NHTSA Complaint #11341892 — 2007 FORD ESCAPE

MY WIFE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AT 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. SHE THOUGHT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. SHE MANAGED TO RETURN HOME. I INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE HOSE RUPTURED, THE BRAKE RESERVOIR DRAINED TO THE SEPARATING PARTITION. THE FAILED HOSE HAD RUPTURED AT THE STRUT ATTACH BRACKET, OBVIOUSLY A FLEX POINT. THERE WERE OTHER FAILURE POINTS IN THE HOSE RUBBER COATING VISIBLE. I REPLACED THE HOSE AND INSPECTED THE FRONT LEFT HOSE. SAME FAILURE PATTERN, VERY EARLY LEAKAGE NOTED AT THE BODY HARDLINE CONNECTION AND THE STRUT ATTACH BRACKET. I REPLACED THAT HOSE AS WELL. REAR HOSES APPEARED COMPLETELY INTACT AND NO ISSUES NOTED. 71,600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS COMMON ISSUE ACROSS THE FORD ESCAPE LINE WHICH IS ALSO SOLD AS THE MAZDA TRIBUTE. NHTSA NOTES ONLY ONE INCIDENT, I FOUND 38 ON ONE SITE ALONE, HTTPS://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/ESCAPE/BRAKE-HOSES-LINES-PIPING-AND-FITTINGS-PROBLEMS.PHP A FAILURE OF ONE SYSTEM PUTS ALL THE PRESSURE ON THE REMAINING SYSTEM. AS SEEN IN OUR CASE THE REMAINING SYSTEM WAS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. I FIND IT DEEPLY DISTURBING THAT NHTSA HAS NOTHING IN THE RECALL ARENA ON THIS YET HAS 2 MINOR RECALLS, ONE BEING FOR AFTER MARKET AIRBAG -SEAT COVER INTERFERENCE ISSUES. REALLY? PERHAPS IF THE BRAKES WORK THE AIRBAG WOULDN'T BE DEPLOYED? I HAVE SEVERAL MORE PICTURES IF NEEDED.