THIS IS THE 4TH INSTANCE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CAN NOT RECALL THE DATE AND MILEAGE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED THE FIRST TWO TIMES SO I USED THE LATEST INSTANCE FOR DATE AND MILEAGE. THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY 5 AND 1/2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 81,100 MILES ON IT. FOUR (4) TIMES NOW THE ABS TONE RING HAS CRACKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OCCASIONALLY BRAKE AS IF THE ABS IS WORKING AND INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIRED TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE INTERNET REPORTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. LAST YEAR (AUG 2011) I HAD TO HAVE ONE OF THE ABS TONE RINGS REPLACED AT APPROX 72,000 MILES. THAT WAS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. CONSIDERING THIS IS MY 4TH OCCURRENCE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE INTERNET I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE OPENED TO LOOK INTO A RECALL OF THIS PART. SOME INTERNET REPORTS SUGGEST THAT FORD HAS MODIFIED THE ABS TONE RING BUT I DO KNOW IF THAT IS CORRECT. I AM A RETIRED AIR FORCE SAFETY SPECIALIST WITH 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS DEFECT POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHERS SHOULD THE VEHICLE FAIL TO STOP PROPERLY. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO TRY TO HAVE THIS LATEST INSTANCE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME. IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW. *TR
2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR, APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND BUSY INTERSECTION. I APPLIED BRAKES (VIA PEDAL) AS USUAL, BUT HAD NO BRAKING POWER / CORRESPONDING SLOWDOWN. I HAD TO JAM MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND COVER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN CASE I NEEDED IT, AND THANKFULLY I WAS THE FIRST CAR AT THE LIGHT SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE REST OF THE DRIVE, IT TOOK AT LEAST 5 TIMES LONGER/MORE DISTANCE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO A STOP THAN NORMAL AND AT THE SAME MOMENT I LOST BRAKING POWER, A CHIME SOUNDED & BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE(S) LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP; MESSAGE CENTER READ "SERVICE BRAKES SOON". I JUST HAD THE VEH IN FOR ITS 40K MILE SERVICE 2 DAYS AGO & IT HAD NOTHING WRONG WITH IT--BRAKES WERE ALL LISTED AS TOP CONDITION. NOW I'M ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, UNSURE WHEN THIS CONDITION WILL RECUR (THE LIGHTS RESET & AND I CHECKED TODAY--THE BRAKES ARE WORKING AGAIN, FOR NOW.) WHEN THE CONDITION OCCURS, BRAKING IS AN ODD SLOW PULSING, LIKE A SLOWED DOWN VERSION OF AN EMERGENCY ABS STOP ("PUMPING THE BRAKES" FEELING.) I'VE NEVER HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS CLEARED AND, FOR NOW AT LEAST, THE BRAKES *SEEM* TO BE WORKING BUT I CAN'T CHANCE IT. GETTING IT TOWED FOR SERVICE. *TR