Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 87 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 87, in the owner's own words
AS I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND RED LIGHT, MY BRAKES SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I LITERALLY HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE AND IT FINALLY STOPPED MOVING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AT LESS THAN 10 MPH AND HAD TO LET OFF THE GAS IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO ATTEMPT TO USE THE BRAKES AND CAR WOULD SHAKE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO CHECKED THE CODE AND IT WAS THE TRAVEL SENSOR.
ABS BREAK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD IN A SMALL TOWN AND WAS STOPPING TO TURN ON TO A ROAD. THE PROBLEM HAD ALSO HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE HAS STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME AND I NEEDED TO BREAK SUDDENLY. HAD BREAK FLUID CHANGED AT FORD DEALERSHIP AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN YOU NEED TO STOP SUDDENLY AND HIT THE BREAKS HARD, THE PEDAL HARD IT STIFFENS UP AND WILL NOT STOP THE CAR. IF YOU TURN OFF THE CAR AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND TURN IT BACK ON, IT SEEMS TO RESET IT UNTIL YOU HIT THE BREAKS HARD AGAIN.
I WAS DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ON A CITY STREET. AS TRAFFIC SLOWED I BEGAN TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUDDENLY I GOT SEVERAL ALERTS ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (BRAKE, ABS, AND REGEN DISCONNECT). AT THE SAME TIME I LOST ALL OR MOST OF MY BRAKING POWER. I WAS FORCED TO USE THE PARK BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AND BARELY AVOIDED A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE.THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR A SHORT TIME, WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE SYSTEM APPARENTLY RESET ITSELF AND WHEN I RE-STARTED THE ENGINE ALL FUNCTIONS WERE OPERATIONAL ONCE AGAIN, AND ALL THE ALERTS WERE GONE. HOWEVER, THIS PERIOD WAS BRIEF. THINKING THIS MIGHT BE A SYSTEM GLITCH, I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE NEXT DAY THIS FAILURE RETURNED AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES OF DRIVING. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS FLAW IN THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM OF THIS MODEL YEAR FORD ESCAPE, AND POSSIBLY OTHER MODEL YEARS. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THEY INFORMED ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE. AS A MECHANIC I FIND THIS RIDICULOUS. AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH ONLINE I FOUND MANY HYBRID FORD ESCAPE OWNER'S THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID. AT THIS POINT I DEEMED MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND DECIDED THE BEST THING TO DO WAS TO REPORT THIS FAILURE TO THE NHTSA WITH THE HOPES THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FAILURE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. MY OPINION IS THE PROBLEM IS IN THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. (HCU). THIS IS A COMPLEX ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL UNIT THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THE FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. FOR THE RECORD MY VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 146,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
INTERMITTENT ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WITH ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING.
VEHICLE WAS FAILING TO STOP WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. CODES CAME BACK FROM DEALER THAT HCU AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED $7100 WHICH IS MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. OTHER YEAR MODES HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, AND AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY DO NOT WORK. AFTER BRINGING IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, THE PART ITSELF IS ABOUT $5,000 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. (HYDROCOLIC CONTROL UNIT). THEY DIDNT RECOMMEND FIXING IT BECAUSE OF HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS. I STILL OWE $5,000 SO IM STUCK PAYING FOR A PART THAT IS WORTH MORE THEN THE CAR ITSELF.
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL HAS TO BE PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS POINT THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. *TT UPDATED 9/12/18*JB
I WAS APPROACHING A T-INTERSECTION AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL RESISTED MY FOOT PRESSURE AND I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. I MANAGED TO MANEUVER THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AND SPOTTED A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS. THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN FAILED TO WORK WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER, BUT I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.. ONLY, THIS TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOD, WITH NO BRAKING EFFECT TO THE VEHICLE. THIS TIME, UNLIKE THE FIRST, 2 BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS (ABS & BRAKES!) ILLUMINATED ON THE DRIVER'S CONSOLE. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, AND THE INDICATORS HAD DISAPPEARED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD NORMAL RESISTANCE TO MY FOOT PRESSURE AND THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY. I CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS A 'GLITCH', AND SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SENSOR OR SOME OTHER COMPUTER MALFUNCTION, BUT THAT NO WORK DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE COVERED SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WANTING MORE INFORMATION, I LOCATED A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE.COM THAT SHOWS ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VIDEO IS SEARCHABLE AND IS FOUND UNDER THE TITLE OF 'FORD ESCAPE HYBRID BRAKE PROBLEM'. I SEARCHED FOR ANY RECALLS FOR THIS SAME VEHICLE'S VIN, BUT FOUND NONE LISTED. WHAT CAN BE DONE ON BEHALF OF THE CONSUMER, ESPECIALLY IF THOSE VIDEO COST ESTIMATIONS ARE CORRECT?
