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 2006 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to stop and continued rolling forward. The contact stated that the vehicle came to a stop once the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle returned to normal function afterwards. The local dealer was contacted; however, the dealer refused to diagnose the vehicle because of its age of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while the contact's husband was driving at a slow speed, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to stop and continued rolling forward. …
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, he had to forcefully depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V208000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Random brake loss due to hydraulic control unit for ABS. The loss of brakes on more than 5 occasions has nearly caused several accidents as brakes fail to engage in traffic situations. The problem cannot be reproduced by automotive repair shops due to the random nature of the events. Inspection of the component does not reveal any problem. The component functions properly 80% of the time. There has never been any warning of any sort prior to the event happening which is why the severity of the incidents are not only surprising but have put me and other drivers at risk. These HCU components have had similar failures in other ford vehicles. Recalls are listed for those vehicles such as the MZk, Fusion, Millan.
There is a very common problem with the brake light always being on due to a short circuit in the cluster, many owners have reported this problem for several manufacturing years, the brake light is always on even though there is no problem with the brakes. This creates a great hazard because if you do have a brake problem since the light is always on you will never know, and you may be in a fatal vehicle accident. Ford motor company should replace or repair all clusters that have this problem.I just purchased this vehicle with this very common problem. Your inspector can google it and will find this is indeed a very common problem.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Ford f-150. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the engine backfired. The vehicle finally started, and when the contact attempted to back up the vehicle, he realized that the power brakes failed. He struck a vehicle parked behind him. The brakes were extremely heavy and there was no power assist. Four days later, he took the vehicle to the dealer and the technician informed him that the vacuum hose was loose, which caused the power assist failure. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. The contact filed a consumer review request with the dealer to apply for an extended warranty, but his request was denied. …
My ABS brake system failed. The light for ABS came on and the brakes failed to ingage on a dry road. I had to vear off the road to avoid another truck making a turn. This happened again with a car infront of me, before I got home and parked the truck. The brakes shutter on pressing them and then fail to ingauge. I had the problem fixed in Goodyear az at the fird dealer for over 800 dollars and now the problem began again. I live in lakeside arizona and cant drive the truck back to that dealer without fear of dying on the side of a cliff ir in a bad accident because my brakes fail to stop the vehicle and brakes are needed to go through the mountsins to get to that dealer. Very upset that I bought this truck from cactus jacks in phoenix az. 560 dollars a month for a truck I cant drive for my small farm. …
Was sitting at a restaurant drive thru with foot on the brake when the brake pedal suddenly went to the floor and the truck started moving. I was able to get the vehicle home and back to the Ford dealership the next morning very carefully and by pumping the brakes to get the vehicle to stop. Was told that the brake line had ruptured. Luckily, I was not towing my 6000 pound boat or going downhill at the time of the failure. I asked if this was common since brake lines are not an item that are routinely inspected or replaced on a normal 17 point inspection. I was told that it was uncommon. I googled the problem and discovered that several other Ford f150 owners of various model years had experienced the same issue. Luckily, there have been no reports of deaths or severe injury, but I am reporting this to hopefully prevent a death from occurring.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford f150. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH during a rain storm and depressing the brakes, the vehicle exhibited and unusually lound double clunking noise as the vehicle skidded and flipped over. The vehicle did not crash into any other object. The police were notified however, a report was not filed. The contact sustained an amputated arm during the crash. The vehicle was towed by the police and was deemed as destroyed. The contact mentioned that just prior to the crash, the vehicle was taken to Firestone for maintenance and the replacement of the rotor and front brake pad. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 78,912. Updated 2/4/13 updated 2/20/2013
Tl contact owns a 2006 Ford f-150. The contact heard a popping sound and noticed smoke under the hood and dashboard when the vehicle was started. The noise sounded as if the vehicle backfired. While driving 55 MPH, the power brakes failed without warning. The contact applied the emergency brake to stop the vehicle and pulled off the road. He noticed that the vacuum hose was detached from the manifold, which supplies vacuum power to the brake booster. The vehicle was towed to a Ford dealer. The dealer placed the vacuum hose back on the engine and informed the contact that it should be replaced. The weather was not a factor. The current mileage was 23,000 and failure mileage was 22,000. Updated 11/15/07
On 15 June 2006, my wife was involved in a accident while operating a 2006 Ford f150. A vehicle stopped in front of her she pressed the brakes and the vehicle did not responded to her braking action. When I arrived at the scene of the accident, I pressed the brakes and they went to the floor of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to woody andersen Ford in huntsville, alabama and the service manager verified that the brakes indeed went to the floor. We waited a week for a Ford engineer to verify the problems and he stated that when he drove the vehicle it was okay at that time. These brakes failed my wife at 5 miles an hour and caused her to have an accident. No action has been taken to resolve this issue.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Ford is recalling 605,684 my 2005-2006 f-150 and Lincoln mark lt vehicles equipped with 5.4l 3-valve engines. The brake booster vacuum supply hose attached to the intake manifold fitting May swell over time and lose retention force.
Remedy: Dealers will replace a rubber hose on the brake booster vacuum supply tube assembly. The recall began on June 27, 2008. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of brake power-assist
By letter dated May 5, 2008, Ford motor company (Ford) notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall number 08v-208) to address a manufacturing defect in approximately 605,684 model year (my) 2005 and 2006 Ford f-150 and Lincoln mark lt vehicles originally equipped with the 5.4l displacement, 3-valve per cylinder, v-8 engine.the recalled vehicles were built from July 18, 2004 through May 31,…
Brake complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 94 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Ford F-150, 16% of the model year's 585 complaints. The component named most often is pedals and linkages (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Ford F-150 brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 08V-208 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, May 7, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Ford F-150 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 38,000 miles, and 44% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 2 fires and 8 injuries and 1 death 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.