1996 Ford Aerostar

AS PROMISED, I'M BACK. MAJOR BRAKE FAILURES AT 32,518, 55,638, AND RECENTLY AT 58, 700. I CHECKED YOUR SITE THROUGH THE CARTALK WEBSITE AND FOUND 12 BRAKE PROBLEMS REPORTED OUT OF 79. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER WHOSE FAMILY IS AT RISK. MOSY RECENTLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL BOTTOMED OUT TWO CONSECUTIVE TIMES AT SLOW SPEED. THE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR SAID THEY SMELLED HEATED BRAKES. I BELIEVE THE CALIPERS MAY BE DRAGGING, OVERHEATING THE BRAKES. I CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE OWNED AN AEROSTAR PREVIOUSLY AND HAD NO SUCH BRAKE PROBLEMS, CERTAINLY NOT A PAD REPLACEMENT AT 32,000. THESE BRAKES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, WE WERE CHARGED FOR PAD REPLACEMENT AND ROTOR RESURFACING. MS BRENNER, THE PRINCIPAL DRIVER NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND WHICH CASED HER TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. I BELIEVE THE DEALER WAS WRONG TO CHARGE US FOR THIS REPAIR, AS BRAKES DO NOT WEAR THIS QUICKLY. I BELIEVE THAT THE PAD OF CALIPER FAILED, UNRELATED TO THE WEAR. OUR HONEST, COMPETENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, B&M AUTOMOTIVE INMC LEAN, VA (703)356-1532 TELL US THAT THEY SEE MANY PROBLEMS WITH FORD BRAKES. WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE, FOLKS? DOES SOMKEONE HAVE TO LOSE HIS LIFE AT THE HANDS OF FORD BEFORE YOU RECALL THESE CARS?

MY BRAKES FAILED AFTER AN EXTENDED DOWNHILL DRIVE--ALTHOUGH NOT AN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE. IN TAKING APART THE DISK BRAKES, MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CALIPERS HAD BECOME BRITTLE (OVER TIME FROM HEAT) AND THEY CRUMBLED IN HIS HANDS. THE PADS HAD WORN DOWN BUT STILL WERE WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE THICKNESS (BUT AT THE LOW END). THE ROTOR WAS NORMAL. THE MECHANIC BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THESE BRAKES RESULTING FROM A ROTOR THAT IS TOO THIN (NORMALLY) AND AS A RESULT DOES NOT ABSORB HEAT WELL FROM THE PADS. HE HAS OBSERVED THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER AEROSTARS AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKES NEED TO BE CHECK EARLIER THAN NORMAL PAD WEAR WOULD INDICATE. HE SAID THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE DID NOT END UP IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

ON APRIL 19, 1999, QUALITY OF NAPA LOCATED AT 1823 SOSCOL AVE, NAPA, 94559, PERFORMED OUR 30,000 MILE SERVICE WHICH IN OUR FORD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE BOOK INCLUDES INSPECTION OF DISC BRAKE SYSTEM AND DRUM BRAKE SYSTEM. ON APRIL 19TH, OUR MILEAGE WAS 34,712.5 AND QUALITY SIGNED OFF ON THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR BOTH THE 30,000 & 35,000 MILE SERVICE. ON OR ABOUT MAY 17TH, 1999 OUR BRAKES FAILED AT 35,597 MILES, AND CAUSED US TO TAKE OUR VAN TO FORD FOR TROUBLESHOOTING. FORD CHARGED US OVER $500 TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. OUR COMPLAINT IS WITH QUALITY, THEY SIGNED OUR BOOK RECOGNIZING PART OF SERVICING ON 4/19 WAS BRAKE INSPECTION AND DIDN'T INFORM US OF OUR BRAKES BEING IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AT THAT TIME. THUS RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE AND FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSING US TO PAY IN EXCESS OF $500 IN REPAIRS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH REGARD TO THIS COMPLAINT. I WISH TO FURTHER PURSUE THIS COMPLAINT AS WELL. THANK-YOU, KATHLEEN. *AK