brakes down

[keannu]

Is this "brakes down" possible? It should be "broke down".

W：James promises his two children that he will give them a ride to the city library. However, his car brakes down and he takes it to the auto repair shop. Fortunately, James findsout that there is a bus that goes directly to the city library.

[Rover_KE]

It should be breaks down.

The whole thing is written in the present tense. . . a common narrative device.

Rover