2001 Ford Mustang Brakes Problems

Anti lock brake pump leaking brake fluid from what appears to be a vent /weep hole resulting in rapid brake fluid loss and low/ soft pedal and significant loss of braking.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE ABS COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

A LOUD FOG HORN SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RAISED RPM HELPED TO REDUCE OR STOP NOISE. THE ABS LIGHT (AMBER) COMES ON AND DISENGAGES THE TRACTION LOC FOR THE REAR END (DRIVE WHEELS). OVER A PERIOD OF APPROX. 1 MONTH THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON WITH TRACLOC DISENGAGED. I GOT THE SYSTEM CHECKED AND THEY STATED NO ELECTRIC SIGNAL IS COMING OUT OF THE CONTROL MODULE BUT POWER IS GOING IN. I WAS TOLD FOR A MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS I SHOULD TAKE IT TO FORD BECAUSE THERE ARE 2 ITEMS THAT COULD BE REPLACED AND IT COULD BE $2600.00 OR MORE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN TO ESCAPE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED.

DT: 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK, CAUSING CONSUMER $6,840.60 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE, BUMPER AND OTHER MATERIALS WAS REPLACED. *TT

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

2 DAYS EARLIER HAD CAR AT MECHANIC AND HE SAID MY PADS WERE A LITTLE LOW SO THEY SHOOULD BE CHANGED. THE DAY I HAD THE APPOINTMNET TO REPLACE THE PADS THE REAR CALIPER FROZEN OPEN AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK EITHER. WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, CAR STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. HIT POST IN DRIVEWAY AND TORE OFF DRIVER MIRROR AND DENTED DOOR. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO MECHANIC THEN TOWED CAR TO DEALER AS I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY AND DIDN'T WANT TO PAY MECHANIC FOR PARTS OR LABOR AS MECHANIC STATED CALIPER FROZEN. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX DAMAGE TO DOOR/MIRROR. THE PADS STILL HAD SOMETHING LEFT OTHERWISE ROTORS WOULD BE SCRATCHED UP WITH METAL DIGGING IN. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF METAL AGAINST METAL WHAT SO EVER. DEALER ALSO STATED MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACING AS IT HAD LEAKED ALL FLUID OUT OF SYSTEM. NEEDED TO BLEED SYSTEM AND REPLACE CALIPER. DEALER SAID NOBODY WOULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT DAMAGE AND IT WAS MY PROBLEM. I HAD THE DEALER PUT THE NEW PADS ON THAT MY MECHANIC HAD PURCHASED FOR DOING MY BRAKES. DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME $195.00 TO DO THIS. I KNEW SOMEONE THERE AND THEY WAIVED THE FEE BUT I HAD TO PAY $100.00 DEDUCTABLE FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. DO NOT BUY A FORD!!!!!*AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED BRAKES HAVE SLOW REACTION TIME AND STALL CAUSING THE CAR TO RUN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES CAR VIBRATES ALMOST LIKE A PUMPING EFFECT AND THEN SKIDS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME DETACHED. HOWEVER, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

THE REAR TIRES OF MY 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE BEGAN TO SKID, SINCE THE ROAD WAS WET. THIS IS UNDERSTANDABLE, SO I EASED OFF THE GAS TO ALLOW THE TIRES TO CATCH, BUT THE TRACTION CONTROL MUST HAVE TURNED ON, AND CAUSED MY CAR TO BEGIN SPINNING IN CIRCLES. THIS MADE MY CAR GO OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A TREE. I BELIEVE THE TRACTION CONTRL SYSTEM IS FAULTY.*AK

2001, MUSTANG, HYDROPLANED AT 50 MPH IN HEAVY RAIN, SPUN 360 DEGREES, AND SLID DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. HAD FLAT ON RIGHT FRONT, AND REQUIRED A TOW TRUCK. WHILE TOWING THE VEHICLE THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS PULLING HARD. WHEN HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE GLOWING RED HOT. I WAS INFORMED BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE MECHANIC THAT THE CALIPERS WERE CORRODED. THIS REQUIRED REPLACING THE CALIPERS ON BOTH REAR WHEELS. I DRIVE THE VEHICLE EVERY DAY FOR 125 MILE ROUND TRIP TO WORK AND HAVE FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND FIND IT HARD TO BELEIVE THAT THE CALIPERS WERE LOCKED UP FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.*AK

