Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1993 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 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 36, in the owner's own words
INITIALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID, WHICH WAS BELOW MINIMUM REQUIRED. I HAVE NOW FILLED THE REQUIRED LEVEL. YESTERDAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE - NO COMPRESSION AT ALL. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN ALL THE WAY WITH NO COMPRESSION. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BUT LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL DUE TO MANUAL GEAR. *JB
THE BRAKES ON OUR 1993 FORD ESCORT LOCKED UP CAUSING CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BOTH FRONT CALIPERS, BOTH ROTORS, ALL HOSES AND PADS. THIS BRAKE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND EVEN DEATH. *JB
DT: PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT A USED LOT. AFTER 90 DAYS THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WENT OUT. BOUGHT IT WITH 48,000 MILES. WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS, AND THEY SAID IT HAD TOO MUCH WEAR FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAME OFF, THE SHOCKS WERE BAD, THE TIRES WERE AL DEFECTIVE, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER FROM WHO THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WAS OUT BUSINESS. *AK
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. THE BELT WILL TIGHTEN INADVERTENTLY, FEELING AS IF CONSUMER WAS BEING CHOKED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST $400.00. *AK....ALSO, FRONT FENDER AND MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE FENDER IS PEELING PAINT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND GOES OFF WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES AT STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHENEVER CONSUMER APPLIES THE BRAKES. *AK
BRAKES WEAK SINCE CAR WAS NEW. PEDAL GOES ALMOST COMPLETELY TO FLOOR BEFORE BRAKING AND EVEN THEN POORLY. HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS, DISCS, DRUMS, HOSES, MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER (EVERY COMPONENT), BLED AND ADJUSTED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO EFFECT. CALLING TO FORD TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND GET THEM TO FIX IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME. APPEARS MANUFACTURER WAS KNOWN OF A PROBLEM AND RELEASED A T.S.B. ONLY AFTER ALL VEHICLES COVERED WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. CHECKED WITH DEALER AND PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. I FELT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OUT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX IT. I AM ALL OUT OF OPTIONS. *LA
SPRING IN CALIPER WAS BROKEN, CAUSING PIN TO BEND AND BREAK. *AK
BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE VEHICLE STOPS. PROBLEM IS SO OFTEN THAT IT IS GETTING DIFFICULT TRYING TO AVOID HAVING AN ACCIDENT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STREET AT APRROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, DOWNSHIFTED/ APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. LOST CONTROL AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
BRAKE PEDAL SOMETIMES GOES TO FLOOR WHILE PROVIDING ONLY ABOUT 75% BRAKING POWER. PEDAL ALWAYS GOES ALMOST TO FLOOR ("NORMAL" FOR THIS CAR). BOTTOMS OUT WITHOUT FULL BRAKING TYPICALLY LEAVING A GAS STATION AND STOPPING JUST SHORT OF STREET BEFORE ENTERING TRAFFIC - REALLY GETS YOUR ATTENTION WHEN NOSE GOES OUT A COUPLE OF FEET FURTHER THAN YOU EXPECTED DUE TO NOT GETTING FULL BRAKING POWER. BLED MASTER CYLINDER, BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT OR CHANGE IN PEDAL HEIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER WHO CHECKED IT BUT FOUND NO DEFECTS, NOTHING TO ADJUST, AND WHO MADE NO EXPLANATION OF PROBLEM AND WHO OFFERED NO SUGGESTIONS FOR REPAIR. REPORTED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE, WHICH IS A WORTHLESS EXERCISE.
I HAVE A LOW BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER SAYS THAT EVERYONE COMPLAINS THAT THEIR CARS HAVE LOW BRAKE PEDALS. I HAVE TO ALMOST PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS. YOU CAN STOP THE CAR BUT IT SEEMS TO TAKE SOME FORCE. I AM USED TO A PEDAL THAT RESPONDS WITHIN THE TOP 1.5 INCHES. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF I AM THE ONLY COMPLAINTANT. SINCERELY YOURS, LARRY
ACCELERATION NOTICED WHILE DRIVING OVER 45MPH, AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN AFTER DRIVING OVER 45 MPH, SOMETIMES AS LITTLE AS 1 MINUTE. AT TIMES, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATED TO OVER 40 MP ON ITS OWN AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. ENGINE TEMPERATURE HAS RARELY BEEN IN THE NORMAL RANGE DURING THIS OCCURRENCE. THIS PROBLEM IS WEARING OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND APPLYING BRAKES WHEN PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND CONDITIONS HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND WHEELS WERE LOCKED. UPON DAUGHTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND KNEELING ON THE DRIVERS SEAT TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING, NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DUE TO THE STEEP INCLINE OF THE DRIVEWAY SHE COULD NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS MOVING TO QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A LEDGE, CHANGED DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT AND THEN STRUCK A UTILITY POLE.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON DRY PAVEMENT, WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THEY WOULD LOCK UP. VEHICLE THEN SKIDDED OFF ROAD, HIT TREE HEAD-ON. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PREVIOUS PROBLEM, DRIVER'S REAR WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP. HAS POLICE REPORT* AK.
FRONT RIGHT BRAKE MAKES LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION WELL EARLY IN COLD WEATHER, MUST BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIME TO KICK IN.
UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE REAR BRAKES GRAB, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER DETAILS. *AK
CAR STALLS.
REPEATED CALIPER FAILURE. WHEN BRAKES GET HOT, THE CALIPER WILL KEEP THE PADS PRESSED TO THE ROTOR.
WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, RDS GREASY LIKE, STARTED APPLYING BRAKES; THEY LOCKED UP; VEHICLE SKIDDED; HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S UNLOCKED. PASSENGER FLEW UNDER DASHBOARD; DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL W/CHEST. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK
BRAKES FAILED.
REAR BRAKES LOCK UP UPON APPLICATION.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON PERIODICALLY. HEADLIGHTS SOMETIMES WORK ONLY ON HIGH BEAM. IN ADDITION, FUEL CUT OFF LIGHT SOMETIMES FLASHES. ALSO, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS OUT OF PROPORTIONAL VALVE, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DRIVING. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A CATALOUGE PART NUMBER ON THE DEALER'S PARTS LIST THIS PART CAN NOT BE REPLACED AND THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE MUST KEEP ADDING BRAKE FLUID TO THE MASTER CYLINDER .*JB
EXPERIENCING ABS FAILURE. INABILITY TO STOP. PEDAL BYPASS. *AK
BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, DEALER HAD TO REPLACE DISK CALIPERS, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *AK
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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