Federal safety officials are conducting a preliminary investigation into complaints that brakes on 2008 Pontiac solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters with 2.0-liter turbocharged engines don't work as well as they should. I thought brakes either work well or fail. "Don't work as well as they should" seems to be a new category.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in a document posted on its Web site today, said it has received 40 complaints. The main complaint is that too much pressure must be applied to the brake pedal to stop the car, especially when the engine is cold.

The agency says that one reported crash may be related to the alleged problem. An estimated 20,000 of the vehicles are in service.

NHTSA notes that General Motors issued a technical service bulletin in December, advising dealers about recalibrating brake control modules.