Problems · by component

1998 Ford Escort service brakes, hydraulic problems

30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Escort cite service brakes, hydraulic, 8% of all 389 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
30
8% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DT: 1998 FORD ESCORT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTICED THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN , APPROXIMATELY 1 TURNS FROM THE TOP. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS.*AK THE CAPLIPERS WERE REPLACED DUE THEM BEING FROZEN. THE CRANK PULLEY AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE REPLACE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2005Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingODI 10132258
“WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED , AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SMASHING INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER REFUSED MEDICAL ATTENTION ON THE SCENE, BUT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL LATER THAT DAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 8, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10111174
“ACCELERATOR CAN EASILY BE MASHED DOWN DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL BEING SMALL. ALSO, BECAUSE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT SIT HIGH OVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT IS CAUSING SOME DRIVING DIFFICULTIES. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2002Service brakes, hydraulicODI 8008593
“WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY LOCKED ON ONE SIDE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SPIN, AND RESULTING IN A COLLISION/ ROLLOVER. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2001Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 898859
“WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE, AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF BRAKES AND LANDED IN A DITCH, AND SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT A BOLT NEVER SNAPS FROM THE BOOSTER IN THAT WAY, FUTHERMORE THE DELAER STATES THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. AND A NEW ONE WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2001Service brakes, hydraulicODI 785451
“NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. DEAELR HAS REPLACED 3-4 SETS OF BRAKES. ALSO, REPLACED ROTORS TWICE, AND RESURFACED ROTORS TWICE.THERE WAS CONSTANT SQUEAKING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2001Service brakes, hydraulicODI 887691

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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