1997 Ford E-150 Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 172,000.

NHTSA ID

10454528

Incident

Mar 24, 2012

Mileage

172,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED IN THREE SEPARATE LOCATIONS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. FORTUNATELY, IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. NO CONFIDENCE IN THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS VAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293283

Incident

Nov 23, 2009

Mileage

58,163 mi

BRAKES LINES BURST AND BRAKES ON VAN FAILED. ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE ROTTED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142600

Incident

Nov 8, 2005

Mileage

104,700 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E150. ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOST THROUGH THE REAR BRAKE LINES. THE MECHANIC DESCRIBED IT AS CORRODED, RUSTED LINES. THE CONSUMER REPORTED HAVING NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. HE NOTICED THIS TODAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10137421

Incident

Sep 23, 2005

APPROXIMATELY EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES I NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THE ROTORS ARE BADLY WARPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPERS, BUT THAT DID NOT HELP. THE REAR DRUMS ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND HAS LITTLE WEAR. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE REAR DRUMS ADJUSTED REGULARLY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE LONGEVITY OF THE FRONT BREAKS. I HAVE ABOUT 140,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES 7 OR 8 TIMES. I DID HAVE ONE ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR BREAKING, AND THE NEXT DAY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105866

Incident

Jan 6, 2005

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE PARKING CABLE WAS DESIGNED TOO SHORT, AND WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015646

Incident

Apr 10, 2003

WHILE BACKING UP INTO PARKING SPACE,WHEN I STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT GRAB. IT SEEMED LIKE THE VAN STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I SQUEEZED BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD AND I HEARD ABS CLICKING. I STILL DIDN'T STOP SO I HAD TO SHIFT CAR INTO PARK. THIS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS EARLIER.*AK

NHTSA ID

749847

Incident

Jun 26, 2001

THIS IS TO REPORT A CONTINUAL PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VAN. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. I HAVE TALKED TO OVER 30 FORD VAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FRONT BRAKES DEVELOP AN INCURABLE "SHIMMY" AND PREMATURE WEAR CAUSING MINOR DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS AND ALSO EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE WEAR. IN MY CASE, REAR BRAKES WERE PREMATURELY WORN TO THE POINT THAT ABS ENGAGED AND CREATED FURTHER "PULSING". THIS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AS FORD PROBLEM WITH CALIPERS TO FORD PROBLEM WITH ABS ON LATE MODEL VANS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE POSSIBILITY OF A PROBLEM. FIVE BRAKE REPAIRS IN 30,000 MILES WOULD INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS AND IS ALSO DANGEROUS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE? *AK

NHTSA ID

746565

TRIED TO STOP AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION. AFTER SEVERAL BRAKE ATTEMPTS THE BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE SITS IN RAIN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS IS ABOUT THE 10TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *AK

NHTSA ID

721867

Incident

Apr 11, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL WOULD SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FIGHT WITH STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

858561

WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY ABOUT 70MPH TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND GOT DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED FREE WHEELING. ABS LOCKED UP, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER.

NHTSA ID

856965

Incident

Feb 8, 2000

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HARD ON FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS FORM THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT. NOW THE ABS ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY IN MY OPINION. ON WET OR SNOW COVERED ROADS AT 15 MPH OR LESS THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO A FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE BRAKES ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN WET OR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT? THANKS

NHTSA ID

709180

Incident

Oct 1, 1997

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, ALSO, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

838334

WHEN APPLYING FRONT BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATES, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.DEALER HAS TURNED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ID

834447

MOTOR ACTS LIKE IT IS CHOKING AND WON'T TAKE GAS. IT SOMETIMES DIES AND HAVE TO RESTART. VEHICLE SOMETIMES DIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN AT INTERSECTION,CAUSING YOU TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. BRAKES ARE NOT GOOD. WHEN APPLIED HARD THEY VIBRATE VERY BAD.

NHTSA ID

701085

Incident

Jul 9, 1998

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. QCAW

NHTSA ID

539409

Incident

Mar 19, 1998

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

537308

Incident

Aug 1, 1997

BRAKES SQUEAL AND LOCK UP.

NHTSA ID

535528

Incident

Apr 14, 1998