2005 Ford Escape: brake failure

Filed Dec 3, 2025 · Brakes · CA

I had just started up my 05 Ford hybrid Escape reversed out of a parking space, applied my brakes and a loud warning noise went off, the ABS light & the Brake light went on, then I tried to brake while backing out of the parking stall. I had no brakes, petal went all the way to the floor. I shifted into drive to pull forward. The car wouldn’t stop petal just went right to the floor, had very little resistance. I almost drove through the front glass doors of the P/T office across from the pharmacy in Cool, CA. The roads are mountainous windy and steep. I was definitely scared for my safety. I had to coast very slowly on the way home. I was on my way to work but instead I dropped it off at home and called ride share to take me to work! I had to use my emergency brake to make the turn up my dirt road. I still had little to no brakes to stop the car. I parked it and haven’t driven it since. Much to dangerous to drive this car. I could have easily been killed not having brakes. It Showed no codes, had no warning at all. I just bought the car about 6 months prior. The next day it was as if it never happened.

Filed Nov 30, 2021 · Brakes · CA

Brake Hydraulic Control Unit failed loss of braking.

Filed Apr 28, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 105,000 miles · AK

2005 ford escape. Purchased with a car loan in 2012. @ 40,000 miles.$$ kept all regular maintenance up. $$replaced battery & had $$all brakes done front & back in 2014. $$paid off loan in 2015, & 2016 rolled over to 95,000 miles.. $$had to replace alternator & battery & $$redo the brakes in 2016. $$in 2018 had to replace alternator again..(note: during all these years the check engine light was constantly coming on & showing 'check emissions system'.. Bringing up all sorts of fuel & emissions codes. $$replaced 4 different fuel related parts as well). In 2019 all brakes failed! & had a near crash! $$having to replace the brake lines. Then in april 2019 driving an alaska mountain pass in a spring winter storm! Major breakdown!! Lost all power with no control of steering or braking.. Panel was lighting up on & off like a christmas tree! Engine chugging & sputtering like getting no fuel but also not getting the power to keep running.. $$left stranded 500 miles from home. $$had to get towed back home! To have a PCM burn up! $$new/remanufactured PCM, $$new alternator, $$new battery, $$new coils!! Still did not run right! Check engine light still coming on only showing check emissions system, but all parts replaced! Engine sputtering but no code on diagnostic machine to give right correct problem or how to fix!$$$!! 6 months later, replacing alternator yet again!! $$4 alternators one in 3 years!! $$3 coils replaced. & engine is still not running right!! Seems once this PCM goes out.. It's all over for this vehicle!! Nothing is keeping it going anymore, $$just a moneypit of endless fixing & breaking down on the road! Not to mention how it stalls out in mid driving at high speeds! Leaving you with no steering or brakes or power to stop! And then crash!?! I'm feeling left in the dust by ford company with no compensation on over $20,000 spent on a ford escape that can't run!

Filed Aug 13, 2019 · Body · 99,868 miles · OH

2005 escape, under 100,000 miles completely rusting out on the undercarriage to the point of a safety issue and now un-drivable. Disconnection of pieces and parts where the only way to keep them together is with a hanger. Was told the hanger worked better than anything the service department could do. Right passenger wheel well completely rusted out, huge hole now where you can see completely into car. Shocks bang and rub against the wheel cover in the car. Jack could not even stay attached due to the rust. Due to this issue, brakes failed while pulling out of a parking spot. To know ford has known about this problem (recall of 2002-2004 for same issue) and my daughter has been driving this car at college and two hours back and forth sickens me. Was told this happened all the time to these cases by ford repair shop. Also told it wasn't worth fixing. The safety of all driving this vehicle is at a major risk.

Filed Aug 11, 2019 · Brakes · FL

Complete brake failure. Driven home at 40 MPH and the brake light and the ABS light came on and there was a beep. There were then no brakes at all. Luckily, I was able to get to the side of the road and coast to a stop. Turned off the truck and started it again and it had brakes. On this last incident, the same thing in the same order happened. This problem is very dangerous. It is intermittent thus making it hard to diagnose.

