Problems · by component

2001 Ford Escape service brakes, hydraulic problems

121 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Escape cite service brakes, hydraulic, 12% of all 1,027 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
121
12% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
20
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE RUST ON THE SUBFRAME, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V165000 (STRUCTURE) IN WHICH A CROSS BAR WAS INSTALLED UNDER THE SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2017Service brakes, hydraulic, StructureODI 10968937
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 09/03/15*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2015Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 10730575
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND FAILED TO SLOW DOWN, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED NUMEROUS TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ITS REAR END CRASHED INTO A TREE. A FOUR YEAR OLD PASSENGER SEATED IN THE REAR WAS FATALLY INJURED DUE TO THE MASSIVE IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND SUFFERED A MINOR CONCUSSION. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT SUSTAINED A SPINAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A POLICE FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THREE RECALLS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V210001 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07E023000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V005000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALLS AND EXPERIENCED THE CONSEQUENCES MENTIONED IN EACH RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10622281
“2001 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR ABS MODULE REPLACEMENT.*SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WROTE TO FORD THREE TIMES, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE AND RECALLED ABS MODULE. RECALL #12V005000. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED FORD SENT HER A REIMBURSEMENT CHECK. THE DISPUTE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. UPDATED 11/21/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2012Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10483042
“VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING INTERSECTION W/ STOP SIGN. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW. DRIVER REPORTED 'NO BRAKES'. BRAKES, DISKS, WERE REPLACED 5 WEEKS PRIOR AND WERE APPARENTLY IN WORKING ORDER. SUSPICION THAT THROTTLE MAY HAVE STUCK OPEN, RESULTING IN INABILITY TO SLOW WITH BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS IN FRONTAL, T-BONE CRASH, TWO VEHICLES TOTAL LOSS WITH INJURIES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2012Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10468060
“SUBMISSION FROM RE FORD ESCAPE 2001 SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 11S24 *TGW THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JAN 2012. THE NOTICE INDICATED SHE WOULD BE INFORMED WHEN THE PARTS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE SAFETY RECALL WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE, WHICH WOULDN'T BE UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, WHICH WAS PRIOR TO THE RECALL, BUT WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED. SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CONSUMER WAS PARTLY COMPENSATED BY FORD IN THE FORM OF A CHECK FOR $1900 ACCOMPANIED BY A DOCUMENT WHICH STATED BY ACCEPTING THE COMPENSATION, SHE WOULD ALSO BE SIGNING OFF ON ANY OTHER CLAIMS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, EXHAUST MANIFOLD, MASTER CYLINDER, WIRING HARNESS, ABS, BRAKE LINE BOOSTER, POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION, TIE RODS, INTAKE MANIFOLD AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG WERE ALL REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FREEZE, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF, RENDERING THE DOOR UNSTABLE, THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING AND THE REAR SHOCK WERE LEAKING. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2012Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages, EquipmentFire reportedODI 10461520

Showing 6 of 121 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

3 recalls on this component

Service brakes

Remedy pending

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2002 ESCAPE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 22, 1999, THROUGH JULY 19, 2002, EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP THAT COULD LEAK BRAKE FLUID. IF BRAKE FLUID LEAKS FROM THE CAP, IT COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Jan 9, 2012NHTSA 12V005000

Service brakes

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE ABS MODULE CONNECTOR MAY HAVE MISSING OR DISLODGED WIRE SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER THE MODULE CONNECTOR, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Apr 10, 2007NHTSA 07V156000

Service brakes

Free remedy

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Mar 29, 2007NHTSA 07E023000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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