NHTSA Complaint #10122466 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. I BROUGHT IT IN TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED AT SUPERIOR FORD IN PLYMOUTH, MINNEASOTA IN MAY OF 2005. WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING REPLACED, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE PADS ON THE PARKING BRAKES HAD "FALLEN APART". THE ADHESIVE HAD FAILED AND THE ASPHAULT PADS HAD FALLEN OFF THE METAL BACKING AND WERE LOOSE IN THE DRUM. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAD RARELY USED THE PARKING BRAKE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS FREQUENTLY HAPPENED ON EXPLORERS AND EXPEDITIONS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE BRAKES HAVEN'T BEEN USED MUCH. IT CONCERNS ME THAT A SAFETY FEATURE LIKE AN EMERGENCY BRAKE COULD FAIL AFTER THREE YEARS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT USE. I WOULD HAVE HAD NO IDEA THAT THE PADS HAD FALLEN OFF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IF I HADN'T BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR BRAKE SERVICE. THE MECHANICS AND FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE DIDN'T SEEM TO BOTHERED BY THIS. THE SUPERVISOR TOLD ME THAT PARTS ARE ONLY MADE TO LAST 36,000 MILES (THE WARRANTY PERIOD). THE FORD PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY DON'T TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR BRAKES AFTER 12,000 MILES.