REHAN BRAKE FAILURE NO WARNING WONT STOP OR GO AWAY TRUCK IS NOT ABLE TO MOVE NO BRAKES AT ALL MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHER 2006 FAILURE AND FORD SAYS THEY KNOW ABOUT IT BUT WONT DO ANYTHING FOR CONSUMERS BOUGHT A 2008 AND SAME THING IS NOW HAPPENING WITH 08 HYBRID
I BOUGHT A 10 YEAR OLD 2006 ESCAPE HYBRID WITH 73,000 MILES. AFTER 4,000 MILE THE ABS LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND THE BRAKES WOULD GO INTO MANUAL MODE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS READ CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REGEN DISENAGED. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CAR STILL DID STOP WITH MORE BRAKE PRESSURE. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESET THE ERROR CODES AND GAVE US BACK THE CAR. THEY STATED THIS WAS PER THE FORD CORPORATE STANDARDS AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES DESPITE THE ERROR CODES. ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN AND KEPT HAPPENING. HOWEVER, THIS TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT AND WE ARE NOT CONFIDENT IT WILL STOP EVERY TIME AS IT DID BEFORE. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. NOW FORD HAS DIAGNOSED AN ISSUE WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER, HCU AND ABS COMPUTER ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $8100 (I ONLY PAID $7500 FOR THE CAR). SINCE FORD ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN CALIBRATE THE ABS COMPUTER WE CANNOT GET THE REPAIR CHEAPER ELSEWHERE. FORD WILL DO NOTHING BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD.
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE,(VEHICLE IS STATIONARY) THE ABS LIGHTS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON. THE BRAKES GO INTO A SAFETY MODE, AND DON'T WORK UNLESS YOU PUSH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I CAN ALMOST ROLL DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED DOWN ALL OF THE WAY. MY DRIVEWAY HAS A SLIGHT ANGLE TO IS. NOT MUCH OF AN ANGLE THOUGH. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE BRAKES ARE GOING TO GO OUT OR NOT.
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM
ABS LIGHT COMES ON. BRAKES ARE LOOSE. HAPPENED NOW MORE THAN 10 TIMES. WE JUST PULL OVER THE SIDE AND TURN OFF THE CAR. START AGAIN AND BRAKES WORK FINE FOR A WHILE. THIS IS AN SCARY CAR. I USE TO DRIVE MY KIDS AROUND.
BRAKES SUDDENLY FAIL. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKE FAILS UNEXPECTANTLY AND YOU MUST USE EXTREME FORCE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND THEY WILL WORK AGAIN AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON LINE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. NOT ONLY DID I FIND MANY COMPLAINTS BUT THESE WERE ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS OF PRODUCTION.
BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON. ABS LIGHT ALSO COMES ON - LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ABS COMES ON.
MY VEHICLE HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT OCT.9,2015 WITH 72,000 MILES ON IT. IN MAY 2016 THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OUT AND THE MESSAGE WOULD READ "SERVICE ENGINE" ALONG WITH A YELLOW WRENCH APPEARING ON THE DASH. I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A HARNESS. I PAID 1004.00 FOR THE NEW HARNESS AND THEY ALSO INSTALLED A FAN FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE CAR DID IT AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER AND I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND HAD TO CALL FORD TO GET THE CORRECT CODES TO FIX THE CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DONE AND PICKED IT UP. THE SAME THING HAPPENED LESS THAN 4 DAYS LATER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN AND LET THE DEALERSHIP SEND MY CAR HOME WITH A MECHANIC FOR 2 DAYS. I WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG AND PICKED IT UP. I NOW HAVE THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON, THE RED TRIANGLE SAFETY LIGHT COMING ON, THE RED BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON, THE LOW TIRES LIGHT COMING ON (IT STAYS ON) AND THE YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT COMING ON. AT NIGHT WHEN I TURN ON MY RIGHT BLINKER THE HIGH BEAMS COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND NO CODES COME UP ON THEIR MACHINE. WHEN I BRAKE I HAVE TO PUSH VERY HARD AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKES LOCK UP ON ME. I HAVE AVOIDED ACCIDENTS SO FAR BUT I AM CONCERNED AT THIS POINT. I DO NOT WANT TO BE INJURED OR KILLED AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO INJURE OR KILL ANYONE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD BE AVOIDED, IF FORD HAD A MECHANIC THAT KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE CAR. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC AND I HAVE TO STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT. THIS IS GOOD FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT ACTS UP AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE VERY STIFF, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SKID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAN WAS CHANGED IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, DASH LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE.
