Brakes for Your Ford Kuga SUV 2020

Brakes  
Note: Depending on applicable laws and  
GENERAL INFORMATION  
regulations in the country for which your  
vehicle was originally built, your brake lamps  
may flash during heavy braking. Following  
this, your hazard lights may also flash when  
your vehicle comes to a stop.  
Note: Occasional brake noise is normal. If  
a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding or  
continuous squeal sound is present, the  
brake linings may be worn-out, have an  
authorized dealer check them. If your  
vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder  
in the steering wheel when braking, an  
authorized dealer should check your vehicle.  
Anti-lock Brake System  
This system helps you maintain steering  
control during emergency stops by keeping  
the brakes from locking.  
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the  
wheels, even under normal driving  
If the light does not momentarily  
conditions. Some dust is inevitable as the  
brakes wear and does not contribute to  
brake noise. Wet brakes result in reduced  
braking efficiency. Gently press the brake  
pedal a few times when driving from a car  
wash or standing water to dry the brakes.  
illuminate, continues to flash or  
remains on when you switch the  
ignition on, the anti-lock brake system  
could be disabled. Have the system  
checked. If the anti-lock brake system is  
disabled, normal braking is still effective.  
Have the system checked.  
See Cleaning the Wheels (page 388).  
See Warning Lamps and Indicators  
Brake Over Accelerator  
In the event the accelerator pedal  
(page 104).  
Note: Indicators vary depending on region.  
becomes stuck or entrapped, apply steady  
and firm pressure to the brake pedal to  
slow the vehicle and reduce engine power.  
If you experience this condition, apply the  
brakes and bring your vehicle to a safe  
stop. Switch the engine off, move the  
transmission to park (P) and apply the  
parking brake. Inspect the accelerator  
pedal and the area around it for any items  
or debris that may be obstructing its  
movement. If none are found and the  
condition persists, have your vehicle towed  
to the nearest authorized dealer.  
If the light does not momentarily  
illuminate, continues to flash or  
remains on when you switch the  
ignition on, have the system  
checked by an authorized dealer.  
If the brake warning lamp  
illuminates with the parking brake released,  
have the system checked immediately.  
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH  
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES  
Emergency Brake Assist  
The anti-lock brake system does not  
Emergency brake assist detects when you  
brake heavily by measuring the rate at  
which you press the brake pedal. It  
provides maximum braking efficiency as  
long as you press the pedal. Emergency  
brake assist can reduce stopping distances  
in critical situations.  
eliminate the risks when:  
You drive too closely to the vehicle in  
front of you.  
Your vehicle is hydroplaning.  
You take corners too fast.  
The road surface is poor.  
243  
Kuga (CTD) Vehicles Built From: 22-06-2021, CG3851en enGBR, Edition date: 202104, First-Printing  
Brakes  
Note: If the system activates, the brake  
If it continues to flash or does not  
illuminate, the system has malfunctioned.  
Have your vehicle checked as soon as  
possible.  
pedal could pulse and may travel further.  
Maintain pressure on the brake pedal. You  
may also hear a noise from the system. This  
is normal.  
Note: You can apply the electric parking  
brake when the ignition is off.  
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE -  
MANUAL TRANSMISSION  
Note: If you park your vehicle on a hill and  
facing uphill, select first gear and turn the  
steering wheel away from the curb.  
Note: If you park your vehicle on a hill and  
facing downhill, select reverse gear and turn  
the steering wheel toward the curb.  
WARNING: Always fully apply the  
parking brake. Failure to follow this  
instruction could result in personal injury  
or death.  
Applying the Electric Parking Brake in  
an Emergency  
WARNING: If you drive extended  
distances with the parking brake applied,  
you could cause damage to the brake  
system.  
Note: Do not apply the electric parking  
brake when your vehicle is moving, except  
in an emergency. If you repeatedly use the  
electric parking brake to slow or stop your  
vehicle, you could cause damage to the  
brake system.  
WARNING: The electric parking  
brake does not operate if the vehicle  
battery is running out of charge.  
You can use the electric parking brake to  
slow or stop your vehicle in an emergency.  
Your vehicle has an electric parking brake.  
You operate it with a switch instead of a  
lever. The switch is on the center console.  
Pull the switch upward and hold  
it.  
The red warning lamp  
Note: The electric parking brake makes  
illuminates, a tone sounds and  
the stoplamps turn on.  
noises during operation. This is normal.  
Applying the Electric Parking  
The electric parking brake continues to  
slow your vehicle down unless you release  
the switch.  
Brake  
Pull the switch upward.  
Manually Releasing the Electric  
The red warning lamp flashes  
during operation and illuminates  
when the parking brake is  
applied.  
Parking Brake  
Switch the ignition on.  
Press and hold the brake pedal.  
Note: It remains illuminated for a short  
period of time after you switch the ignition  
off.  
Push the switch downward.  
The red warning lamp turns off.  
244  
Kuga (CTD) Vehicles Built From: 22-06-2021, CG3851en enGBR, Edition date: 202104, First-Printing  
 
Brakes  
If it remains illuminated or flashes, the  
system has malfunctioned. Have your  
vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Shift into gear.  
Press the accelerator pedal and pull away  
in a normal manner.  
Pulling Away on a Hill When Towing a  
The red warning lamp turns off.  
Trailer  
Press and hold the brake pedal.  
If it remains illuminated or flashes, the  
electric parking brake has not released.  
Manually release the parking brake.  
Pull the switch upward and hold  
it.  
Note: The electric parking brake could  
release if you release the clutch pedal and  
press the accelerator pedal when the  
transmission is in neutral.  
Shift into gear.  
Press the accelerator pedal until engine  
has developed sufficient torque to prevent  
your vehicle from rolling down the hill.  
Releasing the Electric Parking  
Brake if the Vehicle Battery is  
Running Out of Charge  
Release the switch and pull  
away in a normal manner.  
Connect a booster battery to the vehicle  
battery to release the electric parking brake  
if the vehicle battery is running out of  
charge. See Jump Starting the Vehicle  
(page 345).  
Automatically Releasing the  
Electric Parking Brake  
Close the driver door.  
Electric Parking Brake Information Messages  
Message  
Action  
Park brake malfunction The electric parking brake has malfunctioned. Have your  
Service now  
vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park Brake Not Released The electric parking brake has not released. Manually release  
the electric parking brake. If the message continues to appear,  
have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park brake not applied  
The electric parking brake has not applied. Apply the electric  
parking brake.If the message continues to appear, have your  
vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park brake Use switch to The electric parking brake has not automatically released.  
release  
Manually release the electric parking brake.  
Park brake press brake  
and switch to release  
You have not pressed the brake pedal. Press the brake pedal  
to release the parking brake.  
Park brake Limited func- The electric parking brake has malfunctioned. Have your  
tion Service required  
vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
245  
Kuga (CTD) Vehicles Built From: 22-06-2021, CG3851en enGBR, Edition date: 202104, First-Printing  
Brakes  
Message  
Action  
Park brake System over- The electric parking brake has overheated. Wait for the elec-  
heated  
tric parking brake to cool down.  
Park brake off  
Release park brake  
The electric parking brake is released.  
The electric parking brake has not released. Manually release  
the electric parking brake. If the message continues to appear,  
have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park brake on  
The electric parking brake is applied.  
Applying the Electric Parking  
Brake  
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE -  
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION  
Pull the switch upward.  
The red warning lamp flashes  
during operation and illuminates  
when the parking brake is  
WARNING: Always fully apply the  
parking brake and make sure you shift  
into park (P). Failure to follow this  
instruction could result in personal injury  
or death.  
applied.  
Note: It remains illuminated for a short  
period of time after you switch the ignition  
off.  
If it continues to flash or does not  
illuminate, the system has malfunctioned.  
Have your vehicle checked as soon as  
possible.  
WARNING: If you drive extended  
distances with the parking brake applied,  
you could cause damage to the brake  
system.  
WARNING: The electric parking  
brake does not operate if the vehicle  
battery is running out of charge.  
Note: You can apply the electric parking  
brake when the ignition is off.  
Note: The electric parking brake could  
automatically apply when you shift into park  
(P). See Automatic Transmission (page  
236).  
Your vehicle has an electric parking brake.  
