FaultScore

2006 Ford F-250 SD brake problems

16 of the 353 complaints about the 2006 Ford F-250 SD are about the braking system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 58,500 miles.

C

16

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes 7 43.8%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 6 37.5%
Caliper 1 6.3%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 1 6.3%
Service Brakes, Electric 1 6.3%

Brakes across every Ford F-250 SD year

1999 38 17.4%
2000 28 12.8%
2001 12 5.5%
2002 32 14.6%
2003 13 5.9%
2005 21 9.6%
2006 16 7.3%
2008 18 8.2%
2015 12 5.5%
2017 18 8.2%
2019 11 5.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 85,000 miles Mondovi, WI Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

EMERGENCY BRAKES DO NOT HOLD. HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED FOR ADJUSTMENT SEVERAL TIMES. IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AS IT HAS NO PARK PINS. ALTHOUGH MY INSURANCE COVERED IT, IT ACTUALLY ROLLED INTO ANOTHER BUILDING ON MY PROPERTY. I HAVE TO US A WOOD BLOCK AGAINST THE WHEEL TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING ON ALL BUT THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCURRENCES WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10978627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Harpers Ferry, WV

SERVICE BRAKES

IN LATE 2011, WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK DOWN HIGHWAY 90 EAST IN PASCAGOULA, MS, THE TRUCK BEGAN SLOW DOWN AND PULL DRAMATICALLY TO THE RIGHT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. I MANAGED TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND, IN COMBINATION WITH THE SLOWING SPEED, BROUGHT THE TRUCK SAFELY TO A STOP IN A WALMART PARKING LOT IN ABOUT 1 MILE. I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND THE FRONT RIGHT ROTOR WAS SMOKING AND GLOWING RED HOT. APPARENTLY THE BRAKE CALIPER HAD SEIZED AFTER APPLICATION. I WENT INSIDE WALMART TO KILL TIME AND LET THE BRAKES COOL OFF, HOPING THAT WHEN COOLED, THE CALIPER WOULD RELEASE AND THE TRUCK WOULD BE DRIVABLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1-1/2 HOURS, I RETURNED TO THE TRUCK AND NOTED THAT THE WHEEL WAS NOT SMOKING, BUT WAS STILL RADIATING HEAT. I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND IT DROVE WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE ISSUES UNTIL I APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE, THE TRUCK WAS NOW PULLING TO THE LEFT. EXPECTING A SIMILAR ISSUE, I DECIDED TO DRIVE DIRECTLY TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN PASCAGOULA. HOWEVER, UPON NEEDING TO APPLY THE BRAKES AGAIN, THEY DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO BRING THE TRUCK TO A STOP AS THE REGULAR BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. I CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR BRAKE ISSUES (PULLING AND HEATING FROM SEIZED CALIPERS) AND IN JUNE 2015 HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO THE ONE IN 2011. LOOKING AT BLOGS AND COMPLAINT SITES, FORD'S SUPER DUTY SERIES OF TRUCKS, AS WELL AS F-150S, ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BRAKE ISSUES. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX. PLEASE HELP. I'M TIRED OF SHELLING OUT $2,000+ WHEN ALL I SHOULD HAVE TO DO IS REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. DUE TO THE SUDDEN AND SEVERE "PULL" AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF STOPPING ABILITY, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10733029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,608 miles Ridgefield, CT

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH AND WHEN ENGAGING THE CLUTCH IN ORDER TO SHIFT THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE BRAKING FEELING EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. UPON REACHING HOME I SAW MY FRONT WHEELS/ROTORS/CALIPERS SMOKING AND THE HEAT FROM THE WHEELS COULD BE FELT ALMOST 3 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY PICK-UP TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY FRONT CALIPERS HAD FROZEN AS WELL AS THE RIGHT REAR AND THE LEFT REAR WAS JUST AS BAD BUT HAD NOT FROZEN YET AND PROBABLY WOULD. THIS REPAIR REQUIRED FOUR (4) NEW CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS AND REQUIRED THE ROTORS TO BE RESURFACED. THE DEALER SAID THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN MADE FOR THIS ITEM.

NHTSA complaint #10638199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Kittrell, NC

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CALIPER HOUSING AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA complaint #10588064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Fort Pierce, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRAGS OCCASIONALLY....AND MANY OTHER FORD TRUCK OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM....

