Ford F-150 brake problems

4,090 of the 48,021 complaints filed about the Ford F-150 are about the braking system — 100% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2013.

4,090

Complaints

100%

Share of all complaints

361

Crashes

69

Fires

Brakes complaints by model year

1991 F-150 28 0.7%
1992 F-150 57 1.4%

Median failure at 104,128 miles

1993 F-150 114 2.8%

Median failure at 197,553 miles

1994 F-150 184 4.5%

Median failure at 78,996 miles

1995 F-150 183 4.5%

Median failure at 87,487 miles

1996 F-150 42 1.0%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

1997 F-150 260 6.4%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

1998 F-150 127 3.1%

Median failure at 127,000 miles

1999 F-150 129 3.2%

Median failure at 91,000 miles

2000 F-150 94 2.3%

Median failure at 68,271 miles

2001 F-150 70 1.7%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

2002 F-150 45 1.1%

Median failure at 67,500 miles

2003 F-150 32 0.8%

Median failure at 31,000 miles

2004 F-150 156 3.8%

Median failure at 24,000 miles

2005 F-150 130 3.2%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

2006 F-150 99 2.4%

Median failure at 32,000 miles

2007 F-150 46 1.1%

Median failure at 29,000 miles

2008 F-150 39 1.0%

Median failure at 20,000 miles

2009 F-150 39 1.0%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2010 F-150 58 1.4%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2011 F-150 186 4.5%

Median failure at 58,705 miles

2012 F-150 137 3.3%

Median failure at 63,925 miles

2013 F-150 370 9.0%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2014 F-150 347 8.5%

Median failure at 48,400 miles

2015 F-150 320 7.8%

Median failure at 51,000 miles

2016 F-150 340 8.3%

Median failure at 33,798 miles

2017 F-150 116 2.8%

Median failure at 26,300 miles

2018 F-150 92 2.2%

Median failure at 43,250 miles

2019 F-150 21 0.5%

Median failure at 8,150 miles

2020 F-150 22 0.5%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

2021 F-150 76 1.9%

Median failure at 45,000 miles

2022 F-150 42 1.0%

Median failure at 22,000 miles

2023 F-150 53 1.3%

Median failure at 11,010 miles

2024 F-150 14 0.3%

Median failure at 13,290 miles

2025 F-150 19 0.5%

Median failure at 5,250 miles

2026 F-150 3 0.1%

What owners said

2021 Ford F-150 Loganville, GA

SERVICE BRAKES

ABS Control module and brake booster assembly failed. Vehicle would not crank or start. Disconnected battery negative pole for one minute to reset PCM. Vehicle started. Drove immediately to independent service center without difficulty. Service center confirmed vehicle no start the next morning. Found several DTC codes including U3001 (Control Module Improper Shutdown) U300A (Ignition switch) U0121 (Lost communication with ABS) U0554 (Invalid Data recieved from Accessory Protocol Interface) and U0415 (Invalid Data Received from ABS) Flowchart determined ABS module is bad. Anti Lock Brake System control module failed which rendered the system inoperative. Warning on dash that Anti Lock Brake System failed was prominent among other warnings. (Traction Control, Service Needed, Door Ajar (was closed), Hood ajar (was closed) Assembly was replaced and ABS module reprogrammed by independent service center. They retained the bad assembly.

NHTSA complaint #11763671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford F-150 Casper, WY

SERVICE BRAKES

Driver side brake hose failure at upper crimp on the hose caused loss of brake fluid and spongy peddle

NHTSA complaint #11763476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford F-150 at 106,000 miles Pendleton, SC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard but failed to respond as intended. The contact enabled the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle had experienced catastrophic brake failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a leak in the brake master cylinder. The contact was informed that the brake master cylinder, brake booster, and brake vacuum sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA complaint #11763111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford F-150 Muskegon, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the contact attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to stop as needed and the braking distance became extended. Additionally, the brake pedal was firm while depressed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V236000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure.

