76 complaints reported

2001 Ford Escape SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
76
Crashes
1
Fires
13
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2010

DRIVING 2001 FORD ESCAPE, V-6, 3.0L. AT INTERSECTION BRAKES FAILED AND COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. PARKED VEHICLE AT NEAREST POSSIBLE LOCATION AND FOUND BRAKE HOSE LEADING TO PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER HAD CRACKED ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND RELEASE PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2010
Dec 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE "BRAKE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY A LOW POWER RESPONSE. ALSO THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. THE FAILURES PROGRESSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07E023000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER). NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2006
Jun 2009 Fire

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY RAN SOME TESTS. THEY SAID THE ABS MODULE WAS PROBABLY THE CAUSE BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ONE IN STOCK. THEY WOULD ORDER IT AND CONTACT ME TO SCHEDULE INSTALLATION. THEY DID NOT INDICATE THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. I DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME AND TO WORK THE NEXT DAY. ON THE WAY HOME AFTER WORK A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT LEFT FRONT SIDE WHICH IS NEAR THE BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. I PUT THE FIRE OUT AND CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER THE NEXT DAY. NEITHER FORD OR FARMERS INSURANCE COULD PINPOINT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE BUT THEIR WAS DAMAGE AROUND THE ABS AND ITS WIRING. FORD HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE. I REMEMBERED A SAFETY RECALL WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY HAVING TO DO WITH THE ABS. I RECHECKED AND DISCOVERED THAT SIMILAR FIRES WERE THE REASON FOR THE RECALL. FORD SAID THEY DID PERFORM THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I CHECKED FURTHER ON LINE AND SAW THAT A SAFETY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BECAUSE THE REMEDY BY FORD HAS NOT ELIMINATED VEHICLE ABS WIRING FIRES. I BELIEVE MY FORD ESCAPE IS ANOTHER CASE OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT AND FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE AND RELATED EXPENSES I HAVE INCURRED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2009
May 2009 Fire

WHILE ATTENDING A SCHOOL PLAY, I WAS CALLED OUTSIDE B/C MY FORD ESCAPE WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ALARM WAS GOING OFF. I HAD BEEN INSIDE & THE CAR SHUT OFF FOR 25 MIN. BEFORE BEING CALLED OUT. SMOKE & FIRE WAS BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND FIRE WAS DROPPING ON THE GROUND BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE PRIED UP ON THE SIDES AND FRONT IN ORDER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. EVERYTHING INSIDE HAD MELTED. THEY ASKED IF I HAD NOTICED ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE CAR. IT HAD BEEN A LITTLE SLOW TO START FOR A COUPLE DAYS, BUT SEEMED TO RUN FINE. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I NEEDED TO CHECK THE SPARK PLUGS. THE FIRE DEPT. SUGGESTED I CONTACT FORD TO CHECK ON ANY POTENTIAL RECALLS. FORD MOTOR VERIFIED THAT CONFIRMED THAT RECALL #07S51 DID APPLY TO THE VEHICLE BASED ON MY VIN#. REMEMBERING BACK, EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MY ABS LIGHT DID COME ON, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS UNUSUAL. BUT IT DID NOT STAY ON LONG, SO I WAS NOT CONCERNED. I FILED A REPORT WITH FORD'S CRC. THEY HAVE SUBMITTED THE REPORT TO THEIR GENERAL COUNCIL. THEY SAID TO EXPECT UP TO 15 BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE RECEIVING A RESPONSE ON NEXT THE STEPS. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. I HAVE A REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPT. PICTURES, AFFIDAVITS AND A PERSONAL WRITTEN REPORT. THIS WAS MY ONLY VEHICLE. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, BUT ONCE SHE ADDED BRAKE FLUID EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. UPDATED 09/14/09.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2009
Feb 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED A FEW SECONDS LATER. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FIRST BRAKE HOSE FAILED AND THE SECOND ONE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE HOSES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2009
Feb 2009 Fire

MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE ALARM STARTED GOING OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY, UPON INVESTIGATION THERE WAS SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE OPENED THE HOOD AND USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON THE ABS BRAKE MODULE/WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ALLSTATE INSURANCE STATES THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. I HAD COMPLETED THE RECALL FOR THIS PART IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, 10 MONTHS LATER MY VEHICLE CATCHES ON FIRE. THE REPAIRS COMPLETED AT FORD SINCE THE FIRE HAVE BEEN TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS, THE HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK CONTROL UNIT/MODULE AND OTHER AFFECTED BURNT PARTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2008
Jan 2009

