# 2003 FORD EXPLORER — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
> NHTSA complaint `728554` · 2009-07-23 · 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:** EXPLORER
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- **Miles at failure:** 54,000
- **Speed:** 60 mph
## Narrative
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH FIRST, THEN TO 80 MPH.  I TRIED APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT IT DID NOT SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AT ALL.  TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I FORCED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INTO PARKING.  THIS MOMENTARILY SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE, AND I TRIED TO MOVE IT INTO THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THE FREEWAY. THEN SUDDENLY IT STARTED DRIVING IN REVERSE AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH AN ONCOMING TRUCK ON THE FREEWAY.  UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND FEARING FOR MY LIFE, I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY, WHICH BROUGHT THE CAR TO A HALT.    THE HIGH PATROL ARRIVED WITHIN ONLY A COUPLE OF MINUTES.  WHEN ONE OF THE OFFICERS TURNED ON THE CAR SO AS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH.  HE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND DIRECTED EVERYONE TO STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR, CAUTIONING THAT THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS.  TWO OFFICERS DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND SAID THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR.  THEY THEN PUSHED THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION.  FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT GET HURT.  BUT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT BODY DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND TO THE OTHER TRUCK WITH WHICH I COLLIDED.  HOWEVER, THE DRIVER OF THAT TRUCK DROVE OFF, THUS I WAS UNABLE TO GET HIS INFORMATION.  I HAD THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TOWED TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD FORD DEALERSHIP, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEFECTIVE.  WHEN I ADVISED TH
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*