2016 Ford F-150 Brake Problems

Which parts fail

• Foundation components › Master cylinder
  10
• Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  1
• Supply › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  1
• Foundation components
  1
• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  1

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  11443%
• 25k–50k
  6123%
• 50k–75k
  5320%
• 75k–100k
  228%
• 100k–150k
  125%
• 150k+
  21%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while approaching a stop, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle accelerated to unknown speeds. The driver continuously depressed the brake pedal, but it failed to respond. The driver crashed into a mailbox, brick decorations, a stop sign, a golf cart, a gas line, and a tree. The driver pulled the emergency brake, and the vehicle stopped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The contact sustained injuries to her hip, but medical attention was not provided. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire or air bag deployment. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his wife was driving, she attempted to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle however, the brakes failed to engage. As a result, the contact's wife rear-ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The brake system warning light was illuminated. The contact then stated that upon inspection, he noticed brake fluid was spilled on the ground. No injuries were sustained. A police report was filed. No medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it had not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000. The consumer stated the brake hose had come off causing brake line failure and the cost of repairs was $1000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that as he was stopping the vehicle in front of his garage and slowing to approximately 3 MPH, the vehicle was not stopping. The contact stated that the brake pedal went to the floorboard when depressed. The vehicle crashed into the garage door causing the garage door to buckle. There was minor damage to the vehicle's front end. There were no injuries. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V150000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed. The vehicle failed to stop immediately rear-ending another vehicle. No air bags deployed. The contact sustained injuries to his neck and back but did not receive medical attention. A police report was filed. Additionally, the contact stated the vehicle consumed an excessive amount of oil and the key fob failed to function as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the contact approached a stop sign and depressed the brake pedal. However, the brake pedal was inoperable and the vehicle did not stop. Due to the brake pedal failure, the contact rear-ended the vehicle in front of him. No damage was done to either vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to contact NHTSA to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

On 12/20/21, while driving home on State Route 7 from work, the low brake fluid warning appeared. I tried the brakes and as I tried to slow down, the pedal went all the way down. I almost went off the road but after pumping it was able to slow a bit. I was merging onto Interstate 8 West and slowly drove to figure out where to get off. The best off ramp was Imperial since it was uphill and managed to pull over after getting off and stopping the truck. Replaced the lost liquid and my brother in law followed me to his home. Same issue with brakes and slowly took it to his home. Took the vehicle to Ford dealer assuming that a recall on F150 due to master cylinder failure and leaking fluid onto the booster, which occurred to my vehicle that it would be covered in good faith by Ford. My VIN was not listed although the issue was similar to the recall. …

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while her husband was driving 25 mph up a hill, the brake warning light was illuminated, and he was depressing the brake pedal to the floor but failed to stop the vehicle. The driver was able to cruise to the side of the road. The driver stated while checking under the hood, he noticed there was no brake fluid but did not see any leaks. The driver was able to add brake fluid and continue driving to his destination. The driver took the vehicle to local dealer and was informed that no brake fluid leaks were found. The driver stated on August 7, 2021, he experienced the failure for a second time. The contact took the vehicle to another local dealer at Ray Skillman Ford (1250 US-31, Greenwood, IN 46143: [phone]), where it was diagnosed with needing the brake master cylinder and brake booster to be replaced. …

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. Additionally, the brake warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard; however, the failure caused the vehicle to not stop at a stop light. The vehicle was slowly driven to an independent mechanic and the independent mechanic refilled the brake fluid. The contact stated that the brake fluid level was below the normal level within two minutes. The vehicle was diagnosed with brake master cylinder failure. The contact was informed that the brake master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. …

Sudden and without any warning, complete catastrophic brake failure while stopped attempting to pay at the pay station to exit a parking garage. My truck was fully stopped, in drive with my foot on the footbrake pedal, and started moving forward and suddenly lurched thru the parking exit gate and damaging it and the front end of my truck. Fortunately, no one was crossing on the sidewalk in front my truck or they would have been injured or worse, or we would have T-boned by oncoming traffic on the street. There was brake fluid in several areas where I parked the vehicle on the street after moving from the parking garage. There was a "low brake fluid warning light" after having the truck towed to Haley Ford in Chester, VA. There were warnings prior to the accident. The truck had had a "The Works" service done at Haley Ford the week prior. …

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while operating the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal, the pedal extended to the floor and the vehicle did not immediately stop. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the brake fluid was very low. After refilling the brake fluid reservoir, the vehicle immediately experienced the same failure. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake fluid had leaked into the brake master cylinder, and the brake booster and master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 20V332000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact indicated that the vehicle experienced the failure listed in the recall. …

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Brake complaints in other F-150 years