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Ford Escape Hybrid Brake Problems

131 messages,  Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Escape Hybrid, Brakes, SUV


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#55 of 131
Re: Reply: to mperski (#52) and mecheng1 (#53) [rnarg] by mecheng1
Nov 26, 2007 (9:11 am)
Reply

Replying to: rnarg (Nov 25, 2007 6:18 pm)

"Hopefully, as time goes on, I will become more aware of these areas so
           that I can at least identify them and begin to understand the reason they
           are different from the conventional systems"[marg].
 
That is really the best attitude to have. Again, the Ford engineers have worked hard to make the vehicle act like a "non-hybrid" in many ways.
"I hope the engineering efforts and complexity added to these systems turn
            out to be worth it in the long run."[marg].
 
An excellent question and one we are all wondering about.
#56 of 131
Re: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Brake Problem [johnsapienza] by tagger68
Nov 26, 2007 (4:33 pm)
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Replying to: johnsapienza (Nov 18, 2007 8:39 am)

I had the same thing happen. I bought mine on Saturday 11/24 and 23 hours later, after I had driven it about 69.9 miles the exact same thing happened. 24/7 roadside service did come tow me to the dealer, which spent all day today trying to figure out the problem. They just told me that they still aren't sure and will call me tomorrow.
 
Has your situation been resolved???
#57 of 131
Re: Braking problem need help and comments [rearend] by bubkis
Nov 29, 2007 (1:51 pm)
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Replying to: rearend (Feb 23, 2007 6:14 pm)

I am new to this and just wanted to thank all of you for posting your msg's about these chronic brake problems. I am sorry to hear about these safety issues. The postings have made me reconsider my FEH selection. I would be doing a lot of mtn driving and don't want to be on the James Bond Highlight real going over the cliffs edge in a hairpin turn, w/ Ford saying "No Code, No Problem"....
I am a big hybrid proponent but will take the Escape off the list because my families safety is more important that Gas Mileage and there are several other Hybrid alternatives on the market with more coming.
Note to Ford: No FEH for this guy
Bubkis
#58 of 131
Re: Braking problem need help and comments [bubkis] by sksuh
Nov 29, 2007 (2:53 pm)
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Replying to: bubkis (Nov 29, 2007 1:51 pm)

I live in the mountains of southern Alberta and haven't had any problems whatsoever with my 2008 FEH. The 4WD mode works great on the snowfall we've had thus far, braking performs fine and overall fuel economy is on par with the sticker ratings.
 
No regrets about my FEH.
 
Stephen
#59 of 131
Re: Braking problem need help and comments [bubkis] by mecheng1
Nov 30, 2007 (7:31 am)
Reply

Replying to: bubkis (Nov 29, 2007 1:51 pm)

the basis for your concern may be a little misguided....you are reading a forum that discusses technical issues....therefore a high percentage of postings will report problems and issues....but that does not automatically translate to ("chronic")occurance in a high percentage of the 40,000 FEHs on the road [kinda like those FoxNews on-line polls that report over 50% approval of GWBush when properly sampled polls report approval ratings in the 20s)
 
if you use that logic.....you may never purchase any vehicle...because none of them are perfect and they all may have some technical/design weakness the can sound widespread and dangerous when discussed in detail
 
conversely, you may be safer in an FEH if you purchased it and knew to have the brake system checked (?) when you purchased it
 
I have read many postings from folks that live in the mountains of Colorado and have owned their FEHs safely for over 3 years now.
#60 of 131
Re: Braking problem need help and comments [mecheng1] by bubkis
Nov 30, 2007 (7:56 am)
Reply

Replying to: mecheng1 (Nov 30, 2007 7:31 am)

Thx Mechang1.
You bring up a good point. However, Brakes or lack of brakes is a pretty big deal. I am confident its not on all FEH but I don't want to be in that 1%to X% that have the issue.
If it were a faulty window or even a stalling engine those are significantly less worry some than bad brakes.
Looking around other small suv forums (i am researching for purchase) CRV, Rav4 etc, they have their own issue forums. But what seem to be Chronic Brake problems putting folks at risk does not seem to come up in the other forums so much.
Brake are like air. You can't live (long) without it, especially going over Colorado mtn passes, not to mention driving hwy speeds in everyday traffic w kids in the back. Not to be overly dramatic, but bad brakes is troubling.
 
