ON 8-01-00, WITH A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROLMAN AS A WITNESS, THE BRAKES ON MY GRAND DAUGHTERS CAR FAILED COMPLETELY (PEDAL TO FLOOR), UPON PUMPING THE PEDAL THE BRAKES THEN LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLED SKID STRIKING A STOPPED VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND WE ARE UNSURE OF THE VEHICLE SPEED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. SHE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED (ALTHOUGH MY GRAND DAUGHTER'S HEAD DID STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD) AND VERY LITTLE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE. BOTH FRONT TIRES NOW HAVE SEVERE CUTS AND ABRASIONS ACROSS THEIR WIDTH, APPROXIMATELY 6 TO 8 INCHES LONG, WHERE THE NEWLY FORMED GROOVES IN THE HIGHWAY SHREDDED THE TIRES UPON BRAKE LOCKUP. FAILED COMPONENTS: 1) BRAKES - COMPLETE FAILURE, THEN SEVERE LOCKUP. 2) AIR BAGS - NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. 3) SELT BELTS - SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCKUP UPON IMPACT. THE CHP OFFICER, WHO WAS SITTING IN THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE AREA, STATED THAT HE SAW THE ENTIRE INCIDENT AND EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN THAT WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED. THE BRAKE ROTORS, CALIPERS AND PADS ON THIS VEHICLE WERE REPLACED AND/OR REBUILT BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY AT 32K MILES. WE HAVE SO FAR BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING FORD/MERCURY ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, AND THE DEALERS SEEM TO BE AT A LOSS ON HOW TO CHECK THE FAILED COMPONENTS. THEIR ATTITUDE IS ON