NHTSA Complaint #10131953 — 1998 FORD XL

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 WINDSTAR IN EARLY JUNE 2005.. SHE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, STARTED UP AND DROVE 1/4 MILE OR SO AND THEN STARTED TO BRAKE AGAIN TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED CARS IN FRONT OF HER. THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED FOR A MOMENT, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE EXPERIENCED TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE. SHE COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THAT CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED! THIS IS THE SECOND TIME TOTAL FAILURE OCCURRED. THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN JANUARY 2005. IN APRIL 2004, THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AT A STOP SIGN. BOTH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE MODULE WERE REPLACED. THIS COST A SMALL FORTUNE. BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED ONCE A YEAR OR MORE DURING THE ENTIRE TIME WE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT NEGLECTED AND STILL FAIL COMPLETELY. THIS ACCIDENT LEFT MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS EXPECTING A BABY, BRUISED AND BATTERED. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED AIR BAG BURNS THAT HAVE LEFT HER ARMS SCARRED. *JB