Vehicle Failures: Brakes, Tires & More

Most mechanical failures give some warning first — a dashboard light, a smell, a vibration, a soft pedal. But some show up with no warning at all. Whatever the failure, the same two habits give you the most control:

• Keep both hands on the wheel and keep the car pointed straight. A sudden swerve is far more likely to cause a crash than the failure itself.
• Ease off the gas rather than stabbing the brake pedal. A sudden, hard brake input on a car that isn't handling normally is what turns a scare into a skid.

If the brake pedal sinks to the floor or feels unusually soft:

• Pump the brake pedal rapidly several times. On many vehicles this can rebuild enough hydraulic pressure to slow the car, even if the first press felt dead.
• Downshift to a lower gear. The engine itself resists the car's forward motion, which helps you slow down (manual or automatic).
• If the car still isn't slowing, apply the parking brake gradually and firmly — pull it steadily, not with one hard yank — while keeping the steering wheel straight.
• Look ahead for open space to coast into, and use your horn and hazard flashers to warn other drivers.

A blown tire is loud and the car will pull hard to one side. The response is almost the opposite of instinct:

• Grip the wheel firmly with both hands and hold the car straight against the pull.
• Ease off the gas smoothly — do not slam the brakes.
• Let the car slow gradually on its own. Only once speed has dropped and the car feels stable should you brake gently and steer off the roadway.

If the gas pedal sticks or won't release:

• Shift to neutral immediately. This disconnects the engine from the wheels regardless of what the accelerator is doing, and it works instantly on both manual and automatic transmissions.
• Brakes still work normally in neutral — steer to a safe spot and brake to slow down.
• Only after the car has come to a stop should you shift to park and turn off the engine.

If the power-assist system fails (often signaled by a dashboard warning light), you do not lose the ability to steer or brake — you lose the assist, so both pedals and the wheel suddenly feel much heavier. Grip the wheel with both hands and push harder into turns; press the brake pedal harder and hold it longer than usual. Plan to pull off the road as soon as it's safe.

If a headlight goes out while driving at night, try the high/low beam switch first — sometimes only one filament or bulb has failed and the other setting still works. Turn on your hazard flashers, slow down, and use the edge line, other vehicles' lights, and any roadway lighting to guide you to the first safe place to pull completely off the road.

If your wheels drop off the edge of the pavement onto the shoulder:

• Ease off the gas — do not brake hard.
• Hold the wheel firmly and let your speed drop.
• Once you've slowed, steer gently back onto the pavement in one smooth motion.

A sharp, sudden jerk of the wheel back onto the road is what causes an overcorrection — swinging the car across the centerline into oncoming traffic. Smooth and gradual beats fast every time here.