The rear brakes are insufficiently proportioned to the front causing the front tires to loose traction easily under moderate braking. There is a spongy brake pedal and I have suggested that air in the back lines may be causing this. No action has been taken because they say their tests show the car is within GM guidelines. The problem becomes readily evident when traction conditions are unfavorable with only slight brake pedal pressure the front tires will overcome the available traction available. It is obvious that the rear brakes are barely assisting, if at all. I have 3 other vehicles and in the same conditions, I can't even get the tires to break loose unless I stomp the brakes. But with Intrigue, light pressure causes the front tires to loose traction. ABS functions properly, but would have never come on if all 4 brake were assisting. And in an ABS event, no matter how hard or soft I apply the brake, the car's deceleration rate is dramatically reduced. Actually feels like the car is stopping about half as well as before ABS activated. These ABS events occur all the time. The consistent feeling that the fronts are about to loose traction while the backs are just not contributing is frustrating and life threatening. My wife, brother and I have all had this happen to us while driving this car. I've gone through intersections, into snowdrifts to avoid other vehicles, etc. While the cars next to me can stop with no fuss. Another item that shows more evidence to this is, the front rotors were turned twice for warpage and replaced, then turned again for warpage, all under 36000 miles. Also the back tires look like they're still new. Last week, during a nice heavy rain, with ABS disabled (removal of a fuse), I showed the mechanic that I could not make the back brakes lock the wheels. This was with both feet mashing on the brake. This is while the fronts were skidding all the way. Please help! ABS isn't going to save me, but good brakes sure would help.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

This is actually wife's leased car (carol J. nartker). Prior brake failure, on file. No problem source ever determined for that, no incidents since about 10,000mi.. this problem is with warped front rotors. We brought the car in for severe shaking during braking at approx. 8000mi., they turned the rotors then. Problem gradually reoccurred over time. We hoped to have the obviously defective rotors replaced under warranty before turn-in from lease, but GM refuses to replace them, though this is a known problem. My wife is a very gentle driver, all highway, car garaged, I actually pulled calipers and rotors, they are porous castings, too thin to turn. The original pads have virtually no wear on them. As brakes warm on highway, the shaking becomes more severe.

- Bellbrook, OH, USA

I have a clunking, scratching noise from the front end but I noticed a grinding or squeezy sound when braking. I was told by a certified mechanic that the rotors need replaced, there are deep groves in all but the worst is the back. Also was told the the caliper hardware needed to be replaced. I took it to this mechanic because I can get a straight answer from him from out older vehicles I have been getting no where with the dealership(as far as the clunking clicking). When the next day I took my car back to the dealer when I told them that I had a certified mechanic look at it and what to look for, the service manager told me there was a recall on the rotors. They had my car until the next day and I was told then they could not see a problem. This sounded familiar as I had to have a new steering rack (finally put in last year after many trips to the dealer). Also on this repair trip they rotated my tires, they put the rt front on the rt back!!!! I want to know why GM has not fixed this problem" it seems that enough documentation has been done. I am taking money out of my pocket and going to get yet another opinion on what action should be done. I do not feel safe driving my children around with all these things going wrong. I think that should be the question, isn't anyone at GM concerned about the safety issue and lives of people who spent good money on their cars"

- Clinton, IN, USA

No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Beaver Dams, NY, USA

Brake rotors warp every 15K miles. Rotors turned and pads replaced twice at owners expense. Rotors and pads will need replacement next service.

- Allentown, PA, USA

Brake rotors have warped and needed to be replaced 3 times before the car had 47000 miles. An upgrade of the equipment was purchased with "larger brake rotors" from factory which are obviously defective. The manufacturer has stated that this type of rotor warpage (10000-15000 miles) is "normal wear and tear". the latest diagnosis is that the rotors are warped and are too thin to turn. These rotors were just replaced at 29543 miles. The main driver of this vehicle drives mostly highway driving, so the driver's habits should not cause this problem. Manufacturer refuses to fix problem and replace rotors, stating that this is a general maintenance item (similar to replacing brake pads). The "shuddering" that is produced by the defective rotors is very distracting. As this is an item connected with braking, it should be a safety concern to the manufacturer as well.

- St. Cloud, FL, USA

Premature wear of brake pads and rotors. Dealer has put 6 sets of pads and rotors on vehicle.

- Plymouth, MA, USA

Rotors grounded and pads sanded at our expense. Brakes had to be hammered on to stop. Vehicle always feel like when you just touched the brakes that ABS was going to kick in. After work was done brakes feel better than they ever have. Since the original date of purchase.

- Burlington L7m 4k5, AK, USA

Have seen many postings about rotors warping every 10 TO15,000 with both autobahn and standard (mine) on 1998 Intrigues. Seems everyone gets save song and dance from the dealer - " not covered under warranty - must be your driving style causing the problem. " dealer refused to write up ticket without first having mechanics look at them- for $75 dollars an hour of course. Went to brake shop to have rotors turned down, shop said three out of four rotors were already underspec and couldn't be turned down. Bought car with less than 13,000 miles on it; if it already needed the brake rotors turned during that time then that suggests a design flaw to me. Rotors warping every 10 to 15,000 miles? thats ridiculous! also brake pedal seems rather soft, too much travel for a car with 4 wheel disc brakes, but then the rear rotors are also very warped and are rusting because pads not making much contact with rotor. Olds really needs to fess up and admit the brake system was made from inferior grade materials. These issues are unheard of on foreign medsize sedans. No wonder olds is going under.

- Omaha, NE, USA

This has been a continuning problem and the GM has told me it is my problem. It has been all 4 brakes.

- Edgewater, MD, USA

I have a record of all the repairs, dates and millage. I have found many people on the internet with the same problem.

- Pegram, TN, USA

The steering rack and pinon has been replaced 3 times within 20,414 miles, last replaced at 20,414 miles, my warranty expires in Nov. 2000 and will have to pay $900 dollars for the next replacement which I am sure it will need.. brake rotors were resurfaced at 9256 miles and are bad again at 20,414 but the dealer and GM customer service said that this was normal wear and the dealer said it is beyond their warranty and will not resurface the rotors again but will resurface for $288 dollars. The brakes shutter when they get warm and causes sever vibration when braking hard. Both these problems appear to be a manufactures defect as other owners are having simular defects.

- Loveland, CO, USA

I have brought this car back to the dealership five times. The first three times they fixed the rotors which were out of round? and replaced the brake pads. The fourth visit they charged me, telling me that that would renew the warranty--not even a month later the same problem happened--sever pulsating when you step on the brakes-- they confirmed it was the same problem and wanted me to pay for it again saying it was due to wear. My contention is that it should have still been under warranty, especially since there was not even a 30 day period between visits! five time is not a charm!

- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

This car has had thirteen garage visits under warranty so far to either diagnose problems or correct problems. Tomorrow, it will have the intermediate steering shaft replaced for the second time by holmes Oldsmobile to correct a popping sensation in the steering. Other repairs in this regard have been replacement of the control arms and the steering rack. The front brake rotors first warped last year and were turned on 08/19/98; they warped again and were replaced on 12/10/98. On 6/11/99, this second set for the frontwere turned again along with both rear rotors due to warpage; this is grossly excessive. I understand that Oldsmobile has discontinued these brakes as an option (labelled "autobahn" ) because of quality problems. Please investigate this situation for me as both the steering and brakes evidence of durability problems do not instill confidence.

- Stuart, IA, USA