FaultScore

1997 Ford E-150 brake problems

19 of the 122 complaints about the 1997 Ford E-150 are about the braking system — 16% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 81,431 miles.

D

19

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 7 36.8%
Disc 3 15.8%
Foundation Components 2 10.5%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2 10.5%
Rotor 1 5.3%
Linkage AND Cable 1 5.3%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 5.3%
Antilock 1 5.3%
Rotor 1 5.3%

Brakes across every Ford E-150 year

1992 10 5.7%
1993 10 5.7%
1994 30 17.1%
1995 26 14.9%
1996 16 9.1%
1997 19 10.9%
1998 10 5.7%
1999 17 9.7%
2001 17 9.7%
2002 10 5.7%
2004 10 5.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 172,000 miles Warren, MI Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 172,000.

NHTSA complaint #10454528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,163 miles Nahant, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED IN THREE SEPARATE LOCATIONS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. FORTUNATELY, IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. NO CONFIDENCE IN THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10293283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,700 miles Middletown, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

BRAKES LINES BURST AND BRAKES ON VAN FAILED. ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE ROTTED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10142600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Wales, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E150. ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOST THROUGH THE REAR BRAKE LINES. THE MECHANIC DESCRIBED IT AS CORRODED, RUSTED LINES. THE CONSUMER REPORTED HAVING NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. HE NOTICED THIS TODAY.

NHTSA complaint #10137421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles King OF Prussia, PA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

APPROXIMATELY EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES I NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THE ROTORS ARE BADLY WARPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPERS, BUT THAT DID NOT HELP. THE REAR DRUMS ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND HAS LITTLE WEAR. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE REAR DRUMS ADJUSTED REGULARLY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE LONGEVITY OF THE FRONT BREAKS. I HAVE ABOUT 140,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES 7 OR 8 TIMES. I DID HAVE ONE ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR BREAKING, AND THE NEXT DAY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS.

NHTSA complaint #10105866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tiffin, OH

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE

THE PARKING CABLE WAS DESIGNED TOO SHORT, AND WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10015646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE BACKING UP INTO PARKING SPACE,WHEN I STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT GRAB. IT SEEMED LIKE THE VAN STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I SQUEEZED BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD AND I HEARD ABS CLICKING. I STILL DIDN'T STOP SO I HAD TO SHIFT CAR INTO PARK. THIS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS EARLIER.

NHTSA complaint #749847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hinesville, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THIS IS TO REPORT A CONTINUAL PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VAN. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. I HAVE TALKED TO OVER 30 FORD VAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FRONT BRAKES DEVELOP AN INCURABLE "SHIMMY" AND PREMATURE WEAR CAUSING MINOR DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS AND ALSO EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE WEAR. IN MY CASE, REAR BRAKES WERE PREMATURELY WORN TO THE POINT THAT ABS ENGAGED AND CREATED FURTHER "PULSING". THIS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AS FORD PROBLEM WITH CALIPERS TO FORD PROBLEM WITH ABS ON LATE MODEL VANS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE POSSIBILITY OF A PROBLEM. FIVE BRAKE REPAIRS IN 30,000 MILES WOULD INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS AND IS ALSO DANGEROUS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE?

NHTSA complaint #746565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hinesville, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THIS IS TO REPORT A CONTINUAL PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VAN. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. I HAVE TALKED TO OVER 30 FORD VAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FRONT BRAKES DEVELOP AN INCURABLE "SHIMMY" AND PREMATURE WEAR CAUSING MINOR DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS AND ALSO EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE WEAR. IN MY CASE, REAR BRAKES WERE PREMATURELY WORN TO THE POINT THAT ABS ENGAGED AND CREATED FURTHER "PULSING". THIS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AS FORD PROBLEM WITH CALIPERS TO FORD PROBLEM WITH ABS ON LATE MODEL VANS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE POSSIBILITY OF A PROBLEM. FIVE BRAKE REPAIRS IN 30,000 MILES WOULD INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS AND IS ALSO DANGEROUS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE?

NHTSA complaint #746565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stoney Creek ON. Canada, AK

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TRIED TO STOP AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION. AFTER SEVERAL BRAKE ATTEMPTS THE BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE SITS IN RAIN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS IS ABOUT THE 10TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #721867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cutchogue, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL WOULD SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FIGHT WITH STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK

NHTSA complaint #858561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Quatz Hill, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY ABOUT 70MPH TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND GOT DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED FREE WHEELING. ABS LOCKED UP, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #856965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Franklin, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HARD ON FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS FORM THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT. NOW THE ABS ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY IN MY OPINION. ON WET OR SNOW COVERED ROADS AT 15 MPH OR LESS THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO A FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE BRAKES ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN WET OR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT? THANKS

NHTSA complaint #709180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Independence, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, ALSO, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #838334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millington, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

WHEN APPLYING FRONT BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATES, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.DEALER HAS TURNED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING.

NHTSA complaint #834447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Foley, AL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

MOTOR ACTS LIKE IT IS CHOKING AND WON'T TAKE GAS. IT SOMETIMES DIES AND HAVE TO RESTART. VEHICLE SOMETIMES DIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN AT INTERSECTION,CAUSING YOU TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. BRAKES ARE NOT GOOD. WHEN APPLIED HARD THEY VIBRATE VERY BAD.

NHTSA complaint #701085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OAK Park, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. QCAW

NHTSA complaint #539409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tipton, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #537308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fowlervill, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES SQUEAL AND LOCK UP.

NHTSA complaint #535528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Ford E-150 problems

← Full 1997 Ford E-150 report