2008 Ford Mustang Brakes Problems

I have a 2008 Ford Mustang with a V-6 engine. Recently I had to jump start it twice in a week's time to get it started and decided to take it to my dealer to have the battery checked. On the way there, I had to stop for a line of line of traffic at a red light. The instant I applied the brakes the engine started racing. I stood on the brakes as hard as I could, but could not bring the car to a complete stop. I got it slowed down to about three MPH, steered it into a parking lot that was next to me, and shoved it into park. I was afraid to drive it, so I called AAA and had it towed to my dealer. I told them how the engine started to race when I applied the brakes, and that I couldn't bring the car to a complete stop. They wrote it up that the engine started running rough when I applied the brakes. That is not what I told them. They made no written reference to the unintended acceleration. This struck me as odd. Their analysis of the vehicle showed that the master cylinder and brake power booster had failed. They told me that sometimes when these components fail they can cause the engine to rev. My engine more than revved, it sounded like it was racing at full throttle. The incident shook me up quite a bit. It also seemed odd to me that two major brake components would fail at the same time. I had gotten new front and read brake pads earlier in the years and no other brake issues were discovered. Though the car has been repaired and seems to be OK, I'm somewhat skittish about driving it. I'm aware that there was a class action law suit filed against Ford in 2013 for 2002-2010 Ford vehicles claiming unintended acceleration. Though the suit was dismissed, I'm worried that the problem still exists. I know for a fact that my foot was fully on the brake pedal, and that the floor mat played no role in this issue. I had no similar issues with the car in the fifteen years prior.

NHTSA ID

11560593

Incident

Dec 12, 2023

Accident after side swiping cattle guard, flew off the road at 70mph, landing roughly, and bouncing off desert terrain, trying to control crash outcome, realign no brakes, and no way to slow down vehicle, except no acceleration, and turned away from homes and power poles, to eventually slam into a a higher terrain, until complete stop. My repaired airbags didn't deploy, and at that speed, my passenger side wheels were shattered, tires flat, face hit the steering wheel and windshield, my knees hit dashboard, arms bounced off off everything the seat belt couldn't protect me from. Because of airbag failure to deploy, I ended up with 2 fractures, T9 and L1, 6 lose teeth making front teeth unable to use, and 2 cervical discs pushing into spinal column. I have Medicaid for insurance, and they will not do the surgery on my neck, so I have permanent nerve damage to my arms and hands, and the rest of my life to avoid any falls, or sudden injury to these areas so I can exist as a cripple, all because the safety equipment mandated by you, failed or was non existent. I had basic motor insurance coverage and no medical for me. What do you propose I do, with what's left of my car and my body parts, to continue existing in this life? Why have safety regulations when the equipment is knowingly defective, and costly, with no recourse in case something happens, before you as owner, are aware of it. I'm so pissed off to discover I own a vehicle, or paid for vehicle, that tried to kill me.

NHTSA ID

11516102

Incident

Oct 3, 2022

CAR WAS TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR AIRBAG RECALL AND ALL 4 WHEEL BRAKE JOB (12-2017). 7 MONTHS AFTER A GRINDING AND PULSATION PRESENTED ITSELF IN THE BRAKE PEDAL UNDER MEDIUM TO HARD BRAKING CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT FELT LIKE THE ABS WAS KICKING IN AND CAUSED DRIVER TO DRASTICALLY ADJUST BRAKING AND STEERING BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOUR BRAKES WERE FAILING AND YOUR CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WAS RETURNED (7-2018). DEALER REPLACED FRONT PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS, BUT THE GRINDING AND PULSATION RETURNED. BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (8-2018). THEY MACHINED ROTORS AGAIN, BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. BACK TO DEALERSHIP (10-2018). REPLACED ALL PADS AND ROTORS. OK FOR SHORT TIME BUT THE GRINDING RETURNED. CAR WAS PARKED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR A SECOND OPINION (9-2019), THEY VERIFIED THE COMPLAINT. BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. TIRES BALANCED, BRAKE FLUID CHANGED, SUSPENSION PARTS TIGHTENED BUT THE GRINDING PERSISTED. THE CAR FELT UNSAFE. BASICALLY, WAS RECOMMENDED EVERYTHING SHOULD BE SCRAPPED AND START OVER WITH ALL NEW BRAKE PARTS. I COULDN'T AFFORD DEALERSHIP PRICE A SECOND TIME IN 20 MONTHS, SO DID IT MYSELF WITH NAME BRAND, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PARTS. ALL PULSATION, GRINDING, THUNKING, VIBRATIONS AND EXCESSIVE SENSITIVITY TO ROAD CONDITIONS DISAPPEARED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, FOUND THE OEM MOTORCRAFT ANTI-RATTLE SHIM HAD DETACHED FROM THE BRAKE PADS AND BEGAN MIGRATING AROUND THE BACK OF THE PAD. LESS THAN 10K MILES AND 7 TOTAL TRIPS TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND I HAD TO THROW ALL THE FORD PARTS OUT AND FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF. ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REFUND MY $1K FOR THE ORIGINAL WORK. FORD KNEW PADS WERE DEFECTIVE AND STILL SENT CUSTOMERS OUT THE DOOR WITH FAULTY BRAKES. LARGE SAFETY CONCERN, OR AN OVERALL SCAM TO DEFRAUD CONSUMERS FOR REPEATED BRAKE REPAIRS-NOT SURE, BUT IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID

