NHTSA Complaint #10651287 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

I WAS DRIVING MY INFANT SON HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL AFTER CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY. IT WAS A LIGHT DRIZZLE FOLLOWING A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN. THE ROADS WERE WET BUT THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER. CARS WERE BRAKING IN FRONT OF ME TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE PEDAL WAS UP, BUT THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THE VEHICLE DID NOT EVEN BEGIN TO STOP. I PUSHED THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THERE WAS STILL NO BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHO REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. NOTE: THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! I HAD TO TAKE MY INFANT BACK TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE TO HAVE HIM CHECKED OUT BECAUSE OF THE PRIOR SURGERY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR DID NOT THROW ANY CODES AND THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO TEST THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND NO WAY TO PROVE THAT THEY FAILED. I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER, ALWAYS LEAVE PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP BETWEEN ME AND THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR MOVING VIOLATION, AND YET THE RESPONSE THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS "WELL THE FRONT ENDS ARE MADE TO COLLAPSE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT".. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE ACCIDENT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED. THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE TO STOP, I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND DID SO MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO GET THEM TO WORK (SO OBVIOUSLY I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP) AND YET THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN. A VEHICLE SHOULD STOP WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES, ANTI-LOCK MODE OR NOT! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN MY INFANT SON!!!!! *TR