Component
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM
18 NHTSA complaints about service brakes, air:drum issues across 12 makes and 16 models.
The service brakes, air:drum is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 18 filings from 12 manufacturers and 16 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 2 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the INTERNATIONAL 9900 with 2 filings, followed by CHEVROLET SUBURBAN and VOLVO VN. 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 | INTERNATIONAL 9900 | 2 |
| 2 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 2 |
| 3 | VOLVO VN | 1 |
| 4 | TOYOTA SIENNA | 1 |
| 5 | PONTIAC SUNFIRE | 1 |
| 6 | PETERBILT 387 | 1 |
| 7 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 1 |
| 8 | ISUZU RODEO | 1 |
| 9 | INTERNATIONAL 9400I | 1 |
| 10 | HONDA ACCORD | 1 |
| 11 | FREIGHTLINER M2 | 1 |
| 12 | FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| 13 | DODGE STRATUS | 1 |
| 14 | DODGE RAM | 1 |
| 15 | CHEVROLET VENTURE | 1 |
| 16 | BMW X5 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FREIGHTLINER M2. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE SPIDER FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEE
2007 INTERNATIONAL 9400I HAD HEATED A BRAKE DRUM WHICH BLEW A TIRE AND THE TIRE CAUGHT FIRE. *NJ (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0470-90)*JB UPDATED02/24/10 *BF
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS ON HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAYS. WHEN BRAKING CAR MERGES TO LEFT. I AM NOT SURE OF THE DATE BUT IM SURE THE DEALER COMPUTERS WILL HAVE THE HISTORY OF MAINTENANCE. THIS HAPPENED 3
WE PURCHASED A 2004 RODEO FROM HONDA AT THEIR USED CAR SERVICE. THE STICKER HAD ON IT AS IS WARRANTY. UPON RETURNING HOME WE NOTICED THE PAPERWORK WE SIGNED DID NOT HAVE A SIGNATURE ON IT. THEY WER
CONSTANT BRAKING AND STEERING VIBRATION AT SPEED 60-70 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES SINCE DEC. 2004. DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AMERICAN HONDA STATES THAT ABOVE DESCRIBED CONDITION
1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. AS OF 4/28/04 WITH ONLY 47K MILES, A/C COMPRESSOR DEFECTIVE & DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE IN SPITE OF SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AS SOON AS 3 MONTHS AFTE
WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING BOARD, FRONT AXLE, AND FENDER. UPON
THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEAKING WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. THE LOCAL DEALER INSPECTED AND TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. ON 03/12/2003, THE
I PURCHASED A 200 DODGE STRATUS ES IN JAN 2001 FROM A TOYOTA OF NEW ORLEANS DEALER. AFTER PURCHASE, I STARTED HAVING RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. BRAKES,HEATING SYSTEM REPLACED,BRAKE DRUMS. AT
PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKES, BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP MY CAR. *AK
COOLANT LEVEL KEPT DROPPING AND THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER AND FOUND THAT MAINFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE REAR CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE SUDDENLY WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FIRE RESULTED FROM A BRAKE DRUM FAILURE CAUSING A TIRE FIRE WHICH SPREAD THROUGH THE VEHICLE RESULTI
THE BRAKES ON THE HUB DID NOT FULLY RELEASE CAUSING A FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT HUB OF THE TANDEMS (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
THE REAR BRAKE DRUM OVERHEATED CAUSING FIRE AND DAMAGE TO THE UNIT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
THE REAR BRAKE DRUM OVERHEATED CAUSING FIRE AND DAMAGE TO THE UNIT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
BRAKE DRUM FAILED.
ACTUATOR FAILED.
BRAKE PADS/DRUMS FAILED.
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
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.