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 1999 Ford F Super Duty owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My name is [redacted] and my wife and I were injured in a rollover accident in my 1999 Ford f-350 Super Duty powerstroke. The accident occurred April 20th,on my driveway due to a failure with the power steering / brake assist pump. The truck was totaled and my wife sustained a severe neck strain and missed five weeks of work. We reported the accident to Ford the week of April 22. Our insurance company has retained the services of a traffic accident engineer, and we are working to negotiate a settlement with Ford.since I have begun to research the problem with the power assist, I have learned of another accident caused by the same design flaws in the ps/pb pump. …
With parking brake fully set to the floor, truck rolled down boat launch smashing boat trailer into dock. With parking brake completely set to floor, on level ground, driver accidently left vehicle in drive and exited with motor running. Truck rolled forward nearly running over driver. Parking brake will not hold vehicle with maximum rated gvwr, will not hold on incline, and will not hold when truck is left in gear. Excessive pedal effort is required to get brake to work at all. Several other owners have had similar problems. Ford says "characteristic of vehicle".
Ford motor company refuses to acknowledge a recall of my truck (1999 Ford f-250) that is listed on your website. The recall is for a faulty parking brake, and mine has broken as noted in the recall. What if any recorurse do I have through your agency to force Ford to repair this vehicle? The information I have been able to get indicates that the recall numbers are as follows: NHTSA 02V068 Ford recall number 02s34
Driving 1999 f250 superduty sudden and complete loss of brake function. Later found ruptured corroded rear brake line responsible for sudden loss of brake pressure, dual circuit master cylinder was not effective in allowing alternate brake circuit to slow truck creating a dangerous situation.
The ABS in this vehicle has been activating during normal braking at stop sighns when there is a bump or slippery surface and takes to long to re-engage the brakes once they have been released, resulting in not stoping until you have passed through the sign.
At very slow speeds, particularly in heavy city traffic, when braking, the brake pedal chatters and kicks back as would be expected when the anti skid system engages. The brakes release and the vehicle continues to move forward. I nhave narrowly missed hitting the vehicle in front of me at stop signs and lights. As a test, I temporarily removed the fuse on the ABS system. At that time the brakes felt normal. I have not been able to have a qualified technician at a Ford dealer to experience the same thing. It is an intermittant failure. I have had a motorhome dealer supervisor experience the failure and he suggested it should be corrected immediately. The intermittant mode makes it difficult to convince anyone that there is a problem. I am unaware of any computer failure code that might be stored that would record the event.
I have had a recuring problem with brake pulsation, that seems to result in the failure of the antilock brake system on this vehicle. I have notified the dealer and made a complaint to Ford's customer service department. The last time the brakes started pulsating on this truck I had to make an emergency stop. When I engaged and held the brake pedal my truck slid side ways on the expressway into the median. I thought antilock brakes were supposed to allow the driver to maintain control in these types of situations. I can only conclude that the brake problems I have encountered with this vehicle is responsible for this situation. I know of others who are having the same problem with their vehicles and I think that Ford should correct this defect before it gets someone killed.
The brakes have not yet failed to stop the truck. The rotors warp and cause the vehicle to vibrate and the rakes to fade. This has been a known problem on the early model superduty. Ford has not done a recall but they have published a technical service bulletin on the brakes. I have talked to forby Ford (I did not purchase the truck from them) and the admit there is a problem. I also contacted Ford customer service with no results. I have been informed by a specialist that the problem is the rotors are undersized and this causes the rotors to warp. In addition, I have several friends with the same type of truck and they have the same problems.
When depressing the brakes and encountering rough road surfaces anti-lock braking system releases the brake and allows vehicle to continue forward at a rate of speed that is faster than desired. End result is that the vele could hit an object it would not ordinarily encounter if the antilock braking system did not release the brake. If the brake is applied with a firm amount of pressure, and a tire encounters bumps or depressions in the roadway brake is effectibely released for the duration of the encounter. The rougher the surface the more the effect is amplified. It does not tend to happen on smooth road surfaces.
I bought this truck for hauling and the dealers response was that I was towing too heavy loads.. The first time this happened I had taken a trip with a trailer that had trailer brakes and thank god I made it home..my son took it to the store and with out warning had no brakes coming home the lines completely severed when the rotors broke off the in the back off the truck....now I am having trouble with the front brakes ...the shoes have been changed but in a short time in the front now I had to replace the rotor.
Brake complaints in other F Super Duty years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1999 Ford F Super Duty?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the brakes of the 1999 Ford F Super Duty, 27% of the model year's 93 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford F Super Duty brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 1999 Ford F Super Duty, though it has 3 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 1999 Ford F Super Duty brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 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.