Component
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS
21 NHTSA complaints about service brakes, air:controls issues across 15 makes and 19 models.
The service brakes, air:controls is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 21 filings from 15 manufacturers and 19 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 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS with 2 filings, followed by CHEVROLET S10 and VOLVO S70. 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 | OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS | 2 |
| 2 | CHEVROLET S10 | 2 |
| 3 | VOLVO S70 | 1 |
| 4 | TOYOTA PICKUP | 1 |
| 5 | TOYOTA AVALON | 1 |
| 6 | SUBARU OUTBACK | 1 |
| 7 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 1 |
| 8 | MITSUBISHI GALANT | 1 |
| 9 | LEXUS ES300 | 1 |
| 10 | KIA SEPHIA | 1 |
| 11 | KENWORTH T800 | 1 |
| 12 | HYUNDAI ELANTRA | 1 |
| 13 | HONDA ACCORD | 1 |
| 14 | FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER | 1 |
| 15 | FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS | 1 |
| 16 | FORD TAURUS | 1 |
| 17 | CHEVROLET CAPRICE | 1 |
| 18 | CHEVROLET C15 | 1 |
| 19 | BUICK LESABRE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
A NORMAL DAY AT THE FARM I START MY TRUCK TO LET IT WARM UP. I LEAVE THE TRUCK AND COME BACK SEVERAL MINUTES LATER RELEASING MY PARKING BRAKES AND THING SEEMS NORMAL. I PULL FORWARD TOWARD A CORAL AN
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REQUESTING RECALL PARTS TO HAVE RECALL COMPLETED ON VEHICLE. *TS RECALL#00V357000. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAS TWO OTHER VOLVO TRUCKS RELATED TO THE RECALL. *JB
LEXUS ES 300 YEAR 2002, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED, 5-8 MILES AN HOUR, WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, DESPITE APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE CAR ENGINE APPEARED TO HAVE A LOW
THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNS OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A FAIRLY RAPID DECELERATION. SOMETIMES, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET.
THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONSTANTLY. CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY THE VEHICLES BRAKES LOCK UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. T
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE APPLING BRAKES VEHICLE KEEP MOVING FOWARD AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. PH
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH HE EXPERIENCED LOOSE BRAKES AND A LOOSE STEERING WHEEL,AND HAD TO PULL OVER BEFORE CRASHING. PH
A CHECK FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK, BOLTS LOOSE ON PAN TIGHTEN AND TOP OFF, PAN AND/OR GASKET TRANSAXLE OIL REPLACED. POPPING NOICE WHEN BRAKING NOW CRUNCHING NOISE. BRAKE PEDAL BUSHING NOISEY, BLOWE
ADJUSTABLE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL LOOSE, ADJUSTMENT HAVE ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS, LOCATED TO CLOSE TOGETHER, NEED TO BE REDESIGN
BRAKES FEEL SOFT AND MUSHY, FRONT BRAKES APROX 9.5MM REMAIN AND REARS APROX 9MM REMAIN.TEST DROVE AND ADJUST PARK BRAKE. ADJUST BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT PEDAL TO LOW, CHECKED AND RESET PEDAL TO SPECS, PER
BRAKE PEDAL NEEDS ADJUSTMENT. YH
GAS PEDALS STICKS TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT MITSUBISHI HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM HAS OF YET. *AK
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SECURED TO THE FLOOR BY A CLEVIS PIN. THE CLEVIS PIN IS SECURED BY A COTTER PIN. THE COTTER PIN WAS NOT BENT OPEN AT THE FACTORY. THE COTTER PIN FELL OUT WHICH ALLOWED THE CLEVIS PI
BRAKES PROBLEM.
SLOW BRAKING RESPONSE DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. BRAKE PEDAL TAKES A FRACTION OF A SECOND TO DEPRESS FAR ENOUGH TO ENGAGE.
SHOE GETS CAUGHT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF BRAKE PEDAL UPON SUDDENLY TRANSFERING FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE PEDAL.
BRAKES SPONGY, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY.
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *SKD
EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. *SKD
BRAKE PEDAL DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TO ACCELERATOR, CAUSING DRIVER TO PUSH BOTH PEDALS AT SAME TIME, AND VEHICLE TO SURGE RATHER THAN STOP.
Related Vehicle Components
Learn More
Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve service brakes, air:controls issues? ▼
How dangerous are service brakes, air:controls defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most service brakes, air:controls problems? ▼
Where does PlainCars get its safety data? ▼
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.