Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words
The brake fluid pressure sensor is leaking on to the electrical main computer wires its also leaking from the electrical harness coming from the brake fluid pressure sensor causing the brake tail lights to fail intermittently during vehicle operation
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY HIS MOTHER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS, FUSE BOX, AND RELAY BOX WERE BURNED, AND THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION OF THE BRAKES DUE TO A PREVIOUS FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE, WHEN A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE FRONT UNDER HOOD AREA AND SPREAD FROM THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE REPAIR SHOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION BY A MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V388000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ODI ID NUMBER 10110013 DATED 8-3-05. AT THIS TIME, I WILL INSIST THAT A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO WHEREBY- THE HORN IS IN PLAY THERE!!! I AM OF COURSE TALKING ABOUT RECALL #05V388000 (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER) FORD F150 /SUV '95- '01 WITH CRUISE CONTROL FIRE POTENTIAL. THE FUSE (#13 AS LISTED IN THE MANUAL - CHECK OUT THE NUMBER OF ITEMS CONNECTED TO THAT ONE FUSE!) HAD BLOWN BEFORE A FIRE DESTROYED MY WHOLE TRUCK. THAT IS TO SAY I HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. FORD SERVICE -MCCAFFERTY OF LANGHORNE, PA RECENTLY INSTALLED THE INLINE BANDAID AT THE MFG. REQUEST. MCCAFFERTY AGAIN LEFT ME TO THERE STREETS WITH AN OBVIOUSLY BURNED HARNESS/CRUISE SERVO PIN CONNECTIONS. (WITH THE HARNESS DISCONNECTED THERE IS NO HORN! CAN I STRESS THIS ENOUGH? MY POINT IS THIS - THE SERVICE TECHS' AND MANAGEMENT DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HARNESS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY HORN. QUESTION - DO THE ENGINEERS AT FORD FEEL THE SAME WAY? FROM TODAY'S INQUIRE ON THIS SITE THERE ARE UNCERTAINTIES AS TO WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE CAUSE. THIS COULD BE IT!!!! THE OWNERS GUIDE LISTS THE HORN TO BE CONNECTED AT #3 OF THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. SO BE IT ! IT IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE #13 FUSE UNDER THE DASH. THE CHART ON PG 357 OF THE MANUAL DOESN'T LIST THE HORN AS PART OF THE CIRCUITRY. IT IS HOWEVER CONNECTED TO THE HARNESS THAT IS CONNECTED TO THAT CIRCUITRY. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'D LIKE TO GET MY CRUISE CONTROL PARTS REPLACED - THEY WERE BURNED UP PRIOR TO THE RECALL OF MY '96 F150. MY TRUCK DIDN'T FLAME UP BUT I SMELLED BURNING. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN IT WAS DAMP OR RAINING THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT HAS BECOME CONSTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED ALL FORD TRUCKS WERE MADE THAT WAY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CORRECTIONS TO THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK
DT: ON JUNE 22, 2005 THE CONSUMER'S FORD F 150 BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 9 HOURS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED ON TOP OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SHORTED OUT AND LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GETTING READY TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE SHORT MELTED THE PLASTIC RESERVIOR THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE FLUID TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST BURNED THROUGH. THE OWNER REMOVED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO STOP THE BURNING. THAT CONNECTOR WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE PART COOLED OFF AND THE OWNERS TAPED UP THE CONNECTOR SO IT WOULD NOT MAKE ANY CONNECTION WITH ANY METAL PARTS. THE OWNERS STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD TURN OFF THE LIGHT OFF AND TELL THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT ALRIGHT ON THEIR COMPUTER. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR. THERE WAS NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORT MADE. THE OWNER TOOK PICTURES OF THE PART FOR HIS RECORDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY GAVE HIM A FORM LETTER TO CALL THE PHONE NUMBERS ON THE LIST. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ALSO. THEY SAID THEY WOULD REVIEW THE INFORMATION, AND SENT THE OWNER A LETTER IN THE MAIL. FORD RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED. ON THE DASHBOARD THERE IS A BLINKING ABS LIGHT THAT WILL NOT SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE PART HAS BEEN REMOVED, THEREFORE THE OWNER CAN NOT GET A INSPECTION STICKER ON HIS VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS BLINKING. THE OWNER CAN NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BLINKING LIGHT BECAUSE THE COMPONENT NEEDS TO BE FIXED WITH THE CORRECT PART. *NM
THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, OWNER FOUND A BLOWN FUSE, #13 ON THE FUSE PANEL.THIS FUSE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BRAKE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. WHEN REPLACING THE FUSE IT KEPT BLOWING. OWNER UNPLIGGED THE SWITCH ON THE MASTERCYLINDER AND PUT NEW FUSE IN AGAIN. FUSE DID NOT BLOW AND TRUCK WOULD SHIFT. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM .THIS IS VERY MUCH A FIRE HAZZARD!!!!!!! STILL NOT FIXED.
