When decelerating, such as taking an off-ramp, it loses power to the brakes and steering, which makes it unsafe.
- NHTSA ID
- 11508548
- Incident
- Feb 18, 2023
Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2008 Ford F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
When decelerating, such as taking an off-ramp, it loses power to the brakes and steering, which makes it unsafe.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and making a left turn, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond and went to the floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stood on the brake pedal and the vehicle stopped. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot at a low speed. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the brake pedal responded as needed while driving to his residence. Upon investigating the failure, the contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE TO HITCH A TRAILER ONTO TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. ADDITIONALLY, THE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE SWITCH TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLUID PRESSURE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETACHED AND HANGING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD AN UNKNOWN DEALER ORDER A NEW BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED MASTER CYLINDER PRESSURE MALFUNCTIONED.*JB
I HAVE 46000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND FOUR TIMES MY REAR BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP ON ME. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED WITH 17000 MILES SO CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY. IT IS NO WONDER I GOT A USED VEHICLE WITH SO LOW OF MILES. I HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN DRIVING THIS TRUCK FOR ANY KIND OF DISTANCE. I HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY UNABLE TO MOVE STRANDED ON THE ROAD. ON ANOTHER OCCASION I HAD TO DRIVE FIFTY MILES TOWING A TRAILOR WITH VICE GRIPS CRIMPING MY BRAKE LINE AFTER I BROKE THE CALIPER FREE AND GUESS WHAT THEY ARE LOCKED UP AGAIN.THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS
WHILE IN MOTION, MORE OFTEN ON HOT DAYS, THE BRAKE CALIPERS, IN BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK, LOCK UP AND THE TRUCK NEEDS TO BE LEFT STATIONARY UNTIL THEY RELEASE. THE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED NUMEROUS TIMES. FORD WILL NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR FAULTY CALIPERS WHEN I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AT 30,000 ORIGINAL MILES. WHEN I ASKED AN EXPERIENCED LOCAL MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM, HE EXPLAINED THAT FORD USED TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF METALS IN THEIR CALIPERS SO THEY EXPAND AND CONTRACT AT DIFFERENT RATES, CAUSING THEM TO LOCK UP.
MY VEHICLE HAS A DEATH WOBBLE WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES; SPECIAL FIELD ACTION 09L02 DATED JANUARY 2018. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT RECENTLY TALKED WITH SOMEONE WHO OWNS THE SAME VEHICLE AND HE HAPPENED TO ASK IF I HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. UPON RECEIVING THE NOTICE AND RECALLING THAT CONVERSATION I THOUGHT I SHOULD FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT. IN PARTICULAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RATTLE AND SHAKE IN A MANNER THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE UNTIL YOU COME TO A VIRTUAL STOP. I HAVE HAD ALMOST A DOZEN OCCURRENCES. MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND ALIGNMENT AND STEERING ISSUES, TIE RODS AND BALL JOINT ETC. THEN AFTER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SENT ME TO THE TIRE SHOP. THE TIRE SHOP CHECKED THE TIRES AND SENT ME BACK TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, REPLACED SOME WARN PARTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN (I BELIEVE IT WAS A BUSHING SOMEWHERE, BUT CAN CONFIRM IF NEEDED, I HAVE RECORDS SOMEWHERE). THAT DECREASED THE FREQUENCY, BUT I STILL HAVE EXPERIENCED IT TWICE SINCE THEN. IT SEEMS INTERMITTENT, AND FRANKLY ALMOST RANDOM AS I CAN NOT ALWAYS RECREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM. I CAN TRAVEL ALONG THE SAME ROUTE, SAME SPEED, AND NOT ALWAYS EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF CONTROL I CALL A DEATH WOBBLE. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, AS DESCRIBED IN THE SFA YOU HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS, APPLY THE BRAKES AND HOLD THE WHEEL STRAIGHT. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND SCARED THE HELL OUT OF MY FATHER AND DAUGHTER WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED IT WITH ME ON A FREEWAY OVERPASS THAT CURVED AND I HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND COULDN'T STEER.