NHTSA complaint #11763091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 Ford F-150 at 40,000 miles Fallon, NV

PARKING BRAKE

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the parking brake activated independently. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V509000 (Parking Brake); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted and stated that the repair was not covered because the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11763028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford F-150 at 119,000 miles Columbia, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact's mother owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 65 MPH, the brake fluid warning light illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to stop. The contact's wife engaged the parking brake, and the vehicle was able to slow down, and the vehicle was pulled over and parked in a parking lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V345000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and that the warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

NHTSA complaint #11761895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford F-150 at 146,118 miles Rochester, MN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes became inoperable. The brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, and the vehicle was driven in LIMP Mode back to the residence. The dealer was contacted by phone and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V236000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,118.

NHTSA complaint #11761975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford F-150 Kingston, WA

SERVICE BRAKES

I am filing this complaint because a Ford-authorized dealership, West Hills Ford in Bremerton, Washington, returned my vehicle to me in an unsafe condition after performing a repair under federal safety recall 25S37 (NHTSA Campaign 25V-236, brake master cylinder), and because an independent inspection has since documented physical evidence of a real defect connected to that repair. Please see attached documents outlining this entire incident as well as supporting documentation.

NHTSA complaint #11761215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 Ford F-150 Loris, SC

SERVICE BRAKES

Emergency parking brake came on and would not turn off even when I tried to do a reset. We had to have the truck towed.

NHTSA complaint #11760339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Ford F-150 Clive, IA

SERVICE BRAKES

Received vehicle back from dealer saying prior brake problems had been repaired and confirmed with Ford Engineers. Drove approximately 3 miles before brakes failed again and I was not able to stop at the intersection. Avoided an accident, but had vehicle towed again to be repaired. This is the third complete brake failure in less than 300 miles on the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11760203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Ford F-150 Laguna Niguel, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

I purchased a brand-new 2026 Ford F-150 Raptor from Ken Grody Ford on August 25, 2026. On August 26, 2026—one day after the purchase—I was traveling in traffic at approximately 45 mph when the truck suddenly lost power-assisted braking and most of its braking effectiveness. The brake pedal required extraordinary pressure, and even with that pressure the truck was slowing only marginally. I activated my hazard lights and had to cross multiple lanes of traffic while attempting to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. This created an immediate and serious risk of a collision with surrounding motorists. Multiple warning lights and messages appeared, including a red “CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM” warning. After I had safely pulled over, I recorded a video showing the warnings displayed by the vehicle. The truck had only 255 miles on it at the time. No collision or injury occurred because I maintained control of the truck, activated the hazard lights, applied extraordinary pressure to the brake pedal and took immediate evasive action to reach a safe location. I immediately reported the incident to Ken Grody Ford. Because this serious braking failure occurred one day after I purchased a brand-new vehicle, the dealership subsequently agreed to unwind the transaction. As of August 28, 2026, I have not received a definitive engineering explanation identifying the cause of the failure. I am reporting this incident because the sudden loss of power-assisted braking and severe reduction in braking effectiveness in a virtually new 2026 Ford F-150 Raptor created a substantial risk of injury or death. I request that NHTSA document and investigate this incident and determine whether similar braking-system failures have occurred in other Ford vehicles.

NHTSA complaint #11760444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 Ford F-150 Des Moines, IA

SERVICE BRAKES

I was driving and went to press the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. The truck would not stop right away and then the rear tires locked up. Light came on the dash ABS, service traction control and brake system failure, this was a similar issue with the 2021 and 2025 model having issues with the EBB/ECU that was on recall.

NHTSA complaint #11760069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Ford F-150 Las Vegas, NV

SERVICE BRAKES

My 2018 Ford F-150 is experiencing a dangerous loss of braking power, a soft/spongy brake pedal, and brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder into the brake booster. These are the exact symptoms and component failures described in Ford Recall Campaign 25S37 (NHTSA Campaign 25V236). However, when checking my VIN, I am told my truck is excluded from the recall population. Because my vehicle is exhibiting the identical safety defect, the current recall window is too narrow and needs to be expanded to cover my vehicle before a serious collision occurs.

NHTSA complaint #11759856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2023 Ford F-150 Bristol, VA

SERVICE BRAKES

As I was stopping at an intersection for a redlight, the brakes locked up and the collision assist warning and another message came up on the screen. There were no cars in front of me at the intersection. This is the first time that this has ever happened and the truck has 32,665 miles. No servicing has been performed on this truck beyond oil changes and tire rotations.

