2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid Brakes Problems

I purchased a used 2023 Ford F-150 PowerBoost on April 3, 2026. Within days, the vehicle began making a hard clunk during initial acceleration and when stopping. It also hesitates before accelerating, especially while transitioning between electric and gasoline operation. At times, pressing the accelerator does not produce an immediate or predictable response. The problem is worse when accelerating uphill. This creates a collision risk when entering traffic, crossing intersections, merging, or driving uphill. The clunk can be heard and felt through the vehicle. There is also a loud, high-pitched whine that follows engine speed and certain gear transitions and can become extremely loud at highway speeds. On April 22, a Ford dealer confirmed the clunk during acceleration and stopping. The dealer found excessive movement in the rear leaf-spring and shackle bushings and replaced them, but the clunk and hesitation continued. On May 11, the dealer confirmed the high-pitched whine, traced it to the Hybrid Drive Unit, consulted Ford’s escalation team, and replaced the unit. The whining, clunking, shifting irregularities, and hesitation remained and have progressively worsened. Another Ford dealer later inspected the vehicle, but its road test was fewer than two miles, remained below approximately 30 mph, and did not include highway driving, uphill acceleration, merging, or entering traffic. The conditions causing the most serious symptoms were therefore not evaluated. Associated warning lights or messages are UNKNOWN. The vehicle is now parked because I no longer consider it safe to drive. It is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11769136

Incident

Apr 3, 2026

I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2023 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly does not accelerate for up to 3 seconds while pressing the gas pedal, brakes either harshly or too soft at varying times, and very irregularly. This occurred while accelerating onto the highway, and almost every time I am braking at a stop sign or light, creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration, propulsion, or deceleration. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, traveling at highway speeds, slowing down, and stopping, can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.

NHTSA ID

11754497

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

The driver's side rear light is full of moisture and some water. It is available for inspection. The Ford dealership in Beeville Texas Coastal Bend Ford inspected it already and informed me that it would cost $1,400 to replace and that it was only going to get worse. They also informed me that Ford allows a certain percentage of moisture and water to be in there safely. When you see the pictures this is definitely unacceptable and unsafe. This is causing the reverse lights to flicker intermittent. The moisture accumulation inside the lights can result in inoperative or flickering reverse lamp function. Inoperative reverse lamps may reduce the awareness of other motorists or road users of the driver's intention to operate the vehicle in reverse gear increasing the risk of injury or crash. I bought the vehicle from a Ford dealership in Austin Texas less than 10 days ago. I reported it to them and they stated it wouldn't be covered under warranty. The best assessment in my opinion of cause is going to be microcracks in the outer lens. Because my truck is a 2023 Ford F-150 King Ranch, and there is a known recall for the same issue for 2022-2023 Lariat and Platinum models, so this can't be a coincidence. Refer NHTSA recall number 23V-418

NHTSA ID

11745962

Incident

Jun 13, 2026

The brake lines that leave the master cylinder and route down to the frame rail. There is a short, flexible connection between the body side hard brake line, and chassis side hard brake line. This connection consists of braided flexible steel hose with crimped connections securing it to the hard line. All of the crimps on the flexible connection in that area are collecting dust build up, and have a wet appearance to them. When you touch them, you get an oily residue on your fingers. Yes it is available for inspection. If air enters the braking system where it is leaking, this will cause the brakes to become inoperable, due to air being more compressible than brake fluid. No it has not been inspected by the dealer. And it has not been confirmed by a dealer, I have not brought it to them yet. There has been no indication of the leak from within the vehicle, it is not dripping under neath. I only found it because I was checking the oil and inspecting other items at the same time. Noticed it around 28k miles

NHTSA ID

11663502

Incident

May 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, making a right turn and coming to a stop, the check engine and Forward Collision Avoidance warning light were deactivated, and the traction control warning light and other system failure warning lights were illuminated. The contact attempted to depress the brake pedal; however, the brakes failed to respond as needed. The contact coasted down the street and drifted and parked the vehicle. The contact attempted to accelerate; however, after depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact drifted and stopped and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the electronic brake booster had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer contacted the manufacturer and opened a case. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 22,075.

NHTSA ID

11648664

Incident

Mar 10, 2025

Mileage

22,075 mi

Coming off the freeway, heard a loud noise in the rear of my truck. Then it sounded like rocks were getting pulverized. Put the vehicle in park and since we (Me, wife, and two children) were on a decline the brakes did not work and our truck drifted into oncoming traffic. Luckily cars were able to avoid us in time where we pulled off onto the shoulder and engage the parking brake.

NHTSA ID

11594825

Incident

Jun 16, 2024

While driving on interstate vehicle lost all braking and steering. Numerous warning lights popped up. I almost was in a very bad accident. I was able to put transmission in manual and gear down and finally got steering back with no power and could maneuver off road. Truck then shut down and would not start again. Called Ford and not very helpful. Contacting attorney for help.

NHTSA ID

11583230

Incident

Apr 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, there was a message indicating that the trailer brakes fault light was displayed. Additionally, an alarm sounded persistently, which interrupted the turn signal function. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown over-the-air update was performed; however, the failure recurred. The dealer then replaced the trailer brake control module; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that there was no fix for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer later advised the contact to retrieve the vehicle from the dealer because there was no fix for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA ID

11561348

Incident

Nov 7, 2023

Mileage

12,000 mi