NHTSA Complaint #10567725 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TRAVELING AT 55 MPH WHEN A SUDDEN STOP WAS INITIATED BY DRIVER. VEHICLE STOPPED AS EXPECTED. VEHICLE ALSO STOPPED AS EXPECTED 3 MORE TIMES OVER NEXT COUPLE MILES. HOWEVER, WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED PRIOR TO NEXT TURN (NOW FROM 45 MPH), BRAKE PRESSURE WAS LOW, PEDAL TRAVEL WAS LONG, AND VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW. AT THIS TIME 3 DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED: ABS, BRAKE PRESSURE/EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL. NO WARNING CHIME OR DRIVER INFORMATION MESSAGE. VEHICLE DID BEGIN TO SLOW AT SLOW RATE ONCE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. ISSUE REMAINED FOR DURATION OF 1/2 MILE DRIVE HOME. VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED, IGNITION SWITCHED OFF, THEN RESTARTED AFTER ~30 SECONDS. WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF, AND BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WAS NORMAL AFTER RESTARTING. BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR LEVEL WAS OKAY. ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTION NORMAL DURING 1 MILE TEST DRIVE. VEHICLE HAS NO HISTORY OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. *TR