TAKATA RECALL STEERING LOCK UP AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHEN TURNING AND DECELERATING. THREE OCCURRENCES IN LAST 3 MONTHS. LAST 1-10-2017
I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND ATTEMPTING TO GET OFF AT AN EXIT WHEN I TOUCHED THE BRAKES THEY GRABBED HARD, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE ABS WHINE STARTED BUT I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THIS CAUSED STEERING TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AND THERE WHERE SIGNIFICANT DOWNGRADES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD. WHILE USING FORCE TO TURN THE STERRING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP FROM GOIN OVER THE EMBANKMENT THYE BRAKES RELEASED WHICH CAUSE ME TO ALMOST GO OVER THE EMBANCKMENT ON THE RIGHT. THE BRAKES KEEP GRABBING AND RELEASING UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO T HE DEALERSHIP AND I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH HAD THE TRUCK GONE OVER THE EMBANKMENT ON EITHER SIDE. I'M USED TO DRIVING AND STAY PRETTY ALERT BUT THERE ARE THOSE THAT THIS WOULD HAVE MADE THEM FREEZE UP AND IT WOULD HAVE ENDED IN TRAGEDY!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS, THE CALIPERS AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
SLOWING DOWN EXITING TO THE LEFT OFF HI-WAY AFTER ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR AT 70MPH. BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE IT KICKED BACK, BOTH BRAKES AND STEERING LOCKED UP, SLID UNTO SHOULDER, THEN EVERYTHING RELEASED LIKE NORMAL. BROUGHT TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED HYRO-BOOSTER SYSTEM AND FLUIDS. ISSUE SEEMED CORRECTED, EXITING RIGHT ON HWY NO ISSUE, HOWEVER EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AGAIN FIRST TIME EXITING LEFT. AFTER 10 DAYS RESEARCHING ISSUE, DEALER ASSURED REPLACING DAMPER ASSEMBLY(?) AND ALL FOUR TIRES WOULD RESOLVE. ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN SAME DAY AS PICKUP. BEING TOWED BACK TO DEALER FOR THIRD ATTEMPT TO CORRECT. *TR
WHEN EXITING THE HIGHWAY I LOST THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO LOSE STEERING PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES AND UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BRAKES FADE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER HEAVY USE AND WHILE TOWING. THE STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT GONE AWAY. *TR
DRIVING 65MPH AND CHANGING LANES POWER STEERING WAS LOST AS WELL AS POWER BRAKING. AFTER FIGHTING THE WHEEL HARD TO STRAIGHTEN OUT AND BRAKING HARD I FINALLY EASED OVER TO A STOP. WHEN STOPPED DISCOVERED THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD BROKEN, SECOND ISSUE IN 20K MILES WITH SAID BELT. BELT AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED 1.5 YEARS AND 20K MILES PRIOR. TENSIONERS DESTROYING BELTS ARE A KNOWN FAULT WITH 6.4L ENGINES. I AM NOT A SMALL GUY AND I FEEL MANY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. LUCKILY I WAS NOT TOWING AT THE TIME OR I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD CONTROL. *TR
I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IN NOVEMBER 2008 BRAND NEW. AT APPROXIMATELY 13000 MILES I HAD MY RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FREEZE UP. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY GOT OUT AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO INSTALL A NEW CALIPER, PADS AND ROTOR. THIS WAS ALL DONE UNDER WARRANTY, UNFORTUNATELY THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES - ONCE ON THE RIGHT FRONT,ONCE ON THE RIGHT REAR, AND AGAIN ON THE LEFT FRONT. THE LAST TIME WAS AT 48000 MILES AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. EVERY INCIDENT WAS THE SAME WITH THE RESULTING REPAIRS BEING THE SAME (NEW CALIPER, NEW ROTOR,AND NEW PADS. I HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO MAKE FORD REMEDY THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. LIVING IN MICHIGAN I DRIVE ON SLIPPERY ROADS AND IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN ON SLIPPERY ROADS I FEAR WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE INCIDENT MAY BE. THIS I FEEL IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION, I PULL A 34 FOOT FIFTHWHEEL CAMPER AND WOULD NOT WANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE PULLING IT. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 5 OTHER TRUCKS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM RANGING IN YEARS FROM 2005 TO PRESENT. IRONICALLY FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB ON THE 2010-2011 FORD SUPERDUTY FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO EXPAND THE TSB OR ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL OF THESE TRUCKS. I AM ON THE VERGE OF GETTING RID OF MY TRUCK BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS NOT REAL SAFE TO DRIVE.HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE TWO PEDALS WERE MANUFACTURER TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF THE CONSUMER OWNS FOUR OTHER 2008 FORD F-250'S. UPDATED 09/16/11
THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF A 2008 F-250 FORD HEAVY DUTY TRUCK, I NOTICED THE BRAKES SQUEAKING. ON 4 OCCASIONS I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK FOR SERVICE TO CHECK FOR THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST 3 TIMES AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE SQUEAK WAS CAUSED BY "ROAD DEBRIS", AND THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM RECURRING.( THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED THE BRAKE PADS).ON THE FORTH OCCASION, THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE AND HAD 60 % CAPACITY. THIS OCCURRED ON 8/3/2010. OCTOBER 15, 2010 THE SQUEAKING WAS SO LOUD, WE TOOK IT TO A THIRD DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE SEVERELY WORN AND RUSTED. IT REQUIRED A SLEDGE HAMMER TO REMOVE THEM DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF CORROSION THAT HAD BUILT UP. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS/WAS A DEFECT IN THE REAR BRAKES AND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE WE PULL A HEAVY TRAILER. WE HAVE KEPT THE PARTS FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AT OUR RESIDENCE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE LINE WHO RECOMMENDED THIS SITE. AND WHO OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING HOW TO PREVENT FURTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
PURCHASE DATE SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 OF FORD F250 TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK WOULD START VIBRATING AND I WOULD SEE WHITE EXHAUST SMOKE, TRUCK WOULD EITHER LOSE POWER OR INCREASE SPEED WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN ACCELERATION. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 16 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR NUMEROUS WEEKS AND HAVE PUT OVER 1,000 MILES DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN ATTEMPT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS AND GET A DIAGNOSTIC CODE. MARCH 2010 WHILE SLOWING DOWN I NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR TWO. BY RECOMMENDATION OF FORD OUR DEALERSHIP HAS FLUSHED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE TO GO OFF THE ROAD WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAD POSSESSION OF MY TRUCK FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JUNE 2010. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE STEERING AND BRAKE ISSUE. MOST RECENTLY WHILE OUT OF TOWN I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES 3 TIMES AFTER I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. IT APPEARS THE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES LASTS LONGER. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT FORD MOTOR CO. DIAGNOSTIC PROTOCOL IS IF THE COMPUTER DOES NOT THROW A CODE OR A SERVICE TECH CANNOT GET THE VEHICLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN PATIENT WITH THE DEALER, THE SERVICE RECORDS AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE TRUCK WILL CLEARLY SHOW WE HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN ADEQUATE CHANCE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. NOW AT 90,000 MILES I OWN A VEHICLE THAT I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE OR ANYONE ELSE DRIVE IN FEAR THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACT QUICK ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN CONTROL UNTIL THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES RETURN TO FUNCTION. *TR
2008 FORD F250 - RIGHT ROTOR ONLY DISINTEGRATING CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CALIPER AND RUBBER BOOT. HAD TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK, NOW DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT IT IS LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON MY PART. I SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. BRAKE ON RIGHT HAND SIDE IS COMPLETELY GONE. I THINK IF THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE CHECK THIS OUT BETTER THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM WHILE THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
IT HAPPEN ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I FIRST GOT THE TRUCK. I WAS GETTING TO A STOP SIGN AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED, I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN AT ALL AND I HAD A REALLY HARD TIME BRAKING, I HAD TO USE A LOT OF FORCE TO BRAKE OR TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN A LITTLE. THAT HAPPENED 3 DIFFERENT TIME. AT A STOP SIGN AND ONCE AT A TURN LIGHT WHICH WAS THE WORST CAUSE I HAD TO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THAT WAS ALL IN A 2 WEEKS AFTER THE ONE MONTH OF HAVING THE TRUCK. IT WAS COMPLETELY STOCK. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. 3 WEEKS LATER I BOUGHT SO MUD TIRES FOR IT. AND ABOUT 2 OR 3 WEEKS LATER I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE STEERING BOX. WHEN ID BE AT A STOP OR NOT MOVING AT ALL, AM NOT ABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS AND IT MAKES A WEIRD SOUND WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. THIS STILL HAPPENS EVERYTIME TIME I DRIVE WHEN AM STOPPING OR JUST TURNED IT ON, ANYTIME AM NOT MOVING OR STEEPING ON THE GAS, AM NOT ABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS. I TOOK IT SHORTLY AFTER IT FIRST HAPPENED AND THEY TEST DROVE IT AND AGREED SOMETHING WAS WRONG SO THE SAID THEY FIX IT. IT TOOK THEM A WEEK TO ORDER PARTS AND GET IT FIXED, BUT 3 DAYS AFTER GETTING IT BACK IT STARTED ACTING THE SAME. SO I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIRES I HAD??. BUT I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH THE SAME TRUCK AND TIRES AND THEY HAVE NO PROBLEMS. YET THEY WANTED ME TO PUT THE STOCK TIRES BACK AND TAKE IT TO THEM. HAVEN'T YET. SO THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. *TR
2008 F250: HAD THIS TRUCK SINCE 9-28-08. SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN APPLYING BRAKE MY FOOT ALSO TOUCHES ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE. ENGINE IS VERY QUITE AND DO NOT IMMEDIATELY REALIZE THAT CONDITION. THIS IS BAD ENOUGH WITH MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD FAR WORSE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *JB
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