Filed Feb 27, 2018 · Brakes · MO

Hydraulic control unit failed. Hcu. Little or no brakes, city street

Filed Jan 28, 2018 · Brakes, Electrical · 112,000 miles · CT

Terrifying! Potentially fatal . Power just cut out on highway while going approximately 55 MPH. No steering, no brakes. No power. All warring lights ablaze, but no warning beforehand! Gratefully, I was in the right lane and managed to get the car into the median. After several minutes, car restarted. Luckily I was only 1/4 mile from the exit. I read about this well known electrical problem. It is the PCM. Apparently ford used faulty spark plugs. The fix is too costly. I will have to purchase a new vehicle. Ford recalled the 2005 escape hybrid but not this model? Criminal

Filed Jan 6, 2017 · Engine, Transmission · 140,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the engine, steering, and brakes failed without warning. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed that all six emission coils failed and fractured the PCM. The six emission coils, power train control module, and spark plugs were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. ..updated 02/09/17 *bf

Filed Aug 29, 2014 · Brakes · 82,553 miles · IL

Have had to replace all 4 flexible brake hoses. The rf failed on 3/15/2012 at 82553 miles, the lf failed on 11/7/2013 at 98681, the rr failed on 8/28/2014 at 111325, the lr was inspected and replaced on 8/29/2014, since a severe crack was found. In all 3 cases, the hose failures LED to a total loss of braking.

Filed Jun 3, 2014 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · CA

Brakes failed completely despite one month prior servicing of brakes at local bill brandt ford dealership in brentwood california. Alarm sounded when traveling on highway, brakelight illuminated and no brake. Grandmother driving granddaughter barely missed collision with stopping traffic. Two mechanics later reveal costly control unit is to blame. Easy internet research shows many others with same experience. This is a safety issue,do not understand why no recall has been issued unless ford is waiting for fatality first.

Filed Jul 28, 2012 · Brakes · 53,290 miles · MI

Had light warning of brake failure. Investigation discovered broken ring with teeth on front axle that senses wheel rotation. Part is called "tone ring" ford part #7l8z-2c182-b. This causes a failure of the ABS and traction control system. Internet search showed this as a very common problem with all year ford escapes and is a very bad design. This $32 part causes a $300 parts and labor cost since recommended fix is to replace a perfectly good axle. It appears to be caused by expansion and contraction of the ring and rust between the axle and the pressed on ring.

Filed Dec 7, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 112,670 miles · IL

In my 2005 ford escape xlt v6 3.0l on 11/16/11, I was driving east bound on i55 towards chicago at approximately 55 MPH when the engine started bad misfiring and the completely died (no power or engine). With no power steering and no brakes, I attempted to steered toward the shoulder. I waited about 10 minutes and tried to restart and was unable. I had the vehicle towed to roesch ford 333 w grand ave bensenville, il 60106. I was advised by the service manager that the engine was misfiring on 4 of the 6 cylinders and that they would need to replace the PCM, 6 coils, 6 plugs and calibrate, total $2,114.21. I decided to do some research online and found numerous people experiencing the same problem. There are multiple tsb: tsb 05-11-1,tsb 09-02-06 tsb 09-02-06 and tsb 10-18-10. The problem is: the wrong spark plugs were installed at the factory. This combo of wrong plugs causes the coils to send emi/rfi back to the PCM (powertrain control module) burning out the PCM.emi/rfi is emitted from sparking device,in this case a set of bad spark plugs. This causes the vehicle to miss-fire, lose power, or in many cases, have total engine failure. Wrong spark plugs/bad cop's/un-shielded PCM box/poorly engineered & un-tested, multi-changed, rare PCM and it's the $12.50 radio frequency interference device. Multiple online complaints/problems: http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/escape/2005/electrical/powertrain_control_module_pcm_failure.shtml http://www.fordforumsonline.com/forum/ford-escape/643-2005-ford-escape-PCM-ECM-computer-failure.html http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199403 repaired. Then check engine light. Now it needs 2 catalytic converters $2,500 because of PCM/coil. Total $4,500 numerous complaints extreme safety issue! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).