I HAVE AS 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLS THAT ALL FOUR BRAKE LINES ARE CRACKED ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH, MAKING IT ALMOST EMINENT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RUPTURE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, DAYS EVEN. I UNDERSTAND ONE BRAKE LINE GOING OUT ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT WITH ONLY 126,000 I FIND IT UNBELIEVABLE THAT ALL FOUR LINES COULD BE LIKE THIS. IT MAKES ME WONDER JUST HOW MANY FORD'S ON THE ROAD ARE JUST ABOUT READY TO LOOSE THEIR BRAKE FUNCTION. SOUNDS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. I HAVEN'T REPLACED ANY OF THE LINES YET, BECAUSE NOBODY CARRIES THE PART. FORD TOLD ME TO GO TO THE LOCAL DEALER, ALREADY DID AND NO PART. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG HERE. THIS IS MY COMPLAINT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2008
Nov 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, HE COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, BUT DID NOT SEE SMOKE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE ABS LIGHT WENT OUT, THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO CHECK WHICH FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE IDENTIFIED THAT THE ABS AND CRUISE CONTROL SHARED THE SAME FUSE. CURRENTLY, EVERYTIME HE REPLACES A FUSE, IT FAILS. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTI-LOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). HE WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AT THE DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE ABS AND SPEED CONTROL WERE ON THE SAME FUSE, AND THE ABS MODULE WAS BURNED OUT. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED UNDER THE RECALL ONCE. UPDATED 02/19/10.*JB UPDATED 09/07/10

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2008
Aug 2008 Fire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER; HOWEVER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED IT INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTI-LOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. HE WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2007, THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED. THEREFORE, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT FORD WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2008
May 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOOSTER. THE VEHICLE MADE A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS A RAPID LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. SHE ALSO STATED THAT BRAKING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR SIX MONTHS, DIMMED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT THEN ILLUMINATED AGAIN. WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE), THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER (BECAUSE OF THE LEAK) ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,129 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,080.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2007
Apr 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ABS COMPUTER SYSTEM BEGAN SMOKING . AN INTENSE ELECTRICAL SMELL WAS PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS, ECU MODULE, AND THE HCU MODULE WERE DAMAGED. A POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED BUT THERE WAS NO FIRE, JUST A LOT SMOKE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,005. UPDATED 06/30/08 *BF UPDATED 06/30/08

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2008
Mar 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKED AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A MEMO TO VEHICLE OWNERS STATING TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT CAP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,190 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED BOUGHT A NEW CAP AT THE COST OF $17.61. UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2008
Oct 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND ONCE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT RE-INSPECT THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A REPAIR THAT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2007
Sep 2007 Fire

MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY STARTED TO CATCH ON FIRE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS THE ABS MODULE LIKE IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE06048. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2007
Aug 2007 Fire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE END OF THE WEEK. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE THAT SAME NIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLAMES ROSE AT LEAST 20 FEET HIGH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FRONT END UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WAS COMPLETELY BURNT AND THE ENGINE FELL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND FORD WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 07V156000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE ). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2007
Jul 2007

BRAKE PROBLEM INVOVING ABS SENSOR RING ON FRONT WHEELS. THIS WHEEL RING LITERALLY CRACKED CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR TO OPERATE THE BRAKES. THE RING WAS "EPOXYED" BACK TOGETHER BY MY MECHANIC, BUT NOW THE BRAKES ON OCCASION MAKE A "CLUNKING" NOISE AND YOU CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL. SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2007
Apr 2007

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE IN FOR SERVICE FOR RECALL #07S51. WHILE A PARTIAL REPAIR HAS BEEN COMPLETED THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR TOTALLY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST. WHILE FORD STATES THE VEHICLE IS OK TO DRIVE THEY INFORMED ME NOT TO PARK NEAR STRUCTURES OR INSIDE GARAGES UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETED IN AUGUST, THEY CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE IF I DO SO. THAT STATEMENT MAKES ME BELIEVE THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY IN, YET FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION OR EXPEDITE THE REPAIR OR OFFER ME A SAFE VEHICLE ON LOAN UNTIL MINE CAN BE 100% REPAIRED. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS AND EMAILS TO FORD TO GET ACTION ON THIS REPAIR AND HAVE BEEN TREATED RUDELY AND DISMISSED TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE FOR ME. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
Apr 2007

ON APRIL 15, 2007, I WENT TO VALUE BRAKES TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED. THEY WERE FINE, BUT MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I PAID $284.83 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2007
Feb 2007

