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 2013 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front brakes. The contact stated that the braking system independently engaged and stopped the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had not stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a parts store and upon parking he observed that smoke was being emitted from the passenger side front wheel well. The contact stated that he observed that a flame was visible from the passenger wheel well and that store employees had extinguished the flames with hand-held fire extinguishers. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front brake line on the passenger side, both brake drums, calipers, pads, and rotors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. …
The contact owned a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the son was driving approximately 93 MPH, and while approaching a stop light, the vehicle continued to drive into an intersection and crashed into a commercial Semi truck. During the crash, the three front-seat occupants sustained fatal injuries. The rear driver-side passenger sustained head trauma and was rushed to the hospital. A police report was filed and indicated a possible brake malfunction had occurred before the crash. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. The exact cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was later informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V345000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving in a parking lot, she depressed the brake pedal and it became stiff. The vehicle failed to slow down as intended. The vehicle collided with a parked car. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The contact then began driving at approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and he observed a grinding noise emanating from the front driver side of the vehicle. The brake pedal then became stiff and did not slow down as intended. The vehicle was placed in the park position on multiple occasions to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the check valve was clogged and the brake vacuum booster pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond as intended. The brake pedal traveled to the floorboard and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact shifted the vehicle into neutral and coasted to the side of the road to stop the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the brake master cylinder had no brake fluid. The contact added brake fluid to the brake master cylinder and restarted the vehicle and resumed normal driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the brake master cylinder had no brake fluid, and that the brake fluid had leaked into the brake booster, causing the brake master cylinder and brake booster to fail. The contact was informed that the brake master cylinder and brake booster needed to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was running rough and there was a strong burning smell. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ABS fuse was overheating, was damaging the brake pads and rotors, and was causing the vehicle to overheat. The mechanic advised the contact to remove the ABS fuse, and the contact removed the fuse. The vehicle was later taken to another independent mechanic, where it was determined that the failure was related to the ABS module. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist, where the same assessment was made. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. …
Vehicle Information: 2013 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 3.5L V6 EcoBoost (VIN: [redacted]) While operating the vehicle, experienced a severe and sudden degradation of brake hydraulic pressure. The brake pedal travels abnormally deep and requires the driver to "double-pump" (fully let off the brake pedal and re-press it a second time) to achieve enough line pressure to stop the vehicle. Additionally, while stopped at an intersection, the vehicle began violently jerking and resisting movement because the brake calipers failed to release, holding the vehicle back until a heavy secondary press of the pedal forced the system to recede. Safety Risk & Background: This behavior matches the exact mechanical failure profile of Ford Safety Recall 16S24 and Recall 20S31 (internal failure of the brake master cylinder rear cup seal leaking corrosive fluid directly into the vacuum brake booster). …
I have a serious issue with my 2013 Ford F150 Limited. I almost had a horrible accident on I295 because of brake failure. Seems the brake fluid is leaking out and I didnt know this until I tried to brake and the pedal went all the way to the floor. Then the "brake fluid low" light came on. Upon Inspection after all the drama, got truck in a safe place, I checked and saw there was no fluid in reservoir. I filled it and pumped brakes a few times and pedal keeps going to floor then eventually it gained pressure..when I checked reservoir again, half of the new fluid was gone and truck was hard to stop again, So I had to tow it home. After taking to a shop I was told the fluid was leaking from master cylinder to the brake booster!! I then searched the internet, and discovered this is a common problem and Ford has a recall for this same exact issue my truck is having..Recall # 16V345000. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 50 MPH, she depressed the brake pedal upon merging onto highway as the low brake fluid warning message and a red exclamation warning light appeared on the instrument panel. The contact advised his wife to pull into the rest stop and switch places. The contact initially stated that while driving, the brake pedal was spongy; however, upon reaching his exit, the contact was forced to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that the brake master cylinder was pumping brake fluid into the brake booster. Upon investigation, the mechanic discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V345000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which he linked to the failure. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the transmission suddenly downshifted from 6th to 1st gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over into the Emergency Lane, turned off the vehicle, and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the final drive assembly, including, the spider gears and rear axles were blown due to the ABS system being damaged due to the transmission slightly detaching when the downshift occurred. The final drive assembly was replaced; however, the transmission only shifted from 1st to 2nd gear before downshifting back to 1st gear while making a loud grinding sound. The mechanic diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, there was intermittently an abnormal sound; while attempting to switch the vehicle into 4WD the vehicle shuddered. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver's side wheel hub and bearing assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure still occurred. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure still occurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer once again where it was diagnosed and determined that the vacuum booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V345000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). …
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Fluid
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 F-150 vehicles manufactured August 1, 2013, to August 31, 2014 equipped with 3.5L engines. The master cylinder rear cup seal may roll, resulting in brake fluid leakage from the primary reservoir into the brake booster.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder and, if necessary, the brake booster, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2016.
NHTSA investigations
Master Cylinder External Leak
On May 23, 2016, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a master cylinder defect that could result in loss of the front brake circuit in approximately 225,012 model year 2013 through 2014 Ford F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5-liter GTDI engines and built at the Dearborn Truck Plant from August 1, 2013 through August 22, 2014; and the Kansas City Assembly Plant from…
Brake complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2013 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 363 complaints about the brakes of the 2013 Ford F-150, 12% of the model year's 2,990 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › master cylinder (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Ford F-150 brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-345 (fluid, May 24, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford F-150 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 30 crashes, 2 fires and 14 injuries and 4 deaths 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.