This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Car to dealership on 6/1/07 for service. Brake pads replaced, rotors turned, tires rotated, replaced stabilizer bar. Left dealer and in less than 2 miles, ABS dash light came on. Went back to dealership for inspection--thinking maybe something had gone awry when car was serviced. Per them (and they showed me what was wrong), collar on outside of axel that turns to send signal to ABS sensor has a crack that will intermittently make the ABS brake system come on. Replacement per them--$425.
The consumer had the brakes checked and was told the brake pads separated, and that was why she was not able to slow down the vehicle. The parking brakes froze once the brakes were on and the consumer was unable to release the brakes without getting under the vehicle to pull the cable.
There was a groaning noise coming from the brakes, when the vehicle was at a complete stop but idling. There was also a burning smell coming from the air vents. Upon inspection of the vehicle by the dealership the steering pump and pressure line had ruptured. The dealership indicated it was caused by the power steering fluid being contaminated.
I have a 2003 Ford Escape. On April 17, 2003 I took my vehicle into the Ford dealership in vacaville with a complaint about the brakes making a grinding noise (25,503 miles). They told me that they could not duplicate the noise and checked the front brakes. They claimed to have measured the brake pads at above 5mm of pad remaining. The noise continued. I took the vehicle back to the dealership on June 27, 2003 (28,720 miles). This time they heard the noise as well as a bearing noise. They measured the brakes at 3mm and told me that the rotors may be warped. I left the vehicle for the bearing repair and received a phone message (on my answering machine) that they re-measured that brake pads and found them to be 2mm not 3mm. They didn't mention anything about the rotors. I asked about the excessive wear of the brake pads and they said that it was normal wear. They told me that they could do nothing about the pads or the rotors. I called my brother-in-law that works for Ford and told him about my experience. He made some phone calls and found out from one of Ford's engineers that they have problems with brake wear (both pads and rotors) on the Escape and the Ford Focus. Today (30,270 miles) I took my Escape to midas and had a brake inspection. The midas employee said that the rotors are worn down below specs and need to be replaced. He also said that the rotors should not wear that quickly. As to the pads he said that it was normal wear because they are ceramic pads. I went to the Ford dealership in vacaville with this information. They told me that there was nothing that Ford could do for me about the brake rotors. The individual told me that Ford uses soft aluminum rotors on both the Escape and the Focus and they wear out very quickly. My concern for Ford is that if they use substandard equipment and do not seem to be concerned, are they not opening themselves up to a law suit if their "soft rotors" fail and cause an accident.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Oberlin, OH, USA