1 |
| 2 | PONTIAC AZTEK | 1 |
| 3 | FORD F-SERIES | 1 |
| 4 | FORD EXPLORER | 1 |
| 5 | CHEVROLET ASTRO | 1 |
Recent Complaints
2007 VOLVO 780, BOUGHT IN 7-31-2006, WHEN DRIVING FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION GOING INTO GEAR. FROM THAT TIME ON THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND TO THE POINT OF BEING
OUR AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING, WE THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED TO BE RE-CHARGED, I HAD IT RE-CHARGED TWO WEEKS IN A ROLL, THEN IT QUIT WORKING AGAIN, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW MANY COMPLAINS ABOUT
BRAKE HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE OR MORE TIMES FOR A KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISE. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
PERIODICALLY THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PARKING VALVE IS PRESSED PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR.*AK
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS TO BE USED AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE WHEN USING THE PARKING BRAKE THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACK. *AK
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.