NHTSA complaint #10564374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Westminster, CO

SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK STARTED TO DO THE DEATH WOBBLE AND SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AND JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT TO STOP. ITS INCREASINGLY GETTING WORSE AND NOW DOING IT AT LOWER SPEEDS AROUND 25- 30MPH. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED WRECKS WITH VEHICLES REAR ENDING ME, OR WOBBLING IN THEIR DIRECTION. IT ALSO HAPPENED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH CHILDREN PLAYING, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE KIDS! THE BRAKES ALSO FAIL WHILE BEAKING AND HITTING A BUMP. THE TIRES ARE AT THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE AND THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS I HAVE SEEN WHILE DOING MORE RESEARCH. IM AFRAID THIS WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE TRUCK TO ROLL OR WRECK. DONT LET THE LOSS OF LIFE OPEN THIS INVESTIGATION AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10544800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Eagle River, AK

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN SHAKING AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED A TURN. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE SHAKING WOULD BECOME WORSE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA complaint #10509143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65 miles Wintersville, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

SHIMMY- THE SHIMMY PROBLEM THAT OCCURS IN THE 4X4 F250 SHOULD STILL BE A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR THOSE OF US THAT STILL OWN THESE TRUCKS. THE DEALER TRIED THE TIRE INFLATION STORY WITH ME, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ROAD RACING SPORT CARS FOR MANY YEARS I KNOW THAT ONE POUND CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING AND I MADE SURE THAT THE TIRES WERE INFLATED CORRECTLY. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT FORD SENT THEM A NEW SET OF ALIGNMENT SPECS. WELL AS WE ALL KNOW NOW THAT DID NOT FIX IT EITHER. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES BEING CUPPED WAS CAUSING THE SHIMMY, MY RESPONSE TO THAT WAS THAT IT WAS THE SHIMMY CAUSING THE TIRES TO CUP NOT THE TIRES BEING CUPPED CAUSING THE SHIMMY, ALTHOUGH THE WORSE THE CUPPING, THE WORSE THE SHIMMY. AFTER INSISTING ON NEW TIRES AND THEN THE NEW LINE UP SPECS, WE TRIED IT AGAIN. THEN 960 MILES LATER AND ONLY ROAD DRIVING THE SAME CUPPING WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. THEN IT WAS THE DAMPENER AND ATTACH POINT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEN 2 YEARS LATER CAME THE LETTER ABOUT DECELERATING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THEN ABOUT 45 MPH IT SHOULD FIX IT. I GUESS THAT WOULD BE OK UNTIL YOUR GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WITH AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND YOU GOING 70 MPH. WOULD IT BE OK AFTER WHAT COULD BE A SERIOUS AND POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT THAT I COULD PULL OUT MY LETTER THAT I GOT FROM FORD AND TELL EVERYONE, SORRY BUT I DRIVE A FORD.

NHTSA complaint #10425534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Buffalo, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. WHILE HAVING THE BRAKES SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BACKING PLATES FOR THE REAR BRAKES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #10393842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,500 miles Vanceburg, KY

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WOULD MALFUNCTION WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE COLLAPSED CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO CLOSE IN ON THE BRAKE PADS. THIS CAUSED THE CALIPER SEAL TO BURST AND BRAKE FLUID BEGAN LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE ENTIRE REAR BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED IF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, A CRASH COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,500.

NHTSA complaint #10365828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spring, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

2006 FORD-250 SD. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER FROM REGARDING FORD PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER SEIZED WHICH CAUSED HEAVY SMOKE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES STILL HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO HIS SATISFACTION. THERE WAS A MUSHY FEEL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED.

NHTSA complaint #10348802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,500 miles Spring, TX Fire

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DROVE HOME FROM THE STORE ABOUT 10 MILES RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FAILED AND SEIZED. WHEN WE GOT HOME SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK, WHEN WE DISCOVERED IT. BURNED THE PAINT OFF THE BRAKE DUST SHIELD. FORD DEALER SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE CALIPER BUT I HAVE TO PAY $750.00? THAT'S NOT RIGHT. AND THEY TELL ME IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER FORD TRUCKS?

NHTSA complaint #10341495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles Miami, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD F-250 SUPERDUTY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON AN UNEVEN ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO UNABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN SINCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WOULD RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA complaint #10323451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles Pensacola, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE, TRUCK WANTS TO SPEED UP EVEN WITH BRAKE ON, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2009.

NHTSA complaint #10313365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles Orford, NH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

FRONT BRAKES SEIZED UP WHEN DRIVING DOWN ROAD JUST AS WARRANTY WAS TO EXPIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AFTER THIS HAD HAPPENED 4-5 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT CALIPERS BUT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. 4 MONTHS LATER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR CALIPERS FOR SEIZURE PROBLEM. FORD DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION. NOW 2 MONTHS LATER, CHECK BRAKE LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10276714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,654 miles Loganville, GA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE LINE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10255622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2006 Ford F-250 SD problems

← Full 2006 Ford F-250 SD report