2002 Ford Escape SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I BROUGHT MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE IN FOR ITS 45K MILE SERVICE AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I SAID THE PADS HAVE NOT YET WORN OUT THOUGH. THEY SAID I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT THIS FAR. MOST ESCAPES HAVE THEM WEAR OUT AT 30K OR LESS DUE TO POOR QUALITY AND TOO THIN ROTORS. DEALER SAID COST TO REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS WILL BE $338.00 INCLUDING LABOR TO REPLACE. *NM

MY NAME IS [XXX], I PURCHASED A FORD ESCAPE SUV ON AUGUST 22, 2002 FROM DAY FORD IN PITTSBURGH, PA ON AUGUST 22, 2002. I HAVE BEEN HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. PRIOR TO MOVING TO FLORIDA IN JUNE, I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD I NEED NEW ROTORS, BRAKES AND TIRES.I MOVED TO FLORIDA, AND ON JANUARY 2005, I HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BECAUSE IT HAD RUST AND CORROSION ON IT. THE SERVICE TECH QUESTION ALL THE RUST UNDER THE VEHICLE AND I TOLD HIM THAT I DID NOT KNOW WHY THERE WAS SO MUCH. N MARCH 18TH, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO MATTHEW CURRIE FORD, WHERE THEY SERVICE MY CAR. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON APRIL 20, 2005 AND WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD ON APRIL 21, 2005 THAT I NEED NEW SPARK PLUGS. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS NOT PAYING FOR IT AND THAT THEY NEED TO CALL AIG. ON APRIL 22, 2005 THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT MY CAR HAD WATER DAMAGE AND THAT IT WAS PURCHASED THIS WAY. I THEN GOT A RENTAL CAR AND I CALLED DAYFORD TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY AND HOW THEY WERE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT SELL ME A CAR WITH WATER DAMAGE. THEN HE SAID HE WOULD CALL ME BACK. WELL I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. OVER THE WEEKEND I FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM KANSAS CITY ON JULY 20, 2002 AND THEN SERVICED ON JULY 27, 2002 BY DAYFORD. THE SERVICES WERE ENGINE SERVICED, VEHICLE SERVICED, SUSPENSION SYSTEM SERVICED, BRAKES SERVICED, STATE INSPECTION COMPLETED, MISCELLANEOUS SERVICE PERFORMED, EMISSIONS SYSTEM SERVICED AND LUBED OIL AND FILTER CHANGED. THESE SERVICES WERE COMPLETED WITH ONLY 3 MILES ON THE CAR. I PULLED THE INFORMATION FROM CARFAX AND THAT WHAT IT SAYS. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD THE FRONT BRAKES SURVIVED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS CAR AND FOUND THAT ROTORS CANNOT BE TURNED EVEN ONE TIME ON THESE CARS WITHOUT BRINGING IT BELOW SPECS. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ROTORS AT A COST OF $199.00. I COMPLAINED TO FORD ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS PART OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE NEVER OWNED CAR THAT HAD TO HAVE ROTORS REPLACED WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE BEFORE I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS IS A NORMAL SITUATION. IT IS A CASE OF FORD PUTTING CHEAP THROW AWAY PARTS IN CARS AND NOT DISCLOSING THIS INFORMATION TO BUYERS AT THE TIME THEY PURCHASE THE CAR. *JB

VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED 3 TIMES FOR SAFETY DEFECTS. AT 25000 MILES I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ROTORS. IT IS TOO EARLY FOR THIS TO BE OCCURRING AND HAVE FOUND INFORMATION THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMPLAINT THAT HAS BEEN FREQUENT ON THIS CAR MAKE. THEY REPLACED THE ECCELLERATOR CABLE AND NOW THE CAR SEEMS TO BE SLUGGISH IN ECCELLERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION.*AK

I OWN A 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH 42,600 MILES. MY PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING IS A SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL AT FIRST, THEN PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND THEN YOU GET A PULSATING, GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT BRAKES AND ALSO IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. ROTORS ARE NEW; BRAKES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION, NO BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. BRAKES WERE BLED WITH NO CHANGE IN PROBLEM. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SUCKING AIR. *JB

