Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This vehicle, as do all, have dual master cylinders, great, always have a front or rear brake system function in an emergency, but this vehicle also has FLEXIBLE to hard lines from master cylinder to ABS unit. I was driving down our long downhill driveway, pressed on the brake pedal, heard a pop and pedal went to the floor, NO brakes at all and buy the time I got to the emergency brake, which did little to stop the truck, I was out in the road. Glad I wasn't out on a highway doing 50MPH. Examined what had happened and the brake line from the master cylinder to ABS unit split where the flexible line joined the hard line, and when that line breaks, no brakes at all, no backup safety system. Don't know how the flexible lines ever passed safety requirements when manufactured, but they certainly shouldn't be on a truck that's 23 years old and all should be replaced with hard lines.
Had driven approximately 5 miles parked in a lowes parking lot went into the store for about 45min. Only to come out to my truck on fire. The truck was completely off and no one was in it, and there are only 2 sets of keys one in my pocket and the other at home. The vehicle was locked. Prior to driving the 5 miles it had not been driven in 2 days. Ford says it's not there problem and insurance only wants to give us $3,700.00. My husband is a retired veteran and this whole situation has caused his ptsd to be triggered.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford f150. The contact was driving approximately 5 MPH when smoke was emitted from under the hood. The contact and the driver exited the vehicle and then noticed flames coming from under the hood. The driver was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher and the fire department did not report to the scene. The vehicle was towed to an auto shop where the technicians stated there was an electrical shortage in the master cylinder that caused the fire. The insurance company stated that an inspector would investigate the vehicle to determine if the vehicle could be repaired or would be deemed as destroyed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford f-150. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact depressed the starter solenoid in the engine compartment in an attempt to start the vehicle and the vehicle rolled away in reverse despite being secured in park. Additionally, the contact attempted to stop the vehicle when he crashed into a pole and then a fence. The contact sustained multiple contusions and a bruised rib. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a collision center but was not inspected to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 102,000.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford f-150. The vehicle was parked for six hours before catching fire. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A police report was filed. They stated that the fire was due to brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder. The current and failure mileages were 127,000. Updated 02-14-08 updated 02/14/08
While vehicle was parked it caught on fire. The hood was opened, the brake deactivation switch was on fire. After opening the hood the flame grew. Vehicle was driven home and then to the dealer. The cylinder resevoir melted and the cruise control wire melted as a result of the fire.
My son was involved in an accident on 4/22/2010 while driving a 2000 Ford f-150 4x2 two door pickup truck. Side marks at the scene revealed that the f-150's anti-lock brakes did not engage causing the truck to slide resulting in a failure to stop in time to avoid the accident. The air bag did not deploy after the front-end impact and the seatbelt did not lock causing my son to be thrown forward heating his head on the sun visor and snapping his head backward rolling his face into the roof of the truck and injuring his neck. He also bruised some ribs on the steering wheel and jammed several fingers. The seatbelt did keep him from being ejected from the vehicle but by not engaging, caused unnecessary injuries. Had he been driving at a higher rate of speed at the time of the impact he injuries would have been far more serious and even life threatening. …
Dt: the consumer states that the cruise control switch leaked brake fluid back up through the controls on the top of the steering column at the flashers. As a result it shorted the controls out. The consumer had the cruise control module taken out by the dealership. The consumer noticed oil at the flashers about 3 or 4 weeks ago, and did not know what it was. The consumer had no turn signals or brake lights, and that is when he took the vehicle to the dealership. The dealership checked for recall and did not find any recalls on the truck. Consumer was informed that the same switch was in his vehicle that was being recalled on other trucks. The consumer has had sensor problems with the check engine light on the dashboard. This has been replaced twice. The vehicle is regularly maintained. The consumer has not contacted the manufacturer. …
The state of nevada, department of conservation and natural resources, division of water resources, purchased four Ford f150 extended cab, short bed, four-wheel drive pickup trucks, with the towing package and automatic transmissions. Budget constraints did not allow the addition of antilock brakes. When the rear brakes become dusty or in the morning when the humidity is higher the rear brakes on all of the trucks tend to lock up under light braking on the pavement. The problem is greater on gravel roads that cover a large portion of the rural parts of nevada. The rear brakes lock at inopportune times especially on gravel roads that leads to the rear end of the truck wanting to slide out of control. No-one has been injured to date, but it could only be a matter of time before an incident occurs. …
I was traveling in neutral, downhill, at about 40mph through a shallow turn as I was exiting a highway. When I put the truck in 4th gear to accelerate, I had no power. The tachometer was at zero and I tried to turn on the hazard lights and begin braking, both failed to work. I had no lights or any other electrical power (it was daylight) I downshifted and turned to ease off the road, I had no power steering, then the steering wheel locked. I halted the truck with the e brake once I was slow enough and on the edge of the road. I tried to restart it several times but nothing would happen. The truck had zero electrical power. After about 15 minutes it started back up as if nothing was wrong. When I got it to john elway Ford in denver co, the mechanics said the computer didn't log any errors and there was nothing they could do. I contacted Ford and they refused to do anything. …
Brake complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 80 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Ford F-150, 7% of the model year's 1,075 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford F-150 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2000 Ford F-150, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford F-150 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 8 fires and 10 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.