FOLLOWING SAFETY REPORT WAS FILED WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON-LINE: ========================================= THE FORD RIGHT FRONT INNER BREAK PAD SEPARATED FROM ITS METAL BASE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR. I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE BREAK PROBLEM WHEN I STARTED HEARING A ROUGH METAL SOUND. I HAD A PRIVATE TECHNICIAN TO REMOVE THE BREAK PADS AND ROTOR IMMEDIATELY. THEN TOOK IT AND SHOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALER SWANSON FORD IN LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA. THE DEALER WAS RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THE BREAK PAD WAS SPLIT APART, HE HAS INSISTENT ON IT WAS PAD WEAR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE FORD DEALER TECHNICIAN, IT IS VISUAL AND VERY NOTICEABLE THAT THE BREAK PAD HAS SPLIT APART FROM ITS METAL BASE, IT WAS NOT A WEAR OUT DOWN TO THE METAL BASE. THIS IS UNSAFE AND MAY CAUSE UNNECESSARY ACCIDENTS. THE SAME PROBLEM MAY HAPPEN TO OTHER DRIVERS TOO. THIS IS WHY I AM INSISTING ON A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TO GET BACK TO ME IN A VERY SHORT TIME. DUE TO SAFETY REASON I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE TO TURN ALL THE EVIDENCE TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IF FORD CORPORATION DOES NOT COME FORWARD TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AND PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL DAMAGES CAUSED DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE BREAK PAD ASSEMBLY. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER PROPER IMMEDIATE ACTION REGARDING THIS MATTER, AND I WOULD LIKE A FORD FIELD ENGINEER TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER NOT A TECHNICIAN OR A MECHANIC FROM A FORD DEALER, SPECIALLY NOT ANYONE FROM THE SWANSON FORD IN LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA. YOUR IMMEDIATE REPLY IS EXPECTED UPON RECEIPT OF THIS EMAIL. I RECOMMEND YOU CONTACTING MY FATHER [XXX] WHO IS THE CO-SIGNER ON THE CAR. HIS EMAIL ADDRESS IS: [XXX] AND HIS CELL NUMBER IS [XXX], HOME NUMBER IS THE SAME, THE CAR IS REGISTERED AT THE SAME ADDRESS, TO THE MY FATHER'S ADDRESS AT: [XXX]. SINCERELY, [XXX]. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BRAKES FAILED AT 3-5 MPH. DEALER DETERMINED FRAME HAD NOT BEEN WELDED PROPERLY, AND THIS CAUSED BRAKE LINE TO CRACK, LEAKING BRAKE FLUID.*AK

DRIVING HOME, RAINY EVENING, SMALL ANIMAL RAN OUT IN FRONT OF CAR, HIT BRAKES, LOCKED UP, CAR PROCEEDED STRAIGHT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DID NOT HIT OR RUN OVER ANYTHING. HAVE WITNESS TO EVENT. DEALER AND FORD INDICATE THAT THIS IS TYPICAL AND THE AIR BAG DID AS IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. UPON DEALER CHECKING FOR DAMAGE, SMALL DENT FOUND IN UNDERCARRIAGE OF CAR. NO ENTRANCE OR EXIT WOUNDS, JUST A DENT - OTHER PARTS OF CAR ARE LOWER.. DEALER PUT CAR UP ON JACK TO SHOW US, PLACED JACK IN WRONG PLACE, COVERING DAMAGE, HAD TO TAKE IT BACK DOWN. DAMAGE LINES UP PERFECTLY WITH JACK. DEALER DAMAGED W/ JACK AND FORD (WHO WOULDN'T EVEN COME IN TO LOOK AT CAR) AGREED W/ DEALER THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED, DEALER MADE DAMAGE - IT'S A COVER-UP.

ANTI LOCK BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND CAR SKIDDED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 245/45/17)

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THIS PROBLEM OCCURED INTERMITTENTLY, THE DEALER REPLACED 2 MASTER CYLINDERS, AFTER THE 2 MASTER CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO REOCCUR BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM

WIPERS NOT WORKING AT TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED, AND FORD COMPANY SAID THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM TO FIX. STEREO AND IN-SIDE LIGHT REMAIN ON AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED SINCE WE PURCHASED IN 2001. WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND THE AIR CONTINUER IS NOT WORKING SINCE 37,000.00 MILES (WARRANTY IS UP)!. *JB

INITIALLY BRAKE PEDAL WAS STICKING THEN IT STARTED SINKING TO THE FLOOR ON APPLICATION. HAPPENED AT ALL SPEEDS AND WHILE COMING AT A STANDSTILL. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT THE COMPONENT IS UNAVAILABLE (AND NO DATE OF POSSIBLE AVAILABILITY IS FORTHCOMING FROM FORD). THE VEHICE IS WITH DEALER FOR LAST FIVE DAYS.*AK

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON, AND SUDDENLY ABS LOCKED UP FOR A COUPLE SECONDS WHILE VEHICLE WAS JUST BEING DRIVEN OUT OF A PARKING LOT. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

AT ANY SPEED ON HIGHWAY HAND BRAKES SHAKE AND VIBRATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK *SLC