Ford Escort, Fiesta, Mondeo Recall R/1996/022: Failure Of Braking System Vacuum Assistance, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 23 Jan 1996
- Launched
- 56,864
- vehicles in the UK
- R/1996/022
- DVSA reference
Ford recalled Escort, Fiesta, Mondeo vehicles. The brake vacuum pump may cease to provide vacuum assistance. The dealer will replace vacuum pumps within certain ranges with new units. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
The brake vacuum pump may cease to provide vacuum assistance. Should this occur greater brake pedal pressure would be needed and stopping distances may be increased.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: FAILURE OF BRAKING SYSTEM VACUUM ASSISTANCE Defect: The brake vacuum pump may cease to provide vacuum assistance. Should this occur greater brake pedal pressure would be needed and stopping distances may be increased. Remedy: The affected vehicles are being recalled to Ford dealers to have the brake pump manufacturing codes checked. Vacuum pumps within certain ranges will be replaced with new units. This campaign supersedes recall R1995/081 and includes all the vehicles alrea
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: failure of braking system vacuum assistance.
The Fix
The dealer will replace vacuum pumps within certain ranges with new units.
Are You Affected?
Escort, Fiesta, Mondeo may be included. Ford estimates 56,864 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with Ford, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with Ford.
- Book with any franchised Ford dealer, quoting the DVSA reference R/1996/022. See how to get a Ford recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
| Launched | Vehicle and fault | Severity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus, Galaxy, Kuga, Mondeo and 2 moreMulti vehicle line (MVL): telecommunications control module (TCU) loss of function software update | Book soon | R/2026/181 | |
| Ecosport, Edge, Explorer, Fiesta and 11 moreRear-View camera software update | Low | R/2025/359 | |
| Fiesta, Puma, Tourneo Courier, Transit CourierFuel line chafing | Urgent | R/2025/084 | |
| B-Max, Cmax, Ecosport, Fiesta MCA and 9 moreX-Car powertain control module (PCM) software update | Low | R/2025/094 | |
| Edge, Galaxy, Mondeo, S-MaxBrake hose leak | Urgent | R/2026/076 |
This is one of 378 Ford recalls in DVSA’s data. The Ford recall launched before it was R/1995/080 on 20 Nov 1995, for stop light switch may be faulty. The one launched after it was R/1996/040 on 15 Mar 1996, for possible failure of offside front brake caliper. You can also see every Ford recall, all recalls launched in 1996 and brake recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/1996/022, launched 23 January 1996. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.