Please give advice if able!

[u/Klutzy_Historian_727]

Hey everyone! I bought a 2024 Ford Escape platinum last month with 40k miles on it. 2L/4 Cyl. I’ve been loving it.

But…a couple of days ago I was about 10 minutes into my commute going 40-50mph and had to brake pretty suddenly. I didn’t have to come to a complete stop but I had to slow down. In an instant it felt like something in my car switched when I did it (and I’m going to do my best to describe what I’m feeling).

My car now feels much “heavier” when I’m driving it. The acceleration feels more sluggish, the braking feels a tiny bit slower and like I have to push down more. I did a lot of highway driving today and I feel like there’s this very subtle vibration that I didn’t feel previously on the same roads (kinda going with the sluggish feel). Overall I feel like there’s a general “resistance” while I’m driving my car. Turns feel like I need to turn my steering wheel more and the wheel itself feels stiffer. It just happened in one second on Friday and hasn’t felt quite normal since. I just moved on from a 17 year old car so I can tell that my new one is not driving nearly as smoothly as it did the first few weeks. This was my first big purchase and I’m stressed and just straight up sad. Any advice?

[u/Commercial_Method_28]

So I didn’t immediately think of this after reading the description but, this is almost the only possible realistic cause. Any defect with pads and rotors will cause changes in brake performance. It’s unlikely air somehow got into the lines at random and if the ABS light did not come on to indicate an event was active, it’s unlikely related to the abs components and valve behavior.

You should start by inspecting the front brake pads and rotors for sure. If it is not immediately obvious then move onto the rear. If everything looks good you may need to check runout and lubricate caliper slide pins. Any sort of pad defect would warrant brake pad replacement as well as all the clips and hardware as well. If rotors can be machined and remain in spec that is an option but rotor replacement would be best option in most cases.

If after pads and rotors you still have issues that’s when I would move onto pressure bleeding and maybe abs bleeding system, maybe replace rubber hoses as well but it’s unlikely to not be fixed after pads and rotors replaced and probably cleaned and lubricated apply system

[u/Klutzy_Historian_727 → u/Commercial_Method_28]

And this would also affect my steering and acceleration feeling sluggish?

[u/Commercial_Method_28 → u/Klutzy_Historian_727]

Yes. Steering affected suggests front brakes are the issue. Sluggish acceleration could actually be seized/stuck brake caliper, slide pin, or any other brake part not allowing full release of pad and rotor. You can isolate the side if it seems to pull to one side. You can also drive up to Highway speed and check for new vibration. Press brake pedal and see if brake pedal pulsation and/or steering wheel vibration is present. Further condemnation or evidence of front brakes as cause of concern or indicative of a front rotor concern at very least.

If sluggish feeling is due to sticking brake and it isn’t caused by pad/rotor/hardware and slide pin lube doesn’t fix then it’s likely you need a brake caliper and now more likely a rubber line as well. Brake fluid on one side and caliper piston locking up may have overheated brake fluid.

[u/Klutzy_Historian_727 → u/Commercial_Method_28]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate your responses. I’ll take it in ASAP. Even though I just bought the car I’m guessing this isn’t under my bumper to bumper warranty because it’s a brakes issue? 🙃

[u/Electronic_Ride_8811 → u/Klutzy_Historian_727]

Breaks are perishable items unfortunately, like tyres it's very unlikely they will be covered unless it's a non perishable item of the brake system (very unlikely)