THE MORNING OF 2/20/07 I WENT OUT TO START MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE TO GO TO WORK AND AS I WAS WALKING OUT TO THE GARAGE I SAW SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF MY HOOD. I RAN OVER AND POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM. I PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF MY GARAGE FEARING A HOUSE FIRE AND A FRIEND UNHOOKED MY BATTERY . WHEN THE SMOKING AND SPARKING SUBSIDED THE ABS CONTROL BOX WAS MELTED AND ALL THE WIRES WERE BURNED AND MELTED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AT THIS TIME AND THEY TOLD ME NO. I GOOGLED CONSUMER REPORTS AND SAW AN ARTICLE THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THAT YOU WERE INVESTIGATING 8 OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS IT HAS JUST HAPPENED AND HONESTLY IS SEEMS TO BE QUITE EXPENSIVE TO REMEDY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY YOUR INVESTIGATION WILL RESULT IN SOME SORT OF RECALL. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2007
Apr 2006

2001 XLT - HISSING NOISE WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES. IF TAPPED THE SOUND DECREASES. THIS JUST STARTED AT 75K. WILL NEED TO GET BOOSTER CHANGED. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TO ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2006
Dec 2005

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLT V6, 4 WHEEL DRIVE. MY TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 75000 MILES OF USE. I FEEL THE INCIDENT I CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS IT INVOLVES A MALFUNCTION OF THE ANIT-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES BRAKING ACTION (ON DRY PAVEMENT!) WHEN IT OCCURS. I AM ALSO AWARE OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE ABS TO ACTIVATE ON DRY PAVEMENT, WHEN ABSOLUTELY NO SLIPPAGE IS OCCURRING AT ANY WHEEL. THE ACTIVITY OF THE ABS SYSTEM ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES BRAKING CAPACITY AND CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO DOWN NOTICEABLY FURTHER THAN NORMAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. ONLY A QUICK AVOIDANCE MANEUVER ALLOWED ME TO AVOID REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. PUMPING THE BRAKES DOES NOT HELP SINCE THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL MODULE IS MODULATING THE BRAKES AT SUCH A RATE, PUMPING THE BRAKE DOES NOT PRODUCE A FIRMER PEDAL. I HAVE TRACED THE PROBLEM TO A FAULTY ABS SYSTEM ROTATION TRANSDUCER DESIGN ON THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE ESCAPE. THE TRANSDUCER IS BASICALLY A SPLINED RING ABOUT 8MM WIDE. THE RING IS APPARENTLY FRICTION FIT ONTO THE HALF-SHAFT NEAR THE FRONT CV JOINTS JUST INSIDE OF THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY. A SENSOR APPARENTLY PICKS UP THE PEAKS OR VALLEYS IN THE SPLINED RING AS IT ROTATES PAST THE SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHEEL ROTATION SPEED. IT IS THE SPLINED RING THAT FAILS, MINE ACTUALLY SPLIT ACROSS ITS WIDTH CAUSING IT TO LOOSEN AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE SENSOR. THIS APPARENTLY CAUSES THE ABS SYSTEM TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY AND ACTUALLY CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN BRAKING CAPACITY ON DRY PAVEMENT! THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WILL OCCUR 5-10 TIMES BEFORE THE ABS CONTROLLER DETERMINES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND SWITCHES OFF THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS ILLUMINATES THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DOES RESTORE NORMAL BRAKING PERFORMANCE. THIS CYCLE WILL REPEAT ITSELF EACH TIME THE TRUCK IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2005
Nov 2005

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD CAR INSPECTED, DETERMINED BACK HALF OF MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEVEL TO DROP AND WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. MASTER CYLINDER TO BE REPLACED, REAR BRAKES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED AND ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2005
Aug 2005

A HISSING NOISE IS COMING FROM MY BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE IT GOES AWAY BUT WHEN I LET UP ON THE BRAKE IT STARTS MAKING THE HISSING NOISE AGAIN. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005
May 2005

BRAKE FLUID FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED ON A WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSED MULTIPLE SYSTEM FAILURES INCLUDING THE ABS SYSTEM, THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, AND THE DISPLAY ON THE RADIO. THE SERVICE TECH INDICATED THAT I WAS LUCKY I AVOIDED A FIRE. THIS SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALL ON THE FORD F-150S THAT IS CAUSING MULTIPLE FIRES. *NM PER DIAGNOSTICS FOR THE VERIFICATION OF THE AIRBAG LAMP, THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE POWER FUSE OF THE MODULE/OPEN CIRCUIT FROM ABS INTERNAL CIRCUIT DAMAGE. *SC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2005
May 2005 Fire

THE PLASTIC CAP ON THE MASTER BREAK CYLINDER LEAKED BREAK FLUID ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. THE INSULATION ON THE HARNESS FAILED AND THE WIRING SHORTED, CAUSING A FIRE. THE BREAK FLUID ACTED AS FUEL FOR THE FIRE. THE BREAKING SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP, WAS SERIOUSLY AND ADVERSELY AFFECTED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD ESCAPE, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2005

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2001 Ford Escape has 76 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.