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES. *JB

THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP WHILE PUMPING THE BRAKE THREE TIMES, AND DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD ESCAPE IN JUNE OF 2003. I NOTICED, DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, EXCESSIVE NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. MY INITIAL REQUEST FOR THE DEALER TO LOOK INTO THIS NOISE WAS MET WITH A REPLY THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE LOT AND CHECKED OUT FINE. THE PURCHASE, HOWEVER, WAS A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THEY HAD DONE THEIR INSPECTION. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND GRADUALLY GREW WORSE AND A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THEY AGREED THE BRAKES SHOULD BE INSPECTED AGAIN. OUTSIDE OF EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST BUILD UP, THEY INDICATED THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND I AGAIN BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK IN. AT THIS POINT, THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THERE APPEARED TO BE SEVERAL AREAS OF ROUGH EDGES AND THEY INDICATED ALL BRAKE SURFACES HAD BEEN SANDED TO REMOVE THESE IMPERFECTIONS. THIS PROCESS WORKED FOR NO MORE THAN 48 HOURS BEFORE THE NOICE RETURNED, BUT EVEN LOUDER. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS EVER SINCE AND IT HAS GROWN INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATING, AS TEH DEALERSHIP SUBSEQUENTLY ADVISED ME OF THE BULLETIN POSTED REGARDING EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT A SOLUTION WAS TO BE IN PLACE BY Q4 2003 OR Q1 2004. I CONTINUE TO BE TOLD THERE IS NO REMEDY YET AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS LOUD ANNOYANCE COULD BECOME A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE FUNCTION. I DRIVE QUITE A BIT FOR MY WORK AND PLAN TO PULL A POP-UP CAMPER FOR A 2-WEEK VACATION THIS SUMMER AND I HAVE NO INTEREST IN PUTTING MYSELF, MY FAMILY OR ANY ONE ELSE IN JEOPARDY SHOULD THERE BE A MORE SIGNIFICANT UNDELYING PROBLEM. *AK

WENT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN GARDEN GROVE, CA. I WAS GETTING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A COMPLETE BRAKE OVERHALL. I BALKED AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE FORD ASSOCIATE. I STATED "MY ESCAPE ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT AND YOUR TELLING ME IT NEEDS NEW ROTORS, PADS ON THE FRONT, AND SHOES AND DRUMS IN THE REAR". HE LOOKED STRAIGHT AT ME AND SAID YES YOU DO. I WENT HOME TOOK OFF THE TIRE AND DISCOVERED IT TO BE TRUE.. THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 ESCAPE ARE WORN OUT AFTER 23,000 MILES. WHAT KIND OF GARBAGE IS THAT. I'M NOT HARD ON MY BRAKES EITHER. IF I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN AT 43,000 MILES I AM GOING TO BE VERY PISSED OFF. IF IT DOES HAPPEN. I WILL BE TRADING IT IN, AND IT WON'T BE FOR ANOTHER FORD.*AK

DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN...MOVED FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL TO SLOW (WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH AT THE TIME AND ABOUT 65 MPH BEFORE GETTING ANY BRAKES TO WORK) AND IT KEPT GOING DOWN AND STUCK ON HIGH EXCELERATION...WENT TO PUT ON BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT PUSH DOWN, BARELY HAD ANY BRAKES. FORD SERVICE SAID RECALL THIS MORNING ON ACCELERATOR STICKING...BUT BRAKES WERE MY PROBLEM..I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH BRAKES PRIOR TO THIS. AT 33000 MILES, GRANTED THERE IS WEAR BUT I HAD EXPERIENCED NONE..SO STUCK PAYING FOR COMPLETE REPLACEMENT..SAID THEY WERE SHOT AND UNSAFE....ALL I CAN SAY IS I WAS EXTREMLY FORTUNATE TO GET UNDER CONTROL AND NO ACCIDENT. AND FORD SHOULD ACCEPT SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BRAKES . *AK

