1999 Ford Taurus service brakes, hydraulic problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CRUISE TO A STOP SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.”

“MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD, AND I COULD NOT STOP SO I CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND IT IN TURN CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. *TR”

“A 51 POINT INSPECTION DONE ON A 1999 FORD TAURUS I PURCHASED THAT HAD THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUES: CRACKED BRAKES, LOOSE PINION ROD, TRANSMISSION, STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER TO NAME A FEW ITEMS. REQUIRED A FLUSHING, OIL, ETC. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE MOST OF THESE ITEMS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. SOME OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT I ALSO HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED DUE TO FUNDS. THESE ITEMS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD HAVE CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR”

“WHILE DRIVING IN A SMALL TOWN I EXPERIENCED A LOSS IN BRAKING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN HAD IT TRANSPORTED TO A GARAGE. THEY FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. THIS CAUSED FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKES. ON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM THEY FOUND THAT THEIR WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE REAR BRAKES. THIS LEAK WAS CAUSED BY EXTERNAL CORROSION OF THE LINE. I THOUGHT THAT THESE LINES WERE STAINLESS STEEL, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CORRODED DUE TO SALT ON THE ROADWAY. IF THE LINES ARE NOT MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL, THEY SHOULD BE. THE FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE LEAK IN THE LINE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT DID NOT BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED. I LOST THE COMPLETE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR. *TR”

“I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A CAR DEALER. SINCE I PURCHASE MY BOLTS TO THE BACK BRAKES CAME OUT. FRONT END IS MAKING NOISES ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. BACK WINDOW IS READY TO BREAK OFF MISSING PASSENGER SIDE HINGE TO HOLD THE WINDOW IN PLACE. BRAKES SQUEAL. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY FOR EXAMPLE THE POWER DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK, THE POWER SEAT DOES NOT ADJUST WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON, THE TRUNK CAN NOT BE OPENED WITH THE KEY, THE DOORS HAVE TO BE UNLOCK MANUALLY. *TR”

“TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE: HAVING WORKED ON CARS FOR 40+ YEARS AND OWNED MANY VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS, IT WAS A SURPRISE TO SUFFER TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT EVER HAVING THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATE A FAILURE. FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, ALL MY VEHICLES HAD A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BRAKE CIRCUIT WITH A PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH THAT WOULD LATCH AND LIGHT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS A PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE WAS CAUGHT BY THE WARNING LIGHT. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED QUICKLY AS DRIVING WITH ONE CIRCUIT IS DANGEROUS. THE 1999 FORD TAURUS HAS NO BRAKE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL SWITCH, NO KIDDING! IF ONE DOES NOT MAKE PANIC STOPS AS A REGULAR PART OF DRIVING, IT IS EASIER THAN ONE WOULD THINK TO HAVE A PARTIAL FAILURE GO UNDETECTED (DESPITE THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN EXTRA PEDAL TRAVEL). WHEN THE SECOND CIRCUIT FAILS THE RESULT IS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE, THE SAME TYPE OF THINKING AS THE FORD PINTO FUEL TANK. FORGET THE CUP HOLDER, SPEND THE MONEY ON THE SAFETY SWITCH!!! I SHUDDER TO THINK OF PEOPLE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS MISSING SWITCH. *TR”