2005 Ford Escape Hybrid service brakes problems

“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.”

“Abs and master cylinder causing an unsafe braking condition hard brake pedal making it very difficult to stop the car. I replaced the entire brake system including the master cylinder assembly with pedal travel sensor attached. As recommended by Ford dealership. Then I was told that the brake system system had to be bled 2 times. Well after doing this 3 times and replacing the calipers and pads and rotors again. The same situation exists. Now I am told that this car has a different problem and a bulletin was issued by Ford stating that this is a problem with Ford Escape hybrid has to be reprogrammed to allow the master cylinder assembly to link up with the computer to rectify the issue. My car has 42000 miles on the vehicle and I is very dangerous to drive because of the unreliable braking action. Ford does not acknowledge the problem. But there are many people who have had this same issue. What can I do ? Please help me.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK TOWER HOUSING WAS FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THROUGH THE SUBFRAME. DURING THE FAILURE, THE BRAKE LINE AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT WIRE WERE SEVERED, WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT TO MALFUNCTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *JS”

“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.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JERRY'S FORD ALEXANDRIA (6510 LITTLE RIVER TURNPIKE, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312, (703) 256-5000), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“WHILE COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL PASS THE STOP SIGN. FLOORING THE BRAKES CAUSED THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN SLOWLY. I ENDED UP PULLING OVER IMMEDIATELY, TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. I SAW NO CLEAR INDICATION OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG. WHEN I TURNED BACK ON THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS FINE, UNTIL THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FEW CAR SHOPS BUT NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CAR WAS EVEN TAKEN FOR A TEST DRIVE BY THE MECHANIC BUT PERFORMED WITH NO PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE SHOPS RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER OR THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WOULD NEVER OCCUR AGAIN. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE PAYING SO MUCH FOR A NON GUARANTEED JOB SO UNFORTUNATELY I AM STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES CONTINUES TO STOP WORKING AT RANDOM TIMES.”