general problems of the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

I have had the SUV for 3 months. I'm experiencing total break loss. The first time I almost rear ended another vehicle.

Hydraulic central unit failed, requiring replacement to prevent failure of the system and loss of braking ability of the car.

My abs brakes on my 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid engine light came on and the rpm ramped while I was going 65 mph down a highway and the front passenger brakes started smoking. I took it in to have it fixed and it was going to cost $5700 to fix because of some hcu unit that failed while I was driving at pretty good rate of speed. I am glad it didn't throw me off into a ditch or catch on fire with me in it. What a crappy design this is. Wow!!! scary stuff.

Check brakes sign came on all of a sudden I was going slow so I pulled the car to the side and pressed on the breaks but the car would not stop and the breaks failed. I turned the car off and put it in park it made this loud sound and finally stopped. Turned the car back on and the brakes were fine got home I was terrified thinking what if I was on the highway. First it was steering and now it's the brakes. I don't think I can drive my Ford escape anymore thinking I am safe.

Brakes have given out, while coming to a red stop light luck that no one was around when I ran the light sent to dealer they could not duplicate issue but they did a update on steering and know when backing up steering gets stiff, causing turn radius to become extreme,but only does it sometimes. Went back to dealer no problem found and could not duplicate problem. Hoping someone find problem before a person or persons gets killed!!!.

Driving down hill on dry pavement at 35mph. Gentle braking for red traffic light. Everything normal until slowed nearly to a stop. Then a sudden loss of braking effect requiring extreme pressure on brake. Simultaneous with the loss of braking a clunking sound was heard and several warning lights came on including brake, abs, & traction lights. Drove to a safe location with the warning lights still on and the brakes requiring markedly more force to apply. Engine never stalled. Once parked I turned off the car and removed the key. When I restarted the car all the lights went out and the brakes behaved normally. Drove the car to nearest dealer. They found no codes and could find nothing wrong. Called national service number and was assigned case # [xxx]. Almost hit car ahead of me. Now I am afraid to operate vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Tl - the contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the check brakes, abs and traction control warning lamps illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 25,000. Kmj.

Upon starting car, check brake system warning came on. Attempted to take it to dealer but, when approaching stop sign, brake pedal went to the floor and could barely stop. I made it back home and also noted that the vehicle could no longer hold itself up even on a small incline. This happened for no apparent reason and brakes had been working as normal with no indication of wear. Had tow truck take it local Ford dealer and the driver said he tested the brakes and they were working. Once at the dealer, the service manager said he drove it around parking lot and all seemed fine. I told him how the wrench warning light (power train) had come on approximately 3 times in a month, but never stayed on after vehicle shut off and restart. He said that all these warnings should be stored in the computer but when checked, the system was totally clear of any errors or warnings. The Ford dealer is not sure what to do with it now, after having it for over 4 days, and they are concerned because everything to appears to working normally and no issues with the brakes themselves. I feel it is unsafe to have a car where the brakes can spontaneously stop working, for no apparent reason, which seems to lead to a software malfunction.

In 2012 a clunking noise and slight lurch began to be felt occassionally when breaking my 2009 Escape Hybrid. Over time the clunk and surge increased in intensity but remained intermittent. When I took my vehicle in for its 40,000 mile maintenance, I requested that the dealership check my breaks. They reported the breaks looked in excellent condition. Over the next year the clunk and surge got worse. Suspecting perhaps my transmission or u-joint was the problem, I took the vehicle in to the dealership to diagnose and fix the problem. I was able to leave the car at the dealership for about 1 month. I told them I was not in a hurry, I just wanted it to be fixed properly. Several mechanics drove the car and explored possibilities but reported back to me that it was a normal aspect of the hybrid breaking system although somewhat extreme (more severe than most hybrids). One mechanic explained it to me in this way. There are two types of breaking in the hybrid. In electric mode the car uses "simulated breaking. " in normal engine drive mode, the car uses "normal" breaking. When I use the break, the computer decides which type of breaking is required and when to switch between the systems. Under certain circumstances, when in between modes, the clunk and surge occurs. The abs breaking system complicates the problem. The mechanic suggested I try to drive so that I can break the car more slowly and gently. I believe the degree of clunk and surge is dangerous and may contribute to the hastened deterioration of my car. I am also worried about the breaks actually failing. I am worried that my 2009 Escape Hybrid is unsafe. The mechanics at the dealership insisted there was nothing they could do to fix the problem.

When I started the vehicle this morning there was a complete failure of the braking system. A Ford dealership reported that a wire had broken and this resulted in a electrical failure in the braking system that caused the entire braking system to fail. Had this wire broke while I was on the highway it would have likely caused a major accident.

The vehicle has approximately 7780 miles on it. While driving the vehicle a complete failure of the brakes occurred. When the brake pedal was deployed it did not create braking power even being pressed to the floor. To stop the vehicle it was down shifted and then placed in park after it coasted to a stop. After turning the vehicle off and restarting it the breaks seem to work again. This is the first occurrence. The dealer is being notified today.