2012 Ford Explorer Brakes Problems

FAILED STATE INSPECTION (EMERGENCY BRAKE), FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED CALIPERS NOT WORKING FOR REAR DISC BRAKES, SIMILAR TO THE RECALL OF 2015/16 FORD EXPLORER'S BRAKE ISSUES- A DETAILED PICTURE OF REPORT/DIAGNOSTICS INCLUDED

MULTIPLE TIMES MY BRAKES HAVE HAD TO HAVE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM. TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE E-BRAKE LOCK UP, GET STUCK, OR FAIL IN A WAY THAT REQUIRED FULL REPLACEMENT OF MY ROTORS, PADS, BRAKE LINES, AND FLUID RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE IN THIS, I STOPPED USING THE E-BRAKE, HOWEVER HAD THE PROBLEM REPEAT ITSELF ONLY A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE TIME EARLIER THIS YEAR WAS NOTICED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING WHILE DRIVING, AND THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THIS YEAR WAS NOTICED WHEN THE FLUID WAS DRAINED AND A "LOW BRAKE FLUID" LIGHT CAME ON, AND WAS FURTHER EXAMINED AFTER FLUID DID NOT STAY IN THE SYSTEM FOR VERY LONG (MATTER OF AN HOUR OR TWO).

BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND FORD DEALERSHIP HAS THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS AND UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO BAD PRODUCTION PARTS

THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE NOT RELEASING PROPERLY AFTER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THIS LED TO ACCELERATED WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS, OVERHEATING OF THE PADS AND ROTORS, AND ULTIMATELY, NON-REPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE, OR OVERHEATING TO THE POINT OF CREATING A FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD.

WHILE DRIVING ON TRIP, THE CALIPERS SEIZED, THE BRAKES ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE. THE CALIPER AND ROTOR BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 51,000 MILES. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED AT 27,500 MILES.

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, I COULD FEEL AND HEAR A DRAG. CAR HAS 17,400 MILES, RIGHT REAR PADS WERE METAL TO METAL AND CUT INTO THE ROTOR. RR BRAKE PADS WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, INDICATING THE PADS WERE SEIZED INTO THE BRACKET. THIS WORDING IS TAKEN FROM THE FORD SERVICE REPAIR INVOICE. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AT A LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.

2012 FORD EXPLORER REAR BRAKES - VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. PART OF CERTIFYING THE VEHICLE WAS TO REPLACE THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS AT 20K MILES. AT 32K I FOUND MYSELF HAVING TO REPLACE PADS AND ROTORS AGAIN. THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORERS WHERE PADS ARE SEIZING IN THE CALIPERS AND DRAGGING ON THE ROTORS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. FORD DEALERS AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS PROBLEM, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.

2012 FORD EXPLORER REAR BRAKES - VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A CPO. PART OF CERTIFYING THE VEHICLE WAS TO REPLACE THE REAR PADS AND CUT ROTORS AT 20K MILES. NOW AT 32K I HAD TO REPLACE REAR PADS AND ROTORS AGAIN DUE TO SEIZED CALIPERS THAT CAUSED THE PADS TO DRAG AND PREMATURELY WEAR THE PADS. THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORERS WHERE PADS ARE SEIZING IN THE CALIPERS AND DRAGGING ON THE ROTORS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. FORD DENIES THAT THERE IS ANY ISSUE, YET THE INTERNET IS FULL OF STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THE NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS AS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND BE DRIVING AROUND WITH BRAKES THAT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL THEM POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND (BREAK PADS) AND WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE WAS RADIATING OFF OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE STUCK AGAINST THE ROTOR. THE BRAKE PADS ARE FAIRLY NEW (REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2015). THE CALIPER WAS REMOVED AND A RETAINING BOLT WAS BROKEN OFF/STUCK INSIDE OF THE CALIPER MOUNT. THE PISTON WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY INSIDE OF THE CALIPER AND WOULD NOT EXTEND OUT. THE CALIPER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE CALIPER COULD NOT BE SET BACK IN PLACE DUE TO THE FAULTY RETAINING BOLT.

HAD TO HAVE REAR BOTH REAR CALIPERS, ROTORS, AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED BECAUSE CALIPERS WERE HANGING UP CAUSING THE BRAKES TO DRAG. I ALSO NOTICED SMOKE, COULD FEEL HEAT, AND SMELL HOT METAL COMING FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL ON OR AROUND 6/14/15. I ALSO NOTICED THE SAME ON 6/26/15. DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED SAID THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKES PADS WERE WORN OUT, THE RIGHT REAR PADS WERE 2MM FROM BEING WORN OUT. ALSO BOTH ROTORS WERE WARPED AND DISCOLORED. VEHICLE HAS ADVANCETRAC SYSTEM AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT, BECAUSE OF HEAT AND DRAGGING BRAKES, THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE ABOVE SITUATION OCCURED. COST OF REPLACEMENT CALIPERS FROM FORD WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED AT TIME OF VEHICLE PURCHASE. THE ROTORS, PADS, AND INSTALLATION COSTS TOTALED $412.93.

I WAS ON VACATION AND I STARTED TO GET A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR BRAKES EVERY TIME I STARTED I HAD TO PUT THE BRAKES ON. I DECIDED TO END THE VACATION EARLY AND HEADED HOME. BEFORE I GOT HOME I HAD TO STOP AT A FORD DEALER ABOUT 300 MILES FROM HOME. THE GUY AT THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AND THEN INSPECTED THE BRAKES. HE TOLD ME THE REAR BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN TO METAL ON METAL. I HAD THEM FIX THE REAR BRAKES FOR $324.13. HE LUBED THE CALIPERS AND SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM. I THINK THE BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 30,550 MILE ON A $46,000 VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ABS BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED ALL THE SENSORS AND THE WIRING IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500. *TR