Ford Brake Problems

The top complaint issued by owners of 2005 Ford Freestyles has to do with brake problems, according to CarComplaints.com. However, brake problems do not only plague the Ford Freestyle line. The 2000 Ford Focus and various models of Ford Escapes were other Ford vehicles known to have brake problems.

Wearing Out Prematurely

The most common brake problem reported on the 2005 Ford Freestyle is that the rear brakes wear out prematurely. Worn brakes require owners to get them replaced, but they can be dangerous to drive in the meantime. Some owners had as low as 12,000 miles on their vehicles at the time their brakes wore out prematurely.

Rear Drum Brakes

The 2000 Ford Focus, a subcompact car, was recalled due to potential problems with the rear drum brakes. The problem specifically had to do with how the rear drum brakes were assembled, and, as a result, 350,000 vehicles were recalled. Ford received 15 complaints of the rear drum brakes separating, which led to the recall.

Antilock Brake System

The Ford Escape, a sport utility vehicle, has been linked with brake problems specific to their antilock brake systems. Missing or misassembled ABS connectors were associated with causing engine fires due to inner corrosion. Other times, ABS warning lights would activate unnecessarily, causing overheating. Accordingly, Ford Motor Company recalled Ford Escape models within the years 2001 to 2004.