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 2000 Ford F-350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 42 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 42, in the owner's own words
On 7/2/24, I went to Robinson Brothers Ford in Baton Rouge, LA to address an unrepaired Recall item on a 1994 F350. The service advisor refused to perform the recall work. They stated that the vehicle was too old. This recall is concerning an issue with a switch that can leak break fluid and cause an engine fire.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT FACILITY AND THE SELLER OF THE VEHICLE MADE NO MENTION OF A FAILURE WITH THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES, WHICH WERE WARPED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN HAD HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN, AND FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
BRAKE LINES FAILED AND TRUCK RAN INTO FENCE.
WHILE DRIVING 5-70 MPH CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING/BRAKING. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEAALERSHIP REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE COMPONENTS, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID SPILLING, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT IT WAS STILL DIFFICULT FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.*AK
THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED . AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES FAILED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *JB ALL THE OTHER LINES INCLUDING THE FUEL LINES WERE RUST FREE. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION AND COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. *JB
LOST STEERING AND BRAKES TOWING A TRAILER ON AN OFF RAMP. HIGH WAY 80 IN WAMSUTTER WY. SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME SEEMS TO BE UNSAFE TO ME. TO HAPPEN ON A HIGH WAY OFF RAMP TOWING A TRAILER MAKES IT EVEN WORSE. *LA
THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
ALTHOUGH I HAVE ONLY LISTED THIS AS 1 INSTANCE OF FAILURE SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS POORLY DESIGNED (DANGEROUS) SOLUTION FINALLY COST ME GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS ABS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO LOOSE SLEEP AT NIGHT SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS TIMES IT HAS FAILED ME! IT SHOULDN'T TAKE AN EINSTEIN TO FIGURE OUT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH A BRAKE SYSTEM THAT FAILS WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT TO WORK! NOT ONLY DOES IT FAIL THE BRAKES, BUT SINCE THE POWER STEERING IS USED TO (HYDROBOOST) POWER THE BRAKE SYSTEM, WHEN THE ABS UNIT DUMPS THE FLUID TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PRESSURE, YOU ALSO LOOSE STEERING ABILITY! I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS INADEQUATE DESIGN. I GUESS I SHOULD COUNT MYSELF LUCKY THAT I'M EVEN ABLE TO WRITE THIS, BUT THIS SYSTEM IS PLAINLY INADEQUATE AND FLAWED AT THE DESIGN LAYER. EITHER SOMEONE REQUIRES THIS TO BE CORRECTED OR EVERYONE THAT DRIVES A VEHICLE WITH THIS TYPE OF SOLUTION BETTER TRIPLE THEIR LIFE INSURANCE AND QUADRUPLE THEIR LIABILITY INSURANCE AND ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES DAILY IN HOPES THAT THEY SURVIVE THE EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!! OH, MAYBE I'VE TOUCHED ON SOMETHING THERE. DO YOU THINK THE INSURANCE COMPANIES MIND THE PROSPECT OF HAVING EVERYONE HAVING TO INCREASE THEIR INSURANCE TO PREPARE FOR THE RESULTS? DT
TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH REAR ABS. WHEN MAKING A RAPID STOP AND THE REAR END HITS A BUMP INSTEAD OF THE ABS MODULATING THE BRAKES IT RELEASES ALL OF THE BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK AND THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO JUST MY TRUCK. CHECKING THE FORUMS AT FORD-DIESEL.COM THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. DEALERS HAVE TOLD THEM IT IS NORMAL. I DON'T BUY IT. THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN BRAKING IS TO LET UP ON THE PEDAL, THEN QUICKLY REAPPLY. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I JUST BARELY HAD TIME TO DO THAT. IT IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE IT IS NOT LIKE MOST ABS WHERE THE PEDAL WILL PULSE. THIS ACTS AS IF THE BRAKES HAVE JUST TOTALLY RELEASED, AND THE PEDAL DROPS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND, NOR DOES ANYONE ELSE WITH THE PROBLEM WHY THE FRONT BRAKES LET GO. IF IT IS ONLY REAR WHEEL ABS THEN WHY DO WE LOSE THE FRONT BRAKES ALSO? THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU REALLY CAN'T PREDICT WHEN IT WILL DO IT. I KNOW THAT I AM VERY WARY OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT A LITTLE HOP OF THE REAR WHEELS DURING HARD BRAKING CAN CAUSE THIS AND DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY. NO PROBLEM WITH A LOAD IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, BUT WITH A LIGHT REAR IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. I AM SURPRISED NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT.*AK
BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. FORM LETTER REPLY. *MC THE TAIL LATCH WAS STICKING, THE ROTOR HAD TO BE MACHINED, THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE RE-SEALED DUE TO IT LEAKING, THE BALL JOINTS AND SERPENTINE BELT WERE REPLACED, THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
RETAINING CLIP THAT ATTACHES CABLE TO PARKING BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED, WHICH CAUSED CABLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE ASSEMBLY RENDERING PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE INOPERABLE. REPORTED FAILURES ARE COMMON BASED UPON INTERNET SEARCH. MANUFACTURER DENIED PROBLEM EXISTS WITH DESIGN ALTHOUGH DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS REPORT MULTIPLE REPAIRS OF SIMILAR PROBLEM.*AK
BRAKE SURGES UNCONTROLABL, ALSO REPLACED HITCH BUT NEW HITCH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
WHILE APPROACHING THE HIGHWAY, BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THEN BRAKES LOCKED UP AND ENGINE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN CAUSING BRAKES TO GO IN ABS, CONSUMER RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STARTED TO PUSH THE OTHER VEHICLE TWO LANES LENGTH. CONSUMER APPLIED PARK BRAKE AND VEHICLE STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK *TT
DURING BRAKE APPLICATION WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL PULL INTERMITTENTLY TO RIGHT AND / OR LEFT, MORE SEVERE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE NINE TIMES, AND REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS/PADS/ LINES/ REAR SPRING SHACKLE ADJUSTMENTS, AND POSITIVE CASTER. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY PROBLEM ,AND INFORMED CONSUMER NO MORE SERVICE WOULD BE PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
MY FIRST SERIOUS SITUATION OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PULLING A 6000LB TRACTOR. CONDITIONS WHERE GOOD WEATHER CLEAR AND OUTSIDE TEMP 98. WHEN APPROACHING AN AREA OF HWY FOUR LANE DIVIDED HWY( 2 NORTH 2 SOUTH). THIS AREA OF HWY HAS SEVERAL TRAFFIC LIGHTS SPACED ABOUT TWO MILES APART FROM ONE ANOTHER. THE TRUCK OPERATED AS EXPECTED ON THE FIRST THREE OF LIGHTS. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES FOR THE FOURTH TIME MY TRUCK PULLED LEFT SO HARD THE CROSS BAR ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN AND I WAS STILL HEADED INTO THE MEDIAN TOWARD NORTH BOUND TRAFFIC, I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS SOON AS I WENT INTO THE GRASS TO REGAIN CONTROL, ONCE STOPPED I CHECKED UNDER MY TRUCK FOR A POSSIBLE BROKEN BRAKE LINE, BUT I SEEN NOTHING WRONG. I PROCEEDED TO THE OFFICE AFTER CHECKING EVERYTHING AND THINGS SEEMED OK AFTER THE BRAKES COOLED DOWN. DURING CHECKING THE BRAKES AND LINES THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR SEEMED VERY MUCH HOTTER THAN THE RIGHT FRONT! THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DOING THIS AND CONTINUES TO DO THIS. SOUTHWEST FORD IN WEATHERFORD IS THE ONLY DEALER THAT HAS WORKED ON IT FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY KEEP CHANGING THE PADS AND ROTORS AND GIVING IT BACK. I TOLD THEM THE CONDITIONS IN WITCH THE TRUCK PULLS BUT THEY WILL NOT LOAD IT. THEY WANT ME TO LOAD IT AND BRING IT TO THEM!!! I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND WORRIED TO LOAD IT, AND DRIVE IT. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE ASKED AND I GUESS I WILL LOAD IT TOO. BUT THIS WILL BE THE LAST STRAW! I HAD FOUND AN OLD MESSAGE ON THE INTERNET FROM "THE CARRINGTONS" THAT HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR 99 MODEL AND GOT A 2000 TO REPLACE IT. THEY SAID THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE 99. IF YOU COULD HELP ME AND POSSIBLE OTHERS, I REALLY THINK IT WILL SAVE LIVES!*AK
MASTER CYCLINDER HAS BROKEN IN HALF WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. *AK *NLM
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN MAKING A SLOW TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION POWER STEERING LOCKS UP. THIS ALSO AFFECTS BRAKES. *AK
DURING BREAKING, ABS ACTIVATED AND I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE.. *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. FELT LIKE COASTER BRAKES. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC AFTER TEST DRIVING VEHICLE, THAT NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKES FOUND AFTER 25 MILES.*AK
BRAKES FAILED AT 50 MPH, CONSUMER THEN LOST ALL STEERING AND HIT A GUARDRAIL AT 35-40 MPH. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 7000. *AK *JB
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE AT 50 MPH , BRAKES FAILED, AND VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH.DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 7000. *AK *JB
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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