# 2001 FORD ESCORT — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
> NHTSA complaint `369496` · 2002-08-16 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** ESCORT
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
- **Speed:** 5 mph
## Narrative
I WAS STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT.  I SLOWED DOWN AND WAS COASTING TO THE LIGHT.  WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND DIDNT STOP.  I PUT MY LEFT FOOT ON TOP OF MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PRESSED DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD. IT STILL WOULDNT STOP. I FINALLY MANAGED TO GET IT INTO PARK. IT STOPPED THE CAR INCHES AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGED, I SAT THERE NOT ABLE TO MOVE.  FINALLY I HAD TO.  I MOVED A LITTLE TESTED THE BRAKES AND THEY WORKED.  I WENT TO THE NEXT LIGHT TURNED OFF AND WENT SHOPPING TO CALM DOWN BEFORE TRYING TO DRIVE HOME. I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR IN ON MON 8/12/2002 TO HAVE IT CHECKED.  I WENT TO MY DRS OFFICE FIRST.  I DIDNT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS.  I HAD BRAKED THE CAR TO SLOW IT DOWN.  WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE THAT SOUND STARTED AGAIN THE CAR ROARED AND GOT FASTER.  I WAS TRYING TO PUSH IT INTO GEAR, BUT IT HIT BEFORE I COULD DO IT.  I REVERSED IT GOT OFF THE WALL.  THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. THE AIR BAG DIDNT OPEN UP THE FRONT IS BADLY DAMAGED THE DEALER COULD GIVE AN ESTIMATE AT LEAST 2000 BUT IT WILL BE MORE. THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THAT IS SCARY, THEY ARE GOING TO FIX THE BODY BUT IT WILL BE LIKE A DEATH TRAP NOT KNOWING WHEN THE BRAKES MIGHT FAIL.  I WAS IN THAT CAR BOTH TIMES.  I WAS NOT IN A HURRY; EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL THAT NOISE STARTED. I WAS NOT GOING FAST BOTH TIMES THAT IT HAPPENED THE CAR WAS COASTING I HAD BRAKED TO SLOW DOWN.  THEN THAT LOUD SOUND A
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*