Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
2001 Ford Escape was sitting in driveway with engine off. Started smoking, popped hood to find fire on ABS module. Pulled off battery terminal and patted fire off. Car was being sent in the next week for recall. Wellsville ny Ford only replaced the brake reservoir cap and ABS fuse box. Never fixed the module, faulty seals or burnt harness, as per NHTSA action number :pe06048.
Tl*- the contact stated that the 2001 Ford Escape xlt wires under the hood burned while sitting in the garage of her home. She drove the vehicle one hour prior to the fire. The alarms in her house warned her of the fire. She called the local fire department, and they found no fire in the house. They then checked the garage and they smelled something burning. The fireman opened and noticed the wires that were burning under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to town and country, and they informed her that old brake fluid leaked on the ABS, which was the cause of the wires burning. The vehicle was serviced for the ABS light coming on, and off at the local Firestone, they replaced the master cylinder . The wires burned within 24 hours of the repair. The town and country dealership gave the contact a loaner vehicle, and she felt this was odd. …
While attending a school play, I was called outside b/c my Ford Escape was smoking from under the hood and the alarm was going off. I had been inside & the car shut off for 25 min. Before being called out. Smoke & fire was billowing from under the hood, and fire was dropping on the ground by the time the fire dept. Arrived. The hood of my vehicle had to be pried up on the sides and front in order to put out the fire. Everything inside had melted. They asked if I had noticed anything unusual about the car. It had been a little slow to start for a couple days, but seemed to run fine. I thought perhaps I needed to check the spark plugs. The fire dept. Suggested I contact Ford to check on any potential recalls. Ford motor verified that confirmed that recall #07s51 did apply to the vehicle based on my VIN#. …
The ABS warning light came on in my 2001 Ford Escape. I took it to the Ford service department. They ran some tests. They said the ABS module was probably the cause but they did not have one in stock. They would order it and contact me to schedule installation. They did not indicate the vehicle was unsafe to operate. I drove the car back home and to work the next day. On the way home after work a fire started in the engine compartment left front side which is near the brake system components. I put the fire out and contacted my insurance company. The vehicle was no longer drivable. I had it towed to the Ford dealer the next day. Neither Ford or farmers insurance could pinpoint the origin of the fire but their was damage around the ABS and its wiring. Ford has denied responsibility for the damage. I remembered a safety recall was done previously having to do with the ABS. …
During my recent travel, my 2001 Ford Escape had a small fire burning the ABS wiring while parked in the garage. The anti-lock control unit/module had a recall back in 2007, 07s51, and in 2008 the module was inspected. I brought the car into the same dealer that did the inspection once I realized what had recently happened to see if the recall would be honored, regardless of the inspection. I was told that the recall had been taken care of by the inspection, and there was nothing the dealer could do, unless they sold me a $2,000 part. I called Ford customer relations to inform them of my situation, and received the same response, "there is nothing that they can do to honor the recall". My main concern is my safety, and I could have been injured or my house could have caught fire. I am disturbed in the response by Ford regarding my safety and lack of assistance at the corporate level. …
I have a 2001 Ford Escape. While staying at a hotel on vacation in marfa, tx, I was awakened by my car alarm going of at approximately 5:30 am on May 12, 2010. When I went outside to turn it off, I found smoke pouring out from under the hood. Our neighbor called 911, and the car continued to smoke until the fire department arrived. As the fire dept. Was inspecting the car, flames did appear from the ABS wiring harness and module. The fire was extinguished quickly and damage was confined to the ABS harness and module. I had received a recall notice for the ABS harness a couple of years ago, and took my car to a dealership in austin to have the necessary work performed. That work was performed on August 6, 2008. …
I own 3 Ford escapes and all 3 have same safety issue. I learned on google that I am not alone. It is a very common problem. I am talking about ABS tone ring which cracks and causes ABS to malfunction. It becomes a serious issue when it happens while driving. Initial malfunction causes on-board computer to "be confused" and brakes don't perform as they should, causing extended braking distance. Once on-board computer "recognizes" the problem ABS dashboard light will come on and the driver is aware of the issue. Broken ABS tone ring will cause ABS brakes to engage on dry surface even at the lowest speeds. This failure becomes serious issue at the moment of initial malfunction because the driver is caught by surprise. Please view comments by others at the link below. All comments are screen captures with original url visible at the top of each comment. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 12V005000 (service brakes, hydraulic), 12V353000 (engine and engine cooling), and 14V165000 (structure, vehicle speed control). The contact did not receive any recall notifications. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated for an extended period of time. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic. While the vehicle was parked in a residental parking space, a security guard noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. After making a second round, the guard informed the vehicle owner that the vehicle was consumed by flames. The fire department extinguished the flames. A fire report was filed and the contact took pictures. The vehicle was parked and had not been inspected by a dealer or manufacturer. …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. While driving at an unknown speed on a local highway, the contact noticed smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. He pulled the vehicle over, opened the hood, and noticed flames underneath the hood. He attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher; however, the fire department arrived and extinguished it instead. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic shop. Through research, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign id number 07V156000 (service brakes, hydraulic:anti-lock:control unit/module) for the same failure. He went to the local Ford dealer and spoke with the service manager. On September 22, 2007, the dealer inspected the vehicle and stated that the recall repair had previously been repaired. Therefore, the service manager stated that Ford would not be responsible for any repairs that needed to be performed on the vehicle. …
An electrical short caused the ABS to malfunction. This illuminated the ABS warning light, which caused the ABS control module to overheat resulting in a burning odor, smoke, and engine fire. This condition occurred when the vehicle ignition switch was in the off position, and while the vehicle was being operated. It turns out that there were several recalls on this particular make and model which I have not been notified about. I have contacted Ford motor company about the recalls. Two different people told me that if the VIN for my vehicle was not included in the recall, then the manufacturer is not obligated to fix the safety defect. The vehicle does not have anti- lock brakes now because the control module has burned up, and the fuses had to be removed. The price for installation of a new ABS control module is estimated at $1500 to $2500.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Ford is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 escape vehicles manufactured from October 22, 1999, through July 19, 2002, equipped with a brake master cylinder reservoir cap that could leak brake fluid.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder reservoir cap and the ABS electrical system will be modified. An interim letter was mailed on January 20, 2012.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with antilock brakes (ABS), the ABS module connector May have missing or dislodged wire seals. This condition could allow contamination to enter the module connector, creating a potential for an electrical short.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wire harness connector to the ABS module for missing or dislodged wire seals, and repair or replace the harness connector as appropriate.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fire
In letters dated March 30, 2007, Ford motor company (Ford) and Mazda north American operations (Mazda) notified the agency that they will conduct recalls 07v-156 and 07v-157, respectively, to remedy a safety defect that May result in fire in a wiring connector used in certain model year (my) 2001-2004 Ford escape and Mazda tribute vehicles equipped with ABS.the recall campaign prescribes an inspection of the subject…
Engine compartment fire
In letters dated March 30, 2007, Ford and Mazda notified NHTSA that they will conduct safety recalls to remedy a safety defect that May result in fire in a wiring connector used in certain model year (my) 2001-2004 Ford escape and Mazda tribute sport utility vehicles equipped with ABS.recall 07v-156 involves approximately 446,450 my 2001-2004 escape vehicles manufactured from October 22, 1999 through January 23,…
Engine Compartment Fire
Ford and Mazda recalled model year (MY) 2001 through 2004 Ford Escape (07V-156) and Mazda Tribute (07V-157) vehicles due to non-crash fires or non-fire thermal events originating in the engine compartment at or near the ABS control module.Approximately 545,700 vehicles were subject to the initial safety recalls and approximately 424,700 vehicles were serviced under those campaigns.
Engine compartment fire
The office of defects investigation (odi) received a defect petition dated March 5, 2009 alleging that the petitioner never received the recall remedy for 07v-156 and that, as a result, the petitioner's my2003 Ford escape caught fire at the ABS control module.in response to odi follow-up, the manufacturer verified that the petitioner's vehicle had in fact received service related to safety recall 07V156 - a fact…
Brake complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2001 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 163 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Ford Escape, 16% of the model year's 996 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (23 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Escape brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-005 (control unit/module, Jan 9, 2012); NHTSA recall 07V-156 (control unit/module, Apr 10, 2007). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Escape brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 22 fires and 17 injuries and 1 death to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.