VEHICLE DASH BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. DEALER ADVISED MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2500. IN ADITION, HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT MIGHT ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED, FOR AN ADDITIONAL $4000, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT TELL UNTIL THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE NO BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE STOPPED USING THE HAND BRAKE AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION, PREPARING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHEN MY BREAKS COMPLETELY FAILED. THE BREAK PEDAL WAS STIFF, AND WOULD NOT BUDGE. WE HIT TWO CARS THAT WERE SITTING AT THE INTERSECTION, TOTALING MY FORD ESCAPE AS WELL AS ONE OF THE OTHER CARS. IN THE PAST, THE "SERVICE BREAKS" LIGHT WOULD GO ON OCCASIONALLY IN THE SUMMER DURING THE HOT MONTHS, GIVING THE CAR SLIGHTLY LESS BREAK PRESSURE. THIS WAS NEVER A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND HAS ALWAYS CORRECTED ITSELF ANYTIME I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A WHILE. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER HAVING THE BREAKS CHECKED, THEY COULD NEVER DETECT A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, MY CAR HAD ROUTINE INSPECTIONS DONE DURING AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND A FULL SERVICE INSPECTION BEFORE THIS. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD, AND THE ACCIDENT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. AFTER RESEARCH, I FOUND MANY 2004-2006 HYBRID FORD ESCAPE OWNERS TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS AND EXPERIENCES.
MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES BECAME MANUAL. WHEN I CHECKED ON THE CODES (C1478, C1313 & C1480) I FOUND THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM, THAT THE REPAIR COST IS RIDICULOUS AT APPROXIMATELY $5000. AND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRIDS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD!
THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR RING, ALSO KNOWN AS THE TONE RING, CAN SPLIT OR CRACK WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF ABS AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. IT'S A KNOWN DEFECT, IS FRIGHTENING WHEN IT HAPPENS, AND SHOULD HAVE LONG AGO RESULT IN A RECALL.
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BRAKE, MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HYDROLIC REGENERATIVE BREAKING SYSTEM AND ABS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS, SPEEDS BETWEEN 0-40MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BECOME VERY HARD AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESS WITH LOSS OF BRAKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I AM FORCED TO RAPIDLY RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKE AGAIN (PUMPING) THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS PUMPING OF THE BRAKES HAS CAUSE THE BREAK PEDAL TO GO FROM HARD/IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH TO COMPLETELY SOFT HITTING THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING CAPABILITIES. ON THESE OCCASIONS I AM FORCED TO PULL OF THE ROAD QUICKLY, DOWNSHIFT TO LOW GEAR AND EVEN USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. ONLY ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME WHEN THIS EVENT OCCURRED DOES THE ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATE OR DISPLAY. WHEN THIS OCCURRES I AM USUALLY FORCED TO TURN THE ENGIN OFF, REMOVE THE KEY, LET THE SYSTEM PURGE (MAKES NOISE) AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO KEEP DRIVING AND FIX THE ISSUE. SOMETIMES IT FIXES TO ISSUE FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVING TIME WHILE OTHERS ONLY WORK TEMPORARILY AND THE ISSUE RETURNS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I FEEL THAT THIS BRAKING ISSUE IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND I AND OUR PIECE OF MIND IN THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT GOOD. AS AN ADDITIONAL NOTE THIS BRAKE ISSUE ONLY BECAME EVIDENT AFTER WE HAD ANOTHER RECALL ISSUE FIXED ON THIS VEHICLE FOR STALLING. BEFORE THAT FIX WE NEVER HAD ANY BRAKING ISSUES.
DRIVING CAR AND BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. HAD TO JUMP ON THE BRAKES TO GET ANY TRACTION WHATSOEVER. WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. YELLOW ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON, ALONG WITH MESSAGES OF CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REGEN BRAKES DISABLED. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ESCAPE HYBRID THAT IT IS THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT - A PART TO REPAIR WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH.
THE BRAKES ON OUR 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID BEGAN GRINDING AROUND FEBRUARY 2016. WE HAD THE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED AND IT BRAKED BETTER, BUT WITHIN A MILE AFTER LEAVING THE FORD SERVICE CENTER THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND SHORTLY AFTER - WHILE MOVING - THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. WE HAD TO COAST TO A STOP AND PULL OVER. WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND TURNED ON AND OFF, YOU CAN SOMETIMES GET THE BRAKES TO WORK FOR LESS THAN A MILE. ITS SO UNSAFE, WE HAD IT TOWED TO SERVICE CENTERS FOR ESTIMATES. TWO FORD DEALERS AND ONE OTHER SERVICE PLACE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM THOROUGHLY AND ALL CAME BACK SAYING THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT MUST BE REPLACED AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $4,500. OTHERWISE, WE LIKE THE CAR, BUT THIS ONE REPAIR IS GREATER THAN THE BLUE BOOK VALUE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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