Complete brake failure. Pedal went to the floor and car would not stop. I used the emergency brake to safely stop the vehicle. This happened once before about three years ago and a repair center was unable to duplicate. Brake master cylinder failed and needed to be replaced.

- Jericho, NY, USA

The brakes on the 1999 Mercury Sable that I purchased 4 years ago have been repaired and/or replaced 4 times! now they are going out again. I have had the rotors turned, and every other thing that has been suggested. When I asked the last mechanic why my brakes keep going out, he stated that this size of Ford was not supplied with an appropriate brake for the size of car. I asked what could be done to remedy the situation, and was informed that I would have to keep replacing the brakes. I think this is a horrible answer. I would like to know what Ford will do for me. I live in Oregon and am surrounded by mountains, but I don't dare go over any of the mountain ranges because going downhill and applying the brakes makes the entire car shimmy and it feels like I will lose control of the car and that it won't stop. I have to make weekly trips over the mountains, so I always rent a car. This is getting to be too expensive. I own my car free and clear and would like the brakes to stay fixed once I get them fixed before there is an accident.

- Springfield, OR, USA

Was driving in stop-and-go traffic near holland tunnels in nyc when brakes failed without warning. Went to stop and pedal traveled completely to floor. Had to use emergency brake to stop. 2 hour wait for tow truck, so decided to try driving again after 1 hour. Brakes appeared to function normally thereafter, although a little spongy at first.

- Altoona, PA, USA

Total casastropic brake faiure. With my wife driving we encountered a toll plaza on the garden state parkway in New Jersey. My wife attemped to slow the car and at that point exclaimed, "I have no brakes"....we went though the toll booths and stopped the car about 100 feet away using the emergency/parking brake. I opened the hood, and checked the level of brake fluid, it was full. I got behind the wheel and started the car and put it in drive. I too found the brake pedal on 'on the floor' with no stopping power, even at low crawl/idle speed. I again stopped the car using the only means, the parking brake. We had the car towed using a New Jersey authorized tow company to their facilities. They cheked the car, drove it, pulled all four wheels and found no problem. They test drove the car and found they were unable to duplicate my problem, brakes worked normally. We drove home about 150 miles using caution and the brakes worked normally as they are working now. We are two mature, well experienced drivers, and I am in the auto parts/repair business. I know with certainty that I had no brakes at the toll plaza, and my wife confirms that. Brake pedal was on the floor and would not even hold the car still at idle speed. I do not know what went wrong, but it is obviously a very dangerious defect, which can cause many fatalities. There should be redundantcy in the brakke system and this should not have happened, whatever the reason. The car is available for inspection if necessary. I have not decided on a further course of action at this point. Thank you

- Commack, NY, USA