2003 Ford Expedition Brakes Problems

EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AFTER A 6 HOUR DRIVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM NJ TO VA. PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 30 MINUTES, AND UPON BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PARKED THE CAR AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND. FOUND BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH ON THE CROSS SUPPORT UNDER THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MAJOR INJURY HAD THIS OCCURRED ON THE DRIVE IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE HAS 113000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD OTHER MANUFACTURERS VEHICLES WITH OVER 200000 MILES AND NO BRAKE LINE ISSUES. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART/DESIGN ISSUE AND DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK, FORD SHOULD TAKE ACTION. WE HAD A 1990 F150 THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE IN 2002 AT 100000 MILES. WE WILL BE CHECKING OUR 2004 F150 VERY CAREFULLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE PASSENGER LOCATED IN THE REAR SEAT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A HOTEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000.

OWNER HAS REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN DRIVING, THE DRIVER FEELS AS IF THEY ARE PUSHING AGAINST RESISTANCE, LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED. VEHICLE IS ABLE TO MOVE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED. WHEN BRAKING, A PULSE IS FELT, BUT ROTORS ARE NEW.

THE BRAKE LINE THAT IS ROUTED TO THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL BRAKING FUNCTION HENCE, CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO RUN OFF INTO A DITCH TO MISS A SLOWING VEHICLE. AFTER I HAD COME TO REST IN THE DITCH THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING ONTO THE HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. FORTUNATELY, I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON BOARD, SO I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER LINE THAT RUNS PARALLEL WITH THE DEFECTIVE LINE THAT SHOWS ZERO EVIDENCE OF CORROSION.

MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AS I APPROACHED A FOUR-WAY STOP INTERSECTION ON A RURAL COUNTY HIGHWAY. INSPECTION BY AUTO REPAIR TECHNICIANS REVEALED MY BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL RUPTURES. THE TECHNICIANS SAID THE RUST WAS THE RESULT OF FORD'S DECISION TO INSTALL STEEL BRAKE LINES IN THE VEHICLE, RATHER THAN ALUMINUM. WHEN EXPOSED TO THE SALT PREVALENT ON LOCAL ROADWAYS IN THE WINTER, THEY EASILY RUST OUT LONG BEFORE THE VEHICLE EVEN APPROACHES THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF ITS LIFE.

ABRUPT, NO WARNING(ON DIGITAL DASH) LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. ON STOPPING WHILE PULLING IN A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE DID STOP WITHOUT HITTING CONCRETE WALL. VERY SCARY GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE FROM THE 5TH FLOOR TO BE PLACED ON A ROLL BACK. DEALER STATES BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED AND DRAINED BRAKE FLUID CAUSING CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SMOKE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOORBOARD AS THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED 3 FAILURES OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES UNDER NHTSA ID# 10491754. THIS PAST WEEKEND I JUST HAD A FOURTH BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A CORRODED BRAKE LINE IN 11 MONTHS. THIS BRAKE LINE RUNS ALONG THE LEFT FRONT BELOW THE ENGINE BAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, DECELERATION BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES LINES HAD RUSTED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS AND FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 06/27/14*LJ

DRIVING SOUTH ON RT 202 IN LEFT LANE AT 35 MPH /A CAR IN RIGHT LANE CHANGED LANES TO THE LEFT IN FRONT OF CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO GET TO AN EXIT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME APPLIED BRAKES / I PRESSED BRAKES HARD TO AVOID REAR END COLLISION.. ABS SYSTEM LOCKED BRAKES BUT PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. AFTER THAT BRAKES FELT SOFT WHEN APPLIED.. FOUND LEAK IN RUSTED LINES FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO BOOSTER. *TR

BRAKE LINE RUNNING ACROSS THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE RUPTURED DUE TO RUST CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKING. I HAD A LOCAL GARAGE REPLACE THE RUPTURED LINE AND INSPECT THE OTHER LINES. I WAS ADVISED THEY WERE ALL RUSTED BUT THEY DID NOT SEE A NEED TO REPLACE THEM AT THIS TIME. IN OCTOBER 2012 I HAD ANOTHER BRAKE LINE RUPTURE, THIS TIME IT WAS A BRAKE LINE RUNNING ALONG THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE BACK BRAKES. THIS ALSO CAUSED A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKING. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP. I ALSO HAD HIM INSPECT ALL OTHER LINES AND AGAIN I WAS TOLD THE OTHER BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED BUT HE SAW NO REASON TO REPLACE ANY OTHERS AT THAT TIME. ON JANUARY 6, 2013 I HAD ANOTHER BRAKE LINE FAILURE NEAR WHERE THE BRAKE LINE FAILED IN OCTOBER 2012 (THE OTHER BRAKE LINE RUNNING PARALLEL) AGAIN CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF BRAKING. BOTH REPAIR FACILITIES INFORMED ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I ALSO WENT TO DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED WHEN THEY SAW MY NEW BRAKE LINES, THEY ASKED WHAT HAPPENED. WHEN I TOLD THEM THEY SAID, "OH IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM" I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOWS VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE BRAKE LINES OUT OF A MATERIAL SO PRONE TO CORROSION. THERE IS NO OTHER SAFETY DEVICE ON A VEHICLE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BRAKES. WHAT GOOD ARE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES YOU MANDATE IF THE BRAKE LINES FAIL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE CONTACT STATED HE CRASHED INTO A TREE STUMP AND SNOW ON THE GROUND AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,535. UPDATED 3/14/11 *CN IT WAS DETERMINED THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING FLUID AND ULTIMATELY FAILED. UPDATED 05/04/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT IT OUT OF PARK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES FOR THE FRONT BRAKES WERE RUSTED THROUGH. THOSE BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE BUT HE EXAMINED HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BRAKE LINES FOR THE REAR BRAKES WERE VERY RUSTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND LEAKED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF MOST BRAKING. I BOUGHT THIS FORD NEW IN JULY OF 2003. AFTER THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. I HAD ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED, AND STILL HAVE THE PIECE WHICH LEAKED. THE SHOP SAID IT IS BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES ARE ROUTED ON TOP OF THE FRAME RAILS, AND SALT BUILDS UP. BUT I'VE LIVED IN THIS AREA ALL MY LIFE (I'M 66) AND HAD MANY OLDER OR HIGHER MILEAGE VEHICLES, BUT NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING CHEVY BRAKE LINE FAILURE, AND THINK YOU SHOULD INCLUDE FORDS. *TR

BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED CONSTANTLY. PADS WEAR VERY FAST. ROTORS WEAR EASILY AND NEED REPLACEMENT WITH PADS EACH TIME. WHEN BROUGHT TO HAVE ROTORS TURN, WAS TOLD THEY ARE MANUFACTURED WITH VERY LITTLE TOLERANCE AND COULD NOT BE TURNED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS MINIMAL VISIBLE WEAR. WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT "MIC" WITH ENOUGH RANGE TO TOLERATE THE CUT WHEN TURNING. ROTORS SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACEMENT WITH EACH BRAKE CHANGE. EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST. BRAKE DUST HAS EATEN AWAY AT FINISH ON RIMS. AFTER LAST BRAKE REPAIR, FRONT END NOW HAS A CLICKING SOUND. BRAKE PEDAL HAS ALWAYS FELT SPONGY. ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH AGGRESSIVE BRAKING CONDITIONS, BRAKES LOCKED UP. TOLD DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THIS IS NORMAL WITH THE FORD BRAKING SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FOG LAMP NOT STAYING LIT AND THE METAL REFLECTOR PIECE IN THE FOG LAMPS COMING LOOSE. WE ARE NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TWO (FRONT DRIVERS/REAR PASSENGERS) DOOR ELECTRIC LOCKS NOT UNLOCKING OR LOCKING THE DOORS. *TR

MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION HAD A SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE WHILE MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT HURT WHEN THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. I FOUND THE BRAKE RESERVOIR TO BE COMPLETELY EMPTY AND REFILLED IT IMMEDIATELY. THEN I DISCOVERED THE REAL PROBLEM. THE REAR FACTORY BRAKE LINES WERE CONSTANTLY RUBBING AGAINST THE REAR SPRINGS OF THE CAR , THUS WEARING A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE. THIS RESULTED IN RAPID LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID , WHICH ALSO LED TO SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. THIS WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND I CANT IMAGINE WHY SOMEONE AT FORD DIDN'T SEE SUCH AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

ROTORS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AT LOW MILEAGE ON FORD EXPEDITION 2003- OR NEWER AND 2004 FORD F150'S 2003 OR NEWER. *JB

MY BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAL AROUND 50K. THIS IS THE FIRST BRAKE SERVICING REQUIRED ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY A NUMBER OF MECHANICS THAT THE FRONT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN DOWN TOO MUCH. I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT THIS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 FORD EXPEDITIONS. APPARENTLY, THESE ROTORS ARE NOT "DEFECTIVE" IN MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF POOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING. IT IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS TO EXPECT ANYONE TO BELIEVE IT IS NORMAL TO REPLACE BRAKE ROTORS ON EACH BRAKE PAD CHANGE. I HAVE BOUGHT AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES MY ENTIRE LIFE. I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT THE FOREIGN CARS WERE JUNK AND COST A LOT OF MONEY TO MAINTAIN. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE SPENT MUCH MONEY AND TIME REPAIRING MY AMERICAN MADE CARS. I HAD BOUGHT THE CHEAPEST CAR I COULD FIND BACK IN 2000. A HYUNDAI ELANTRA. I HAVE HAD ZERO PROBLEMS. NOT A SINGLE ONE. THE MILEAGE IS OVER 100K AND I HAVEN'T EVEN NEEDED TO CHANGE THE BRAKE PADS. THIS CAR WAS THE ABSOLUTE CHEAPEST CAR I COULD FIND ON THE MARKET IN 2000. I WILL TAKE THIS AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF HOW POORLY THE FORD LINE OF PRODUCTS ARE EITHER DESIGNED OR BACKED UP BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

THE BRAKES ON THE 2003 EXPEDITION ISN'T DESIGNED TO HOLD THE HEAVY WEIGHT OF THE EXPEDITION. THIS CAUSE THE BRAKES TO NEED TO BE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE BRAKES AND PUT BIGGER BRAKE PADS IN THEM. I HAVE HAD TO EVEN REPLACE THEM METAL TO METAL IN THE FRONT 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS AND UNDER 45,000 MILES. I EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER DUE TO LEAKAGE AT 45,000 MILES. ALSO DUE TO ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD I WAS UNABLE TO LOCK THE SUV AND HAD THE ALARM SOUND BECAUSE OF IT AND WINDOWS DON'T GO UP AND DOWN CORRECTLY. *JB