2003 Ford Escape: brake failure

Filed Jul 3, 2014 · Brakes · 127,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the brakes failed after the contact applied force to the brake pedal. The steering wheel began pulling to the right. The vehicle came to a complete stop after applying force to the brake pedal. The manufacturer was notified and did not offer a remedy. The vehicle was driven to a local mechanic, who diagnosed that the ABS anti-lock system needed to be replaced. The repairs were not completed on the vehicle. The failure and current mileage were 127,000.

Filed Feb 18, 2014 · Brakes · 109,419 miles · WA · crash

We purchased the vehicle 30 minutes prior. We were in stop and go traffic until leaving the freeway 1 lights prior to the accident. When my daughter tried to use the brakes the pedal went straight to the floor. When she pumped them numerous times, there wasn't any change. She didn't have any brakes. She rear ended my newly purchased vehicle from the same dealership. Police were at the light where she rearended me. They confirmed no brakes, my husband did, the tow truck driver too. When it was received to the body shop on monday morning the brakes were very soft according to the technician. After sitting for a week, the brakes worked fine. They cant determine why the brakes failed. The dealership was the first call I made at the accident and they told me they know it had legal brakes. Come to find out the brake fluid was black and has an outstanding recall with the ABS that had never been taken care of. There is also a recall on certain master cylinders which were faulty/leaking and the stock numbers. Unfortunately the stock number was removed from the master cylinder. We have a vehicle that never even made it to our home that is now totaled. The dealership is only going to "make it right" with proof that the brakes failed. The police report states such and I have the report from the bodyshop, but after waiting for the insurance to have the test done, they cant confirm loss of brakes. They can only state the fluid being black. We now are having to fight to not lose our trade in value and to not have a reportable accident against my daughter vs a mechanical failure. This is a nightmare both the dealership and the insurance are not making this easy. The most expensive vehicle I ever owned for 30 minutes is all I can say.

Filed Jan 24, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 76,000 miles · IA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH he tried to accelerate and the rpms increased. The brake failed to engage until he put the gear shift into neutral. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that there was to much air going into the throttle body, and the cold air was freezing the throttle body and prevented it from functioning properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000. Updated 3/5/14*cn

Filed Dec 23, 2010 · Brakes · 114,120 miles · MN · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 5 MPH the brakes failed. The brake pedal extended to the floor without stopping the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a snow bank. There was no damaged to the contact or the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who repaired the brake hoses at the contacts expense. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 114,120.

Filed Feb 24, 2009 · Acceleration · 115,000 miles · RI

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford escape. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own to 65 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the brakes failed and became locked. She placed the gear into neutral and drove in the emergency lane. She shut off the vehicle and restarted it after some time. Once it was restarted, the brakes softened up and the rpms decreased to the original start position. The dealer stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. She then took the vehicle to a repair shop and was informed that there were a few recalls on the vehicle; however, the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v574000 (vehicle speed control:cables) was related to the failures with her vehicle. Once she found the recall, the contact notified the dealer and they refused to acknowledge the recall information. She later called the manufacturer and they stated that the recall was repaired four years ago on her vehicle. The vehicle has not yet been repaired, but the failure has not recurred since the original incident. She is worried that the issue could cause future failures and that the vehicle should be repaired again since it was not done properly the first time. The current and failure mileages were 115,000.