NHTSA complaint #11759331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Ford F-150 Long Valley, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES

I have contacted Family ford in netcong NJ on two separate occasions to address recall Manufacturer Recall Number20S31 NHTSA Recall Number20V332 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete Initially in 2020 I was on a waitlist; I followed up a few times and never heard back. Recently I contacted them again to address a second recall and schedule the work for Sept 6th. I received a call from their scheduler stating the above parts were on backorder for several months and said I would be put on a waiting list. I asked what specific part number was on order but she had no information but stated it could be 6 to 9 months and she was unable to follow up with me when it was available. After our call I did a search on their parts inventory and the brake booster, o-rings and gasket were all in stock and available for pickup that day Saturday August 22nd 2026. It is clear that they are intentionally delaying the installation of the of this critical stopping component.

NHTSA complaint #11758991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 Ford F-150 Utica, OH Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

My truck was parked on a slight slope in my driveway. I got in to move the truck to my normal parking space. When I started the truck I noticed the emergency brake was on. I put the truck into drive- the truck accelerated with my foot on the brake. The truck struck the corner of my deck and didn't stop until I hit the corner at my house. I had the brake pushed to the firewall and the truck would kept accelerating. Thankfully the airbags did not deploy. Significant damage was done to my house and my truck.

NHTSA complaint #11758987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Ford F-150 Arvada, CO

SERVICE BRAKES

I was in my driveway getting ready to service the truck. After depressing the break pedal about half way, I lost break pressure. Upon inspection, the front passenger side breaks had a major leak/failure. The entire inside of the front passenger wheel as sprayed with break fluid. This indicates that the line failed under pressure and had and explosive release of fluid. Upon further inspection the line failed at the hard metal fitting leading to the hard metal break lines. In one of the pictures provided I am pointing at the exact point of failure. This is similar to other reported failures: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11758929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford F-150 Tupelo, MS

SERVICE BRAKES

I have been trying to get this recall resolved. This truck was at the Metro Ford dealership in Tupelo, Mississippi for over one week in July 2026. Replacement parts sent to dealership were also recalled. Dealership ended up placing original part back on the truck. How can this issue be resolved?

NHTSA complaint #11758747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford F-150 Shirley, AR

SERVICE BRAKES

On July 30, 2026, while operating my 2014 F-150 under normal driving conditions, the dash cluster information screen displayed a "Brake Fluid Level Low" warning. Moments later, the brake system experienced a sudden/catastrophic loss of front braking performance. The brake pedal became severely spongy and traveled completely to the floorboard, requiring drastically increased distance to bring the vehicle to a stop. Due to ineffective braking, I missed the driveway of the parking lot I chose to inspect/determine what the issue was and subsequently could not stop the truck within the confines of the parking space. This brake failure put me, my family as well as oncoming traffic and pedestrians in jeopardy of injury or death due to collision. A mechanical inspection of the vehicle revealed the rear cup seal inside the brake master cylinder had failed. This internal seal failure allowed hydraulic brake fluid to bypass the cylinder and leak directly into the vacuum brake booster, completely contaminating the booster assembly. Without effective braking, the truck was deemed too dangerous to drive so it was parked and unused until replacement parts could be installed. This specific component failure, internal seal degradation, and resultant fluid contamination of the booster is identical to the safety defect detailed in NHTSA Campaign #16V345000 (Ford Recall #16S24). However, this specific vehicle was excluded from that safety campaign solely because it is equipped with the 6.2L V8 engine, rather than the recalled 3.5L engine, this despite using the identical Hitachi master cylinder. The Ford Corporate Consumer Relations was unwilling to assist with the purchase of replacement of the master cylinder, booster but did offer to record my complaint and issue a case number for engineering review. The defective master cylinder and contaminated booster assembly have been retained for inspection if required or requested.

NHTSA complaint #11758242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Ford F-150 at 62,513 miles Aurora, CO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost motive power, and the brakes became inoperable. The drivetrain and wrench symbol were displayed. The ABS warning light was illuminated and DTC: U100 (Failure of Communication for Engine and Transmission) was displayed. The codes were cleared after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a communication error with the engine and transmission computer. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The transmission upshifted from first gear to seventh. After a while, the vehicle resumed normal operations, but then the vehicle drove abnormally. The RPM increased to high, and the temperature gauge was at HOT. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed with complete transmission failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,513.

NHTSA complaint #11758290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford F-150 problems