OWNER STATES THAT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *AK (THE RIGHT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED) *SCC *JB
COPY OF EMAIL TO FORD: I WROTE TO YOU A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO REGARDING AN EXTREME LEVEL OF CORROSION OCCURRING ON MY 1996 F150 WHICH RESULTED IN THE OIL PAN RUSTING THROUGH ONLY TO BE REBUFFED. WELL NOW THE LEVEL OF CORROSION IS EVEN WORSE. THE BRAKE LINES ARE SO CORRODED THAT ONE OF THEM BURST AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY USED FOR PERSONAL USE AND IS ONLY USED ON THE HIGHWAY FOR TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE, A JEEP, WHICH SITS NEXT TO IT THAT IS 5 YEARS OLDER THAT IS NOT EXHIBITING THE CORROSION FOUND UNDER YOUR VEHICLE. AS I MENTIONED IN MY PREVIOUS LETTER, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE VEHICLES MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 60K. CLEARLY THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE BUT YOUR EARLIERRESPONSE TO ME INDICATES THAT YOU DONT CARE. THEREFORE, YOU HAVE LOST MY WIFE AND I AS CUSTOMERS AND I FEEL OBLIGATED TO TELL ANYONE I KNOW OF YOUR POOR QUALITY AND CONCERN FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS. THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATHTRAP LOOKING FOR ITS FIRST VICTIM AND I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT SELL THE VEHICLE AND SEND A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO THE NHSTA SO THAT ITS ON RECORD THAT FORD WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT.
WHILE DRIVING ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STOPPED TO CHECK PROBLEM AND SAW FIRE. HAD TO REPLACE MASTER CYLANDER AND SOME WIRING. 3 OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING MOTHER IN LAWS VAN HAVE HAD PROBLEM. *AK
TOTAL BREAK FAILURE, WITH NO WARNING. FORD DEALERSHIP (STERLING FORD) REPORTED RIGHT SIDE FRONT BREAKLINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING BREAK FLUID TO DRAIN. RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF ALL FRONT BREAKLINES AND FLEX LINES ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. COST $355. CONCERN IS WAY DIDN'T THE REAR BREAKS SYSTEM PROVIDE SOME MARGIN OF BREAKING CAPACITY. WHY DID BOTH SYSTEMS FAIL SIMULATANEOUSLY?
PREMATURE WEAR OF THE ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKES. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS AND FRONT PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
PUT IN NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS BUT BRAKE LINING RESTED AGAINST THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WHICH RUBBED A HOLE THROUGH THE METAL, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK *ML
THE FRONT BRAKES SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER 23000 MILES. SEEMS AWFULLY PREMATURE.
WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET AND ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD LOCK UP. HAD BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. *AK
WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE. THIS HAPPENS UNDER ANY TYPE OF BRAKING, NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE OTHER DETAIL INFORMATIION. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING BECAUSE ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES RESPOND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE HAS A STRONG TENDENCY TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND ONLY THE FRONT WHEELS RESPOND WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT LOCK UP, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
OWNER HAS NO ABS BRAKES, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT/PADS/CALIPERS, ETC. PROBLEM REMAINS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE RELEASES OR DOES NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE OR ROLL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS DAMP AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR HALF HOUR OR MORE, THE BRAKES GRAB WHEN TOUCHED. ALSO, THEY LOCK UP AND SQUEAL ON DRY PAVEMENT. *AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON WET SURFACES THE BRAKES GRAB AND PULL TO ONE SIDE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON WET SURFACES THEY GRAB, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. OWNER HAS HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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