Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 33% | — |
| 2025 | 5 | 29% | — |
| 2024 | 6 | 15% | — |
| 2023 | 7 | 16% | — |
| 2022 | 6 | 5% | — |
| 2021 | 7 | 4% | 42,000 miles |
| 2020 | 4 | 1% | 39,000 miles |
| 2019 | 11 | 1% | 13,000 miles |
| 2018 | 5 | 1% | 22,000 miles |
| 2017 | 18 | 2% | 23,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 1% | 3,000 miles |
| 2015 | 12 | 4% | 45,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 8% | 48,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 5% | 12,000 miles |
| 2012 | 4 | 7% | 62,000 miles |
| 2011 | 6 | 5% | 34,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 3% | 25,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 4% | 40,000 miles |
| 2008 | 18 | 13% | 33,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 4% | 16,000 miles |
| 2006 | 16 | 6% | 59,000 miles |
| 2005 | 20 | 7% | 52,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 3% | 75,000 miles |
| 2003 | 12 | 7% | 18,000 miles |
| 2002 | 30 | 12% | 49,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 4% | 73,000 miles |
| 2000 | 28 | 12% | 78,000 miles |
| 1999 | 33 | 13% | 93,000 miles |
| 1997 | 3 | 8% | 70,000 miles |
| 1996 | 1 | 9% | 101,000 miles |
| 1995 | 2 | 22% | 230,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
2k miles on a new 2026 ford transit. While in traffic there was sudden braking I had plenty of space in front of me (also reported by the driver in front of me) I was not able to stop in time which resulted in rear ending another driver. My abs acted extremely loose, as if I was on ice on a clear day 80 degrees. The driver behind me confirmed seeing my brake lights for a minute before impact. I'm a decent driver and leave plenty of room in case of emergency braking but was not able to stop in time due to the way the braking system acted. I also have a 2020 ford transit and the braking is much better than the 2026. I'm concerned someone is going to get hurt. Thank God no one got hurt during this accident.pre collision lights lit up on my dash prior and that's when the braking power went bad. …
After the vehicle was jumpstarted the vehicle failed to correctly enter gear- when shifting into reverse it instead rolled forward downhill. The following systems also displayed failure warnings: ABS Traction Control Parking Brake ( Parking brake also showed as activated when it was not active- it would audibly disengage but the parking brake light stayed lit) Stability Control 4wd. The combination of the parking brake showing as active and the shifter showing the vehicle was in reverse while being able to roll forward freely is dangerous.
I have about 6,000 miles on the vehicle which was purchased new. There were 2 incidents prior to 2/15/26 (the 3rd incident), but it was only this 3rd incident whereby I could identify the problem. The 2 early incidents I only experienced the smell of burning rubber when driving and exiting the vehicle. Which, i couldn't fathom where it was coming from. And, there was probably a month between incidents. This latest 2/15/26 incident, I was driving and started smelling rubber again, but now I happened to have my fuel mileage indicator on and saw my fuel indicator drop from it's normal average of 17mpg to about 6 mpg. I immediately suspected the parking brake had independently engaged but there was no light or any indication of that on my dashboard screen. I pulled over, turned the engine off, got out and smelt strong scent of rubber burning. …
I purchased a brand-new 2025 Ford F-250 Super Duty on April 1, 2025. The truck has an intermittent and ongoing issue where the dashboard displays "Park Brake Limited Function" or "Park Brake Service Required." I took the vehicle to the authorized Ford dealer, but they told me the problem cannot be repaired. However, when I contacted Ford corporate customer service, they claimed the issue is known and can be repaired, and referred me to safety department complain This contradiction between Ford and the dealer is unacceptable. The issue affects the functionality and safety of the vehicle, and it remains unresolved. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue and pressure Ford to provide a consistent, repairable solution
Automatic Emergency Braking engaged while the vehicle was in neutral tow. Resulted in 2 rear blown tires and damaged rims on vehicle.Attached the F250 correctly to the motorhome and confirmed truck was in neutral tow. Starting pulling the F250 and confirmed by looking at mirrors on the motorhome and rear camera that the wheels on the F250 were rolling both front axel and rear axel. After several blocks felt a hard tug while driving the motorhome, looked in the side mirror and rear camera and noticed smoke coming from rear tires. We pulled over on highway and stopped towing the vehicle. Went back to truck open the driver door and the dash was reading vehicle was still in neutral tow. Called a tow truck. The F250 truck was towed to the Moss Ford dealership. Ford dealership never neutral towed the F250 so they were unable to recreate the situation. …
While driving, multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously - ABS, brake, and all driver assist/safety systems - and the drive mode drops to Standard Locked. During these events the anti-lock braking, stability control, traction control, and trailer sway control systems appear to go offline. I have photographs of the illuminated warnings. My own OBD-II scan on 7/9/26 recorded U0121 (lost communication with ABS module), U0415 (invalid data from ABS module), U3035 (communication authentication failure), and U1012. The dealer's own scan confirmed multiple stored "lost communication with ABS module" codes in module history. The vehicle has a documented history of water intrusion from the sunroof drains, which the dealer was unable to reproduce or repair; water tracked to the windshield/mirror electronics and into the dash. …
On September 16, 2025, while driving my 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty at approximately 65 mph with cruise control engaged, I pressed the brake pedal to disengage cruise. The cruise control did not disengage. I pressed the brake pedal harder, but the truck did not slow down and maintained speed. There was no ABS activation sound or sensation, and no skid marks were left on the roadway. I struck the rear of a tractor trailer because the vehicle failed to slow down or cancel cruise control. In addition, the airbags did not deploy during the collision. This appears to be a failure of the brake pedal input/cruise disengagement system, braking system, and potentially the airbag system. This is a severe safety defect that could result in serious injury or death.
During the 1st 20 min or so of operation the truck tries to "high idle" when in gear. This forces the operator use excessive brake pressure to keep the vehicle stopped. There have been several times my leg gets tired of holding the brake pedal down so hard the truck will creep forward unintentionally. The brakes grunt due to excessive force trying to keep the truck stopped. The dealer blows it off as normal, saying the truck is doing what its supposed to. I don't think the truck should be allowed to high idle in gear. I am afraid that I am going to accidently roll forward and hit someone. I have driven other 3/4 ton trucks and the ford 7.3 engine this is the only one that does this. I called ford and they said there is nothing to do if the dealership says the truck is operating properly.
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 F-550 SD, F-450 SD, F-350 SD, and F-250 SD vehicles. The brake booster pushrod retaining spring may not have been installed, which can allow the pushrod to disconnect from the brake pedal and cause a sudden loss of brake function.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Dealers will inspect and repair the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-250 SD years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (33), 2002 (30), 2000 (28), 2005 (20) and 2008 (18) model years. Brake complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Ford F-250 SD brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 25V-401 (pedals and linkages, Jun 13, 2025). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford F-250 SD brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles; 55% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the foundation components › disc › rotor (26 mentions), followed by the foundation components › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (17).
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.