Originally Posted By: borgward
I have 28,000 miles on 2013 Fiesta SE. I take it that the front pads should last to 50,000 miles or more on the average. Is there a warning message for when the pads are getting thin?
Brake pad life is determined by the pad composition and severity of use.
Some pads have metal wear indicators that create a squeal or grinding noise against the rotor when the pad reaches the end of it's lifespan. It is best to not let them get that far, however, as the wear indicator is there basically as a last effort reminder for drivers who don't know any better.
It is best to just remove the tire/wheel and look at the pad periodically. You can generally see them easily as they rest in the calipers along the rotors. I do this when I rotate my tires at oil change intervals. IF you are very "in-tune" with your car, you might notice more brake travel when the pads are wearing thin.
I have, on occasion, been able to "view/inspect" my pads by using the camera on my cell phone, but unless you know what you are looking at/for, that probably would not be helpful.