I will do some more research and take your good advice. I really like the form and function of the FEH but seeing (and not seeing on CRV/Rav4) these posts on failing brakes (a staple feature for an automobile) does give me pause. Not to mention if bleeding the brakes is a possible solution, does one have to always go to Ford for this service vs a non-ford service station.
 
I will indeed heed your advice to expand my data points though.
If I buy a FEH it will be new so I know the history and warranty.
 
Thx Bubkis.
#61 of 131
Escape Hybrid on fire! by imacabbie
Dec 05, 2007 (10:05 pm)
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I am a cab driver and one night a week I drive an Escape Hybrid. We have a few of these in our fleet of cabs. This is the ultimate test of a car because they are driven continuously, about 20 hours/day 365 days per year. I am not sure what year model this Escape is but it is probably 2005 or 2004 and it currently has over 200,000 miles on it. We put over 100,000 miles on a car in a year. I have driven three of the Escapes that we have in our fleet and all of them have over 200,000 miles.
 
I love driving these cabs and the only real issue I have is that when you break the car clunks. I don't know how else to explain it. You apply the breaks and instead of a steady slow down you get ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk. They stop ok but they both make this sound and it jerks the car as it make this sound.
 
Yesterday I took my Escape cab out and as I got onto the freeway the car started to shake really bad. Sort of like the ka-chunk only continuous. This only lasted a few seconds so I continued on my way. I traveled maybe 2 miles, had exited the fwy, turned a corner and again the car started to shake. This time it would not stop. It was very scary, I thought there was something wrong with the axle but it felt just like it did when you break, only continuous. I headed back to the cab lot. Took the fwy since it seemed to run better there. Not so good this time, but I drove slow, 30mph, exited and was at a red light when I saw smoke coming from behind me. Then I heard people from the gas station I was next to yelling to me that I was on fire. I pulled over and got out.
 
Sure enough, both back breaks were literally in flames. I do not know what happened but it was as if the brakes were engaged or something. Although I only say that because the shaking was so similar to what happens when the brakes are applied.
 
So, if you keep your Escape Hybrid for a while be prepared for it to start the ka-chunk when you break and look to sell it immediately thereafter!!
#62 of 131
Re: Escape Hybrid on fire! [imacabbie] by mecheng1
Dec 06, 2007 (8:52 am)
Reply

Replying to: imacabbie (Dec 05, 2007 10:05 pm)

Thanks for the excellent description of your experience. Sounds like there was enough warning to prevent the catastrophic failure you saw....something most owners would rather do than sell the car after starting to hear the ka-chunk.
 
Sounds like you had a malfunction of the rear foundation brakes or more likely a major misalignment of the parking brake components inside the regular rear brake rotors.
 
Who services the brakes on your hybrids?
 
The ka-chunk was probably a signal that something was starting the fail ...the shaking was the ultimate failure...the flames were the result of continuing to drive on the failed brake components.
 
Did you notice if any of the lights on the dash came on?
#63 of 131
Re: Escape Hybrid on fire! [mecheng1] by imacabbie
Dec 06, 2007 (10:33 am)
Reply

Replying to: mecheng1 (Dec 06, 2007 8:52 am)

We have our own garage & mechanics who work on all of the cars. Frankly, they only do what is absolutely necessary. The ka-chunk happens when you break in every one of these FEH that I've driven. The "service soon" message has been on for months along with the yellow wrench. The cab had been in the shop the day before this happened but I don't know what they worked on. I only drive this car 1 night/week. Someone else drives it days and other nights. No other lights had come on while I was having problems, or when the car started fire, nothing. Our mechanics are familar with crown vics and grand marquis but I question what they know about this vehicle.
 
So, if they had worked on the breaks and put them together wrong would this have caused this kind of failure? I would have stopped driving had I seen some kind of info on the dash lights or a message that there was some new problem.
#64 of 131
On Fire! by mperski
Dec 06, 2007 (12:51 pm)
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How many warning lights need to come on before you think there's a problem!! When the check engine light and the wrench light come on that means, IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED! If those lights have been on for a while and then something else happens you wont realize it because the warning lights are already on!!

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