1995 FORD WINDSTAR — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE FIRST 3 INCIDENTS OF THE BRAKES FAILING DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. WE TOOK THE VAN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS; EACH TIME THE SHOP COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE NOR CAUSE IT TO REPEAT . EVENTUALLY THE VAN STOPS, BUT IT TAKES 2 TO 3 CAR LENGTHS LONGER TO STOP. THE ABS BRAKES DO NOT INITIATE AND ONE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE ABS BRAKES ONLY OPERATE IF IT DETECTS THE WHEELS ARE LOCKING. ALL 4 BRAKE FAILURES WERE ON DRY ROADS AND WE DID NOT PUMP THE BRAKE. THE FAILURES HAPPENED TWICE TO MYSELF, ONCE TO MY HUSBAND AND ONCE TO MY SON. IT TENDS TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND WE CANNOT TELL IF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ABS, HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM OR THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO. ON EACH OCCURRANCE, THE BRAKE HAD BEEN DEPRESSED TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE SLOWING WAS INADEQUATE AND THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE BASICALLY COASTS TO A STOP. ON THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE, THE LANE HAD NARROWED FROM 2 LANES TO 1 AND WE HAD SLOWED TO ALLOW A VEHICLE INTO THE LANE LEAVING ABOUT 2 VEHICLE LENGTHS BETWEEN US. THE FRONT VEHICLE STOPPED AND THE SECOND VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS CAUSED US TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE BUT WE WERE NOT SLOWING ENOUGH SO THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESPONSE CAUSING US TO HIT THE MIDDLE VEHICLE INTO THE FRONT VEHICLE. THE MIDDLE VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF OF THE FRONT VEHICLE AND BACK INTO OUR VAN.