Dear Tom and Ray:

Before my husband passed away, he purchased a new Buick LeSabre in 1992 for us. We have taken good care of the car, and have had it repaired and serviced when necessary. Now it has almost 76,000 miles on it, and the antilock brakes have gone out. I know I can drive without the system working, but when I took the car in, they wanted $726 to fix them. I decided not to have them fixed. Is this normal for antilock brakes to give out at this mileage? And should I fix them? Also, the paint is peeling. -- Joan

Tom: You should fix the brakes, Joan. The antilock braking system (ABS) is a safety feature, and allows you to keep steering the car effectively in an emergency stop. You and your husband obviously thought it was worth having in 1992, and it's still worth having today, even on an older car.

Ray: And the truth is we don't know how long the average ABS lasts. Within the last five years or so, many manufacturers rushed to get ABS on their cars because they perceived that customers wanted them. So those early ABS cars are just getting to the age where things like that are starting to fail. And while 76,000 does sound early to me, we haven't seen enough ABS systems last 150,000 miles to say that definitively.

Tom: It's also possible that in their rush to install ABS, General Motors - - and perhaps other manufacturers -- used systems that need to be improved upon. After all, if they can't keep the paint from peeling, how can we be sure they can keep the ABS working?

Ray: If you want to help get that ABS information collected, you can report your ABS problem to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They have an Auto Safety Hotline which collects data about safety related defects. And if NHTSA notices a pattern with a certain vehicle or manufacturer, they can open an investigation which could lead to a safety recall.

Ray: There are two ways to report your problem. One is to call the Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9393. The other is to visit our web site (http: //cartalk.com) and click on "Virtually Useful Data," and then select "Complain to NHTSA."

Tom: And while you're there, you might also get a "Car Talk Car Report," which will list any recalls already put out on the '92 LeSabre that you may not have heard about, plus complaints from other owners that have not yet turned into recalls. Good luck, Joan., Riverton, NJ 08077-6420.

To buy or not to buy -- options, that is. Are options worth what you pay for them, or are you better off just going with the basics? Order Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car?" to find out. To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1997 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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