Problems · by component

2001 Ford Escape service brakes problems

30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Escape cite service brakes, 3% of all 1,027 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
30
3% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“CAR WAS STATIONARY IN PARKING LOT, I WENT TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SWITCH INTO DRIVE. BRAKES WORKED FINE EARLIER,BUT WHEN PRESSING THE PEDAL, IT DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. NO RESISTANCE LEFT WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME VERY SLOWLY. THE BRAKES STILL WORKED, BUT ONLY WHEN THE PEDAL WAS AGAINST THE FLOOR. LATE AT NIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED, NEED TO CHECK FOR ANY LEAKS OR DAMAGE IN THE MORNING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2018Service brakesODI 11073508
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 12V353000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 14V165000 (STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTAL PARKING SPACE, A SECURITY GUARD NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER MAKING A SECOND ROUND, THE GUARD INFORMED THE VEHICLE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT TOOK PICTURES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW-UP IN WRITING, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2017Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesFire reportedODI 11015079
“1. DIFFICULTY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND WHEN THEIR APPLIED THE WHOLE BACK OF AUTO SHAKES TERRIBLY 2. THE BACK DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT LOCK AND THE BACK HATCH DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AND STAYS LOCKED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2016Suspension, Structure, Service brakesODI 10930073
“WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT A NATIONAL CHAIN, BEING STATIONARY, ENGINE OFF, AND AT THE SERVICE BAY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE HOSE EXPLODED . THE ON SITE MANAGER'S PROFESSIONAL OPINION IS THAT THE CAUSE WAS BY CUSTOMER HAVING A PRIOR BRAKE LEAK, AND/OR, OPENING BRAKE FLUID LID AND/OR ADDING BRAKE FLUID CAUSING A BURST.AND THE BRAKE LINE POURING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE BAY PLATFORM. CUSTOMER INDICATES OTHERWISE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2016Service brakesODI 10893882
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE KEY WAS OUT THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2015Electrical system, Service brakesODI 10782432
“BACKING OUT INTO EMPTY ROAD, STOPPING AND TURNING VEHICLE WITH STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT APPLYING PRESSURE TO TURN, STRAIGHTEN WHEELS. WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP, THE CAR SHAKES AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE APPLIED TO BRAKES IS ENORMOUSLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE CAR STOP. WITH NORMAL DRIVING THERE IS A GRINDING SOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE (DRIVE TRAIN?). ALL THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WITH NO APPARENT HELP!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2015Suspension, Power train, Service brakesODI 10780836

Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.