Ford Explorer Quiz
Brakes

General Information

In this manual: Brakes
Introduction — 10At a Glance — 3Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 10Personal Safety System™ — 1Supplemental Restraint System — 10Pedestrian Protection — 1911 Assist — 3Keys and Remote Controls — 10MyKey™ — 8Doors & Locks — 9Liftgate — 7Safety — 3Steering Wheel — 11Wipers and Washers — 5Lighting — 13Automatic High Beam Control — 3Windows and Mirrors — 6Instrument Cluster — 4Information Displays — 4Climate Control — 6Cabin Air Quality — 2Seats — 9Garage Door Opener — 2Auxiliary Power Points — 3Storage Compartments — 2Starting and Stopping the Engine — 5Unique Driving Characteristics — 4Fuel and Refueling — 8Engine Emission Control — 3High-Voltage Battery — 1Infection Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive Vehicle — 1Brakes — 5Reverse Brake Assist — 4Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 3Hill Descent Control — 3Park Aid — 8Cruise Control — 4Adaptive Cruise Control — 19Driver Assistance — 12Drive Mode Control — 4Loading — 6Tow/Haul — 6Driving Tips — 5Roadside Emergencies — 8Customer Assistance — 9Fuses — 3Maintenance — 21Vehicle Care — 12Wheels and Tires — 8Capacities and Specifications — 16Connectivity — 3Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 6SYNC™ 3 — 14Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 5Appendices — 4
~3min read

Wet brakes reduce braking performance. After leaving a car wash or driving through standing water, gently apply the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.

Brake Over Accelerator

If the accelerator pedal sticks or becomes stuck, firmly and quickly press the brake pedal to slow the vehicle and reduce engine power. If this occurs, apply the brakes and drive the vehicle to a safe place to stop. Turn off the engine, shift the transmission to Park (P), and apply the parking brake. Inspect the accelerator pedal and the area around it for any objects or debris that may interfere with its movement. If nothing is found and the condition persists, tow the vehicle to the nearest authorized dealer.

Emergency Brake Assist

Emergency Brake Assist detects when you are braking hard by measuring the speed at which you depress the brake pedal. It provides maximum braking effectiveness for as long as you press the pedal. Emergency Brake Assist can shorten stopping distance in critical situations.

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

This system helps you maintain steering control during emergency stops by preventing the brakes from locking.

This light comes on briefly when the ignition is turned on. If the light does not come on during start-up, stays on, or flashes, the anti-lock brake system may be disabled. Have the system checked by an authorized dealer. If the anti-lock brake system is disabled, normal braking is still effective. Refer to Warning Lamps and Indicators.

This light also comes on briefly when the ignition is turned on to check that the lamp is working. If it does not come on when the ignition is turned on, or starts to flash at any time, have the system checked by an authorized dealer. If the brake system warning lamp comes on with the parking brake released, check the system immediately.

Regenerative Braking System

This feature simulates engine braking of an internal combustion engine and assists the standard braking system by recovering part of the vehicle's motion energy and storing it in the battery to improve fuel economy. The standard brake system is designed to stop the vehicle completely if regenerative braking is not available. During regenerative braking, the motor operates as a generator to produce electric current. This recharges the battery and slows the vehicle. In effect, once the accelerator pedal is released, the motor changes from an energy consumer to an energy generator.

When you release the accelerator pedal or press the brake pedal, the brake controller automatically determines the amount of deceleration requested and optimizes the deceleration produced by regenerative braking. The remainder is produced by standard friction braking. When the battery is almost fully charged, the amount of regenerative braking is limited to avoid overcharging, and the requested deceleration is produced by standard friction braking only.

Regenerative braking does not replace the standard friction brakes; it only assists them. Regenerative braking is also designed to work together with the anti-lock brake system. Regenerative braking is disabled when the anti-lock brake system is activated or the battery is fully charged.

The anti-lock brake system does not eliminate the risks of:

  • Following the vehicle ahead too closely.
  • Your vehicle hydroplanes.
  • You take corners too fast.
  • The road surface is poor.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Explorer quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.