11271293

Incident

Dec 18, 2017

Mileage

67,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE GETTING HOME FROM A SHORT TRIP. AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD TO TURN SHARPLY TO AVOID A PARKED CAR AND WAS HEADED STRAIGHT INTO OUR NEIGHBORS HOUSE. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABOUT TO THROW THE CAR INTO PARK WHEN I REGAINED CONTROL. STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IT IN PARK AND TOLD MY TERRIFIED DAUGHTER TO GET OUT AND GO IN THE HOUSE. I BACKED UP, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PARKED IT. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW.

NHTSA ID

11254824

Incident

Sep 11, 2019

Mileage

121,200 mi

THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND AT THE SAME TIME THE BRAKING SYSTEM WENT OUT. THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED INTO THE DASH. I WAS IN THE MOTION OF MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ID

10909545

Incident

Sep 2, 2016

Mileage

114,798 mi

DRIVING DOWN MARTIN LUTHER KING DR. WHILE APPROACHING A CURVE AT 45 MPH VEHICLE STABILITY AND BRAKES GAVE OUT. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INCORRECTLY AND CAUSED INJURIES TO MYSELF AND A PASSENGER. SEAT BELTS ARE ALSO NO LONGING WORKING. BRAKES ARE

NHTSA ID

10811135

Incident

Aug 7, 2015

Mileage

63,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,600.

NHTSA ID

10735405

Incident

Jun 21, 2015

Mileage

2,600 mi

SEPT 14 2013. 1400 ON US 59S I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE, AND A FUNERAL PRECESSION WAS EXITING RIGHT SO WE SLIGHTLY DECELERATED AND SWITCHED TO THE MIDDLE LANE. AS I ACCELERATED TO ACQUIRE THE HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK; IMMEDIATELY I KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND TOLD FIANCE TO CALL 911. I BEGAN TO CONTINUOUSLY PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT. IT SLOWED THE CAR TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND IF I TRIED TO LIFT MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE EVEN MORE. ON THE PHONE WITH 911 --207PM-- WE WERE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I MOVED MY CAR TO THE LEFT LANE AND THEN TO THE LEFT SHOULDER LANE. (DURING THIS TIME I WAS CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO BRAKE AND SHIFT MY CAR TO NEUTRAL BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE; STILL BRAKING WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL, I TRIED TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE) FIANCE QUICKLY RE-DIALED 911 TO GIVE OUR LOCATION AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF OUR CONTROL AND THAT THIS WAS AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY. THE 911 OPERATOR TOLD MY FIANCE THAT A POLICE DISPATCHER WOULD BE CALLING HER BACK, TO WHICH SHE REPLIED WE NEEDED HELP IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE WE WERE APPROACHING ON SLOWER TRAFFIC. VERY QUICKLY AFTER, THE LEFT SHOULDER LANE ENDED SO I WAS FORCED TO MOVE THE CAR INTO THE FARTHEST LEFT LANE. IT SOON BECAME APPARENT THAT WE WOULD NOT AVOID A COLLISION, AND MY CAR HIT THE BACK OF A YELLOW SCION TC GOING APPROXIMATELY 100MPH. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RIGHT AWAY, MAKING IT UNCLEAR IF WE HIT ANY OTHER CARS. THE FINAL IMPACT THAT STOPPED OUR CAR WAS A CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. MY FIANCE AND I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE CAR AND STEPPED AWAY WHILE WE SIGNALED FOR HELP. WITHOUT A DOUBT OUR LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM US DUE TO THIS EVENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543695

Incident

Sep 14, 2013

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH , THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDAL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE, CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10499208

Incident

Feb 15, 2013

Mileage

54,000 mi

I PURCHASE THIS CAR FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP SIX MONTHS AGO. ON 04/08/2012 ABOUT 1:50 AM I WAS HEADING HOME FROM AIRMOUNT, NY. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT OFF A WINDING ROAD GOING DOWN HILL. AS I WAS DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK OUT OF NO WHERE. THEN BRAKES STARTED TO SHAKE .I KEPT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AND FAIL. AT THAT POINT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE NEVER DEPLOY IT FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454764

Incident

Apr 8, 2012

Mileage

26,000 mi

MY NIECE WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON 4/10/2009. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN A CAR SLOWED TO A STOP ON THE FREEWAY. SHE SLOWLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AS HARD AS SHE COULD. THE CAR'S BRAKES FAILED AND SHE RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE STOPPED CAR. SHE WAS GOING SLOWER THAN THE POSTED SPEED AND TRIED TO STOP FAR IN ADVANCE. MY NIECE SUFFERED WHIPLASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265015

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

18,000 mi

REAR BRAKES SQUEAK DURING NORMAL STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231054

Incident

Feb 15, 2008

Mileage

6,670 mi

BRAKE NOISE DURING NORMAL BRAKING OR DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230265

Incident

May 12, 2008

Mileage

10,730 mi