2007 Ford Taurus Brakes Problems

Severely rusted brake line to the driver side real brake ruptured and caused loss of brake function and emptying of the single brake fluid reservoir. I cannot currently find the ruptured line segment, but a portion of the other rear brake line was similarly rusted prompting preventative repair. Fortunately, my wife was driving at low speed and was able to maneuver the car into a parking spot. An employee at the O'Reilly store where I bought replacement parts thought the state of the ruptured line meant that it came from a 1980s model vehicle rather than a 2007 model. No one in an official capacity has inspected the brake line. My wife did not report nor have I observed any brake warning lamps during my repairs (the brake lamp does illuminate when the parking brake is engaged). Rusting occurred due to trapped road debris in a brake line support tray under driver's seat. I will include a photograph of the removed tray and a brake line portion that came from it. Close inspection of the photograph can see the debris and rust in the tray and significant rust on the non-failed brake line also restrained in it. I will also include a (scanned) receipt from O'Reilly documenting the repair parts and date.

ON JULY 10, 2017 I WAS PROCEEDING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT ON A CITY STREET. I NOTICED A LINE OF STOPPED CARS SOME DISTANCE AHEAD OF ME. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY MY BRAKES, BUT IT SOON BECAME EVIDENT THAT THAT THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THUS, MY RATE OF SPEED WAS NOT BEING SUFFICIENTLY REDUCED. I PUMPED THE BRAKES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I THEN APPLIED A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT MEEKLY SUNK TO THE FLOOR. BY THE TIME I WENT FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND I COLLIDED WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. FORTUNATELY, THE OTHER DRIVER AND MYSELF WERE UNHARMED, AND THE DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLES WAS MINIMAL. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY INSPECTED MY BRAKING SYSTEM. THEY NOTICED SEVERE CORROSION ON THE REAR BRAKE LINES, TO THE POINT THAT THERE WAS SERIOUS LEAKING. I HAD MY FRONT BRAKE LINES PATCHED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR DUE TO CORROSION. IN THAT INSTANCE, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL ALERTED ME TO LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVELS. I WAS NOT SO LUCKY THIS TIME AROUND. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND READ VARIOUS OTHER PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ERA (2007) OF FORD'S BRAKE LINES. FROM THIS INFORMATION, I HAVE GLEANED THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES. I LIVE IN A MILD CLIMATE WHERE THE ROADS ARE RARELY SALTED, AND YET I HAVE HAD THE AFOREMENTIONED EXPERIENCES. PLEASE DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE: IT MAY VERY WELL SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TT

FACTORY STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. THE BRAKE LINES WERE PARTIALLY PLASTIC COATED. THE PART OF THE LINE THAT RUSTED THROUGH WASN'T COATED AND RAN DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR NEAR ONE OF THE HANGERS. BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT BE MADE OUT OF STEEL FOR VEHICLES. THE SALT THAT IS USED ON THE ROADS IN THE NORTH EAST US EATS THE BRAKE LINES UP WAY TOO QUICKLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING THE CAR,THEN THEY WORK FINE, BRAKE FLUID IS FULL NO BRAKE LIGHT ON, ANOTHER INCIDENT 9/18/12. NOT A GOOD FEELING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR