Ford Falcon: Brake fail

Whilst traveling at speed last weekend I started to get a front-end vibration, followed by partial brake failure. I was approaching a red light at a major intersection when the pedal went almost to the floor before the brakes started to bite. With the family in the car this was quite scary. I have been told it is probably a failure of a rear brake hose, and I have read before that BA Falcons as well as Territories suffer from brake hose failures. How would I know if the rear brake hoses have been replaced on my car? Clearly the car is out of warranty, but what claim might I have on Ford if the hose has failed?