You operate it with a switch instead of a  
lever. The switch is on the center console  
or to the left-hand side of the steering  
wheel, on the lower part of the instrument  
panel.  
Applying the Electric Parking Brake in  
an Emergency  
Note: The electric parking brake makes  
Note: Do not apply the electric parking  
brake when your vehicle is moving, except  
in an emergency. If you repeatedly use the  
electric parking brake to slow or stop your  
vehicle, you could cause damage to the  
brake system.  
noises during operation. This is normal.  
246  
Kuga (CTD) Vehicles Built From: 22-06-2021, CG3851en enGBR, Edition date: 202104, First-Printing  
Brakes  
You can use the electric parking brake to  
Shift into gear.  
slow or stop your vehicle in an emergency.  
Press the accelerator pedal until engine  
has developed sufficient torque to prevent  
your vehicle from rolling down the hill.  
Pull the switch upward and hold  
it.  
Release the switch and pull  
The red warning lamp  
away in a normal manner.  
illuminates, a tone sounds and  
the stoplamps turn on.  
Automatically Releasing the  
Electric Parking Brake  
Close the driver door.  
The electric parking brake continues to  
slow your vehicle down unless you release  
the switch.  
Shift into gear.  
Press the accelerator pedal and pull away  
in a normal manner.  
Manually Releasing the Electric  
Parking Brake  
Switch the ignition on.  
Press and hold the brake pedal.  
The red warning lamp turns off.  
Push the switch downward.  
If it remains illuminated or flashes, the  
electric parking brake has not released.  
Manually release the parking brake.  
The red warning lamp turns off.  
Releasing the Electric Parking  
Brake if the Vehicle Battery is  
Running Out of Charge  
Connect a booster battery to the vehicle  
battery to release the electric parking brake  
if the vehicle battery is running out of  
charge. See Jump Starting the Vehicle  
(page 348).  
If it remains illuminated or flashes, the  
system has malfunctioned. Have your  
vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Pulling Away on a Hill When Towing a  
Trailer  
Press and hold the brake pedal.  
Pull the switch upward and hold  
it.  
247  
Kuga (CTD) Vehicles Built From: 22-06-2021, CG3851en enGBR, Edition date: 202104, First-Printing  
Brakes  
Electric Parking Brake Information Messages  
Message  
Action  
Park brake malfunction The electric parking brake has malfunctioned. Have your  
Service now  
vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park Brake Not Released The electric parking brake has not released. Manually release  
the electric parking brake. If the message continues to appear,  
have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park brake not applied  
The electric parking brake has not applied. Apply the electric  
parking brake.If the message continues to appear, have your  
vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park brake Use switch to The electric parking brake has not automatically released.  
release  
Manually release the electric parking brake.  
Park brake press brake  
and switch to release  
You have not pressed the brake pedal. Press the brake pedal  
to release the parking brake.  
Park brake Limited func- The electric parking brake has malfunctioned. Have your  
tion Service required vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park brake System over- The electric parking brake has overheated. Wait for the elec-  
heated  
tric parking brake to cool down.  
Park brake off  
Release park brake  
The electric parking brake is released.  
The electric parking brake has not released. Manually release  
the electric parking brake. If the message continues to appear,  
have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.  
Park brake on  
The electric parking brake is applied.  
WARNING: You must remain in  
your vehicle when the system turns on.  
At all times, you are responsible for  
controlling your vehicle, supervising the  
HILL START ASSIST  
WARNING: The system does not  
replace the parking brake. When you  
leave your vehicle, always apply the  
parking brake.  
system and intervening, if required.  
Failure to take care may result in the loss  
of control of your vehicle, serious  
personal injury or death.  
248  
Kuga (CTD) Vehicles Built From: 22-06-2021, CG3851en enGBR, Edition date: 202104, First-Printing  
Brakes  
4. Drive off in the normal manner. The  
system releases the brakes  
automatically.  
Note: When you remove your foot from the  
brake pedal and press the pedal again when  
the system is active, you will experience  
significantly reduced brake pedal travel. This  
is normal.  
WARNING: The system will turn  
off if a malfunction is apparent or if you  
rev the engine excessively. Failure to take  
care may result in the loss of control of  
your vehicle, serious personal injury or  
death.  
The system makes it easier to pull away  
when your vehicle is on a slope without the  
need to use the parking brake.  
When the system is active, your vehicle  
remains stationary on the slope for two to  
three seconds after you release the brake  
pedal. This allows time to move your foot  
from the brake to the accelerator pedal.  
The system releases the brakes  
Switching the System On and Off  
Vehicles with Manual Transmission  
You can switch this feature on or off in the  
information display. The system  
remembers the last setting when you start  
your vehicle.  
Vehicles with Automatic Transmission  
When you switch the ignition on, the  
system automatically turns on. You cannot  
turn the system on or off.  
automatically once the engine has  
developed sufficient torque to prevent your  
vehicle from rolling down the slope. This  
is an advantage when pulling away on a  
slope, for example from a car park ramp,  
traffic lights or when reversing uphill into  
a parking space.  
AUTO HOLD  
The system activates on any slope that  
causes your vehicle to roll.  
WARNING: The system does not  
replace the parking brake. When you  
leave your vehicle, always apply the  
parking brake.  
Note: There is no warning light to indicate  
the system is either on or off.  
Using Hill Start Assist  
WARNING: You must remain in  
your vehicle when the system turns on.  
At all times, you are responsible for  
controlling your vehicle, supervising the  
system and intervening, if required.  
Failure to take care may result in the loss  
of control of your vehicle, serious  
personal injury or death.  
1. Press the brake pedal to bring your  
vehicle to a complete standstill. Keep  
the brake pedal pressed and shift into  
a forward gear when facing uphill, or  
reverse (R) when facing downhill.  
2. If the sensors detect that your vehicle  
is on a slope, the system activates  
automatically.  
3. When you remove your foot from the  
brake pedal, your vehicle remains on  
the slope without rolling away for  
about two to three seconds. This hold  
time automatically extends if you are  
in the process of driving off.  
WARNING: The system turns off if  
there is a malfunction or if you  
excessively rev the engine.  
249  
Kuga (CTD) Vehicles Built From: 22-06-2021, CG3851en enGBR, Edition date: 202104, First-Printing  
Brakes  
The system is designed to apply the brakes  
Note: Under certain conditions, the system  
could apply the electric parking brake. The  
brake system warning lamp illuminates. The  
electric parking brake releases when you  
press the accelerator pedal. See Electric  
Parking Brake (page 244).  
to hold your vehicle at a standstill after you  
stop your vehicle and release the brake  
pedal. This could be beneficial in certain  
situations, for example when waiting on a  
hill or in traffic.  
Note: If auto-start-stop turns off the  
Switching Auto Hold On and Off  
Note: The system deactivates if you shift  
into reverse (R) and press the brake pedal.  
3. Pull away in the normal manner. The  
system releases the brakes and the  
auto hold active indicator turns off.  
Auto Hold Indicator  
E319
Press the button on your console to access  
the Auto Hold feature on the touchscreen.  
Note: You can only switch the system on  
after you close the driver door, fasten your  
seatbelt and start the engine.  
The auto hold indicator  
illuminates in the information  
display when the system is on  
and is either active or unavailable.  
Note: The system remembers the last  
setting when you start your vehicle.  
Make sure you switch the system off before  
towing with your vehicle or before using an  
automatic car wash.  
Illuminates when the system is  
active. Your vehicle remains  
stationary after you release the  
brake pedal.  
Using Auto Hold  
Illuminates when the system is on but  
unavailable to hold your vehicle at a  
standstill.  
1. Use the brakes to bring your vehicle to  
a complete stop. The auto hold active  
indicator illuminates in the information  
display.  
2. Release the brake pedal. The system  
holds your vehicle at a standstill. The  
auto hold active indicator remains  
illuminated in the information display.  
Note: The system only activates if you  
apply enough brake pressure. If your vehicle  
is on a steep slope, you need to press the  
brake pedal harder before the system  
activates.  
The system could be unavailable when any  
of the following occur:  
During an active park assist maneuver.  
Your vehicle is in stay in neutral mode.  
The driver door is open.  
You do not fasten your seatbelt.  
You shift into reverse (R) before the  
system is active.  
250  
Kuga (CTD) Vehicles Built From: 22-06-2021, CG3851en enGBR, Edition date: 202104, First-Printing