THIS CONCERNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE WITH 10,700 MILES ON IT. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A VERY SLIGHT GRADE AT LESS THAN 20 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. INSTEAD, THE FRONT OF THE CAR JUST STARTED TO UNCONTROLLABLY JUMP, BOUNCE AND HOP UP AND DOWN. SINCE THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN AND IT CONTINUED TO UNCONTROLLABLY BOUNCE UP AND DOWN. THERE WAS A CAR CROSSING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION IN FRONT OF ME DRIVEN BY A MOTHER WITH HER YOUNG CHILD IN THE CAR. IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THAT CAR, I STEERED MY BOUNCING CAR TO THE RIGHT, OFF THE ROAD, AND INTO A LIGHT POLE TO STOP IT. THE MOTHER WITH HER 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHO WITNESSED THE WHOLE EVENT, PULLED OVER TO SEE IF I WAS OK AND THANKED ME FOR NOT KILLING THEM. I HAVE HER NAME AND NUMBER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS CAR AND I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO EVER DRIVE IT AGAIN LEST I KILL OR MAIM MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. DIRECTLY MANY TIMES, BUT THEY GAVE ME THE RUNAROUND. THEY SAID THE ANTILOCK BRAKING DID NOT NEED TO BE CHECKED. WHEN MY INSURANCE COMPANY, NATIONWIDE, BECAME INVOLVED FORD SAID THAT I SHOULD NOW DEAL WITH THEM, NATIONWIDE. NATIONWIDE IS NOW PAYING TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED, BUT SAID THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO CHECK THE BRAKING SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, IT IS MY FAULT AND ALL THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT IS RAISE MY INSURANCE PREMIUM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THERE HAS BEEN A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THIS DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE TO LOOK INTO IT.*AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

BRAKE "IDIOT" LIGHT ON DASHBOARD LIT.. OUT OF BRAKE FLUID.. DEALER STATED DEFECTIVE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR CAP - REPLACED - QUESTIONED WHY IT WAS OUT OF FLUID WHEN THE FLUIDS WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN "CHECKED AND TOPPED OFF" AT LAST OIL CHANGE 3K MILES PREVIOUSLY - (I HAD ALSO REPORTED GRINDING BRAKES NOISE AT THAT OIL CHANGE WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS JUST DUE TO EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST BUILDUP.. ) *AK

EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON FRONT TIRES - RIMS ARE BLACK WITHIN 3 DAYS OF CLEANING - DEALER REPORTS THIS IS 'NORMAL'..*AK

EXCESSIVE FRON ROTOR WEAR: THE DEALER EXAMINED THE ROTORS AND SAID THE WEAR WAS NORMAL, EVEN THOUGH THE MEASUREMENTS HE GAVE ME SHOW THE ROTORS ARE 70% WORN. HE AGREES THAT THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETELY WORN OUT BEFORE 50,000 MILES AND STILL CONSIDERS THIS TO BE NORMAL.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. *AK

THE BRAKES SEIZED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *DT *JB

EXCESSIVE BRAKE ROTOR WEAR: AFTER 34,600 MILES, THE ROTORS ARE 70% WORN ACCORDING TO THE DIMENSIONS GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE BRAKES WILL BE WORN OUT BEFORE 50,000 MILES.*AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED. *AK

FIVE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS BRAND NEW VEHICLE, THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *NLM

WHEN I TEST DROVE THE 2002 FORD ESCAPE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2002, THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY BUT I WAS TOLD THAT NEW BRAKES HAVE TO "WEAR IN" BEFORE THEY GET SOLID. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO GET MORE SPONGY AFTER WE HAD DRIVEN IT HOME, SO I CALLED NORTHSTAR FORD ON MONDAY, APRIL 22, TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE BRAKES AND CORRECT A VIBRATION ON TUESDAY MORNING AT 8:00. AT THAT APPOINTMENT THEY WORKED ON CORRECTING THE VIBRATION BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE BRAKES. THAT AFTERNOON WHEN I DROVE THE ESCAPE DOWNTOWN DULUTH, WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A HILL, I NOTICED THAT WITH MODERATE PRESSURE I COULD PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. I MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 25, TO HAVE THEM WASH OFF SOME TIRE DRESSING THAT HAD SPATTERED ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES, THEY SAID THE BRAKES WERE NORMAL AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE BRAKES. SO I GAVE THEM A PAPER TO SIGN THAT STATES "THE BRAKES ON OUR FORD ESCAPE ARE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE VERY 'SPONGY.' FURTHERMORE, WHEN MODERATE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL GOES NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. THIS TYPE OF BRAKE RESPONSE IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD. " THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT NORTHSTAR TOLD ME THE BRAKES WERE NORMAL, BUT THEY WOULDN'T SIGN THE PAPER. I'M REALLY WORRIED THAT IF I EVER HAVE TO MAKE A PANIC STOP THE BRAKES ARE GOING TO FAIL. I DON'T TRUST A BRAKE PEDAL THAT GOES NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE BRAKES, I TRIED TO GET MY TRADE IN BACK AND LEAVE THE ESCAPE AT THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET ME OUT OF THE CONTRACT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS TO SEE IF THESE BRAKES ARE INDEED NORMAL.*JB