Ford Mondeo - Handbrake keeps failing

paintpot

I have an 04 Mondeo Estate and twice now the handbrake has failed and my car has rolled away (both times fortunately it only rolled down my drive and into my now dented garage door!).

The first time, I thought maybe it was me :rolleyes: but took it to the garage as it needed an MOT and reported poor performance of the handbrake. It failed the MOT, the caliper was seized on one side and as a result I had to have new discs and pads as well as I was informed by the garage that they had been damaged by the handbrake being seized.

The second time, not long after the MOT, and the handbrake had become slack again and a couple of days ago it rolled away again! I took it back to the garage and again the caliper had seized. They didn't charge me for the work but said that if it happens again I will need a new caliper costing about £150. They also said that Mondeos are renowned for rubbish handbrakes.

Having googled the problem, I see Ford recalled some Mondeos due to this problem but it would seem this was for earlier cars i.e pre 2004. Rather strange as mine seem to do the same thing as described in the recall.

Can anyone offer any further info on the recall, my problem and whether the info given to me by the garage about having a new caliper fitted if it happens again is sound advice?

I am somewhat nervous about the handbrake now as if it were to roll away again it could do alot of harm so I feel I need to always leave the car in gear.

Thanks

goldspanners

maybe your car was registered late? call a dealer with your vin number.
as for parking,i would apply handbrake and leave vehicle in gear when switched off.

paintpot

Very good point goldspanners, thanks very much :T

goldspanners wrote: »

maybe your car was registered late? call a dealer with your vin number.
as for parking,i would apply handbrake and leave vehicle in gear when switched off.

paintpot

Sorry, another question, if was registered late and fell within the product recall, would it still be covered all these years later? Sorry, I'm not a car buff so I don't know how these things work

goldspanners wrote: »

maybe your car was registered late? call a dealer with your vin number.
as for parking,i would apply handbrake and leave vehicle in gear when switched off.

shown73

Why not try the Mondeo enthusiasts group website, they are very helpful. I think its www.fordmondeo.org If the link doesn't work, just try googling mondeoenthusiasts, perhaps. I wouldn't have thought that there would be a time limit on recalls, especially for something that could possibly result in a damaging court case. Anyway, the boys on that website should be able to help a lot.

paintpot

Thank you. I can't believe there is such a wesbite, I have a Mondeo but I'm not enthusiastic about it :rotfl:Sorry to anyone who loves their Mondeo I'll try the helpful boys over there so thanks for that.

Conor_3

The handbrake on my 04 plate Mondeo is fine. They do seize up but this is a lot to do with lack of servicing.

Once a caliper starts sticking, it'll eventually need replacing. £150 seems a reasonable amount for a garage doing it.

paintpot

Hi and thanks

Mine has been regularly serviced and in fact it had a full service at the same time as the MOT. It's not so much the seizing that concerns me, its the fact that twice it has rolled away when the handbrake has been applied. It is impossible for me to get out of my car having not applied the handbrake or not applied it properly and not notice as it would instantly roll due to the gradient of my drive. Twice I have got up to find it has smacked into the garage door. If I don't leave it in gear from now on, then next time it might smack into another car or worse still roll and injure a pedestrian. I am not being melodramatic but that could happen based on past experiences. That's what worries me more if it is an inherent fault with this car based on what I have read in the recall notices.

djheath

Be thankful it only hits your garage! In my old pug 405, I used to leave it in gear, but one morning I got in to start it, pulled it out of gear, then remembered something in house so went back in to get it. When I came out the car had disappeared off the drive and had rolled down the drive, across the road and in to the house opposites hedge!!! Luckily it was early morning and no one was around so I just drove out! Thankfully no damage done to the car or hedge!!!

hewhoisnotintheknow

this happened to me countless times with my 02 mondeo i had as a company car. Would always leave it in gear as i couldnt trust the handbreak. If it wasnt rolling away then windows would be openeing themselves in the middle of the night, or the headlights blowing everytime i wanted to use them

I sold it for a 406 and that is much more reliable!

intcanoe

I have a similar problem with my 04 mondeo except 1 of the rear brakes r stuck on its got to the point where i cannot get out of 2nd gear due to the friction and when I stop it is smoking. Any1 have any suggeations as ive bn quoted £800 which I am not going to pay obviously. Many Thanks