1997 Ford Expedition SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

LOST BRAKES ON 476 OUTSIDE OF PHILLY DITCHED CAR SO I WOULD NOT HIT STOPPED CARS, TOTALED MY EXPEDITION AND WIFE, KIDS, DOG, AND I ALL SURVIVED, JUST BLEEDING AIRBAG BURNS. *TR

RUBBER BRAKE LINE SEPARATED AT THE CALIPER. CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. LUCKILY I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL NEARLY TOUCHED THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE STOPPING DISTANCE HAD DOUBLED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND HAD A PINHOLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113,000.

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES. BRAKE FAILURE AT SLOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS LIKE IN ANTILOCK MODE OR LIKE STOPPING ON GRAVEL. PEDAL STIFF AND CANNOT PUMP BRAKES WHILE FEELING AND SOUNDING JERKY. HAVE REPLACED WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND ABS SOLENOID SENSOR. WILL FINALLY GRAB AND STOP AFTER APPROX. 20 FEET OF PUMPING. *NM

LOW SPEED TO MODERATE SPEED YOU APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE NO PEDAL AND IT STARTS TO PUMP FOR NO REASON AT ALL IT HAPPENS ON DRY ROADS AND WET OR SNOW COVERED ROADS THEN YOU FINALLY STOP AND LOOK DOWN AT THE DASH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED AND THE ABS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH FOR NO REASON AT ALL. I HAVE HAD JUST ABOUT EVERY BRAKE PART SENSORS,COMPUTER ECT.. REPLACED IT WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND NOW IT IS STARTING AGAIN THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. I AM REALLY WORRIED CAUSE NOW I HAVE A SON 17 WHO OCCASIONALLY DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONING HE CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE EXPEDITION (UNSAFE). I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP BUT I KNOW THAT IS GOING TO COST ME MORE MONEY THAN I ALREADY PUT OUT TO FIX IT! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A DRY ROAD DURING NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHICH RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A GROANING NOISE IN THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER DRIVING UP OVER A ROADSIDE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. UPDATED 9/13/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WAS BAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR REPAIR. *NM

SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY RUPTURE OF RT. FRONT BRAKE HOSE, LOSS OF ALL FLUID AND TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL. NO CASUALTY BUT AS INCIDENT HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN DIRE. ORIGINAL PURCHASE DEALER MAINTAINED VEHICLE ON SCHEDULE: MOST RECENT SERVICE AND INSPECTION IN AUGUST 2005. VEHICLE GARAGED WITH 96,000 MI. *NM

THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURE WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. IF IN TRAFFIC, THIS BRAKE LINE RUPTURE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

1997 FORD EXPEDITION BRAKES FAILED DURING A FORCED EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION. *TS *SC

DT: MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 1/2 MILE, CAME HOME AND PARKED THE TRUCK. WITHIN 30 MINUTES THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY. CONSUMER PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. THE FIRE DEPT CAME OUT TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT, AND THEY CUT THE HOOD OPEN AND NOTICED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE MASTER CYLINDER AREA. THE TRUCK WAS STILL SITTING IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S HOUSE. *AK *SB

WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT TOOK AN EXTRA TWENTY FEET TO STOP. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ON ICE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND NO DEFECTS, AND THE COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING. *AK THE BRAKES WOULD GET HARD AND THE CALIPERS WERE CLICKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OVER BUMPS, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. *SC *JB

THE CAR IS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE FRONT TO REAR BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND FAILED. THIS HAPPENED COASTING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SPLIT SYSTEM THE BRAKING LEFT WAS MINIMAL. THE PARTITION BETWEEN THE FRONT CHAMBER AND THE BACK DIDN'T SEEM TO LEAVE ENOUGH FLUID IN THE FRONT CHAMBER TO ALLOW EFFECTIVE REMAINING BRAKING. NOT TO MENTION THE BRAKE LINE CORRODING THROUGH IN LESS THAN 8 YEARS. I HAD THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED BUT DID NOT RETAIN THE OLD BRAKE LINE. THE COST WAS $623.04. *AK

WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE APPROACHING A UTILITY CREW FLAMAN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. IT SLOWED AND THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. I RAN PAST THE FLAGMAN FLASHING MY LIGHTS, PUMPING THE BRAKES AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND HONKING THE HORN. AFTER RUNNING THREE CARS OFF THE ROAD AND CHECKING ON MY FOUR YEAR OLD IN THE BACKSEAT WE CAME TO A STOP. THE DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED IN TWO AT THE METAL/RUBBER HOSE JUNCTION. I REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HOSES. THE PASSENGER SIDE ON VISUAL INSPECTION LOOKED O.K. DID I MENTION WE WERE PULLING A FLAT BED TRAILER AND GOING DOWN HILL WITH NO SHOULDERS, ONLY DROP OFFS!

I HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF THREE BOLTS BACK OUT THAT SECURE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ONE BOLT ON ONE OCCASION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED. THE SECOND OCCASION RESULTED IN TWO BOLTS BACKING OUT AND ALLOWING THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO FALL AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY BINDING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND FRACTURING THE WHEEL. ONCE THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED THE TIRE WHENT FLAT INSTANTLY, THUS RUINING THE TIRE AS WELL. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 75 MPH SHORTLY BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HAD I NOT HEARD THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY SCRATCHING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND STOPPED, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I FEEL LIKE IF IT IS HAPPENING TO MINE, IT IS PROBABLY HAPPENING WITH OTHER FORD EXPEDITIONS AND TRUCKS AS WELL. IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED I BELIEVE FATALITIES MAY RESULT. BY THE WAY, I'M OUT ABOUT $700 FOR TOWING, RENTAL CAR, TIRE AND WHEEL REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, BRAKE LINE CRACKED AND STARTED TO LEAK FLUID. IT WAS HARD TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FLUID SPRAYED INTO THE CYLINDER, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SLC

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGES WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD "NO BRAKES" ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 10-7-98, WE WERE TOLD BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN ON 1-27-99 TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THEY CALLED THE MANUFACTURE THIS TIME TO FIND OUT IF ANY OTHER EXPEDITIONS MIGHT OF HAD THIS SAME SORT OF PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED "NO". THEY DECIDED BECAUSE IT HAD THE SAME BRAKE SYSTEM AS ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE TO CHANGE THE FRONT SENSORS. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP FROM THEM, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I SHOULD DRIVE WITH THE ANTICIPATION THAT THE BRAKES COULD GO OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THEY WERE NOT SURE THAT THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. WELL LOW AND BEHOLD THE BRAKES WENT OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME A SOLO ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH "NO BRAKES". WE WERE VERY LUCKY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AS SOMEONE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE GOTTEN KILLED. THIS VEHICLE DEFINITELY POSES A HIGH SAFETY RISK TO THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS IT IS DRIVEN ON.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL PULSATES AND THEN GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, AND FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES. TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND FOUND OUT THAT ABS UNIT WAS NOT PREFORMING.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NEVER ANY KIND OF WARNING PRIOR OR AFTER INCIDENT. *SLC

ABS KICKS IN ON DRY PAVEMENT, AND VEHICLE WON'T STOP ON ICE OR SNOW. CONSUMER ONCE ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ON OUR 97 EXPEDITION WITH 71000 MILES, I CAME TO FIND OUT THAT BOTH FRONT ROTORS WHERE RUSTED TO THE WHEEL HUBS. I HAD TO SPEND AN ADDITIONAL $300 TO BUY NEW WHEEL HUBS.*AK

AT LOW SPEEDS THE BRAKES FAIL, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, MAKES A STRANGE NOISE AND PULSATES. NLM