RoadVitals

2003 Ford F-350 Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 13, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 90 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

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 2003 Ford F-350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 13, 2026
1 injury reported

I was under the truck working on it and the truck was on I had the emergency brake on and the truck went into reverse and ran me over

NHTSA ID
11750135
Incident
Jun 29, 2026
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jan 5, 2021

AS I AM SURE YOU MUST BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE: I PURCHASED USED A 2003 FORD -F350. I HAD MANY ISSUES AND HAD WORKED MOST OF THEM OUT. THERE WERE MANY ISSUES THAT WERE POSSIBLE I WAS CLEARLY UNAWARE OF. ONE BEING OF UTMOST SAFETY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. MY HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 FORD F-350 6.0 DIESEL FAILED. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE ENGINE STOPS. THE HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP PROVIDES NEEDED PRESSURE TO THE INJECTORS IN ORDER TO HAVE A RUNNING ENGINE. BEING PARKED AND THE HPOP FAILING IS ONE THING HOWEVER DRIVING 55MPH ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AGAINST ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A TURN IS A VERY BAD SITUATION. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I AM STILL VERY STRONG AT THE AGE OF 54. MY HPOP FAILED GOING 55MPH ON A LONG LEFT HAND TURN. AS THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN BY BRAKES ARE LIMITED TO A SMALL AMOUNT OF STORAGE AND THEN THEY FAIL. THE STEERING HOWEVER FAILS IMMEDIATELY. I WAS HEADING STRAIT HEAD ON I TO A TRACKTOR TRAILER RIG. IT TOOK EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH TO ATTEMPT TO STEER THIS VEHICLE OUT OF THE OTHER LAND AND BRAKE GETTING IT OFF THE ROAD ASAP. IF THE BIG RIG HAD NOT MADE AN ATTEMPT TO MISS ME, I WOULDNT BE SENDING THIS LETTER. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD NOT THE STRENGTH TO STEER OUT OF A SITUATION OR HAVE TIME TO STOP AND WERE KILLED. THE REPORT MOST LIKELY SAID" DRIVER FELL ASLEEP." OR SOMETHING TO THAT AFFECT. THERE IS NO WAY THIS ENGINE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE OPERATION ON THE ROAD PERIOD. FORD SHOULD HONOR ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WITH A VERY REASONABLE SETTLEMENT NOT TO MENTION HAVING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. I KNOW OF NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE. COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING AND BRAKES DUE TO AN UNFORESEEN INTERNAL MECHANICAL ISSUE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN. RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IS ONE THING, HOWEVER RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL IS ABSURD. HAD I KNOW WHO TO WRITE TOO SOONER I WOULD HAVE.

NHTSA ID
11386656
Incident
Jun 10, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 30, 2014
Crash reported

I THOUGHT MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE AND TAPED THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SCRATCHED THE BUMPER OF THE CAR I TAPPED. I WAS ON I 95S TOWARDS FREDERICKSBURG, VA WHEN MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TAPED BRAKE AND THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I DID HAVE SOME BRAKING. GOT THE TRUCK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, DIAGNOSED WILL HOLE IN BRAKE LINE CAUSED BY RUST. REPLACED 18 FT OF LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10562202
Incident
Jan 23, 2014
Mileage
283,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 8, 2005

2002 FORD F350 SUFFERED A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL DID NOT FEEL NORMAL. THE GARAGE FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE SUPPORT FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10125831
Incident
Feb 23, 2005
Mileage
41,088 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 2005
Crash reported

PLOW AND SALT TRUCK FOR ROAD DEPARTMENT. HAS DUMP BOX INSTALLED. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE PREMATURLY, EXTREMELY POOR STOPPING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. FRONT END FEELS LIGHT AND "SQUIRLY" EVEN WITH EMPTY BED. WORKERS REFUSE TO OPERATE. DEEMED "UNSAFE". TOOK TO DEALER TWICE, THEY SAY BRAKES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY. VEHICAL HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IS FOR SALE.

NHTSA ID
10114654
Incident
Jan 15, 2004
Mileage
3,862 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 21, 2004

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. CONSUME DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10094041
Incident
Sep 21, 2004
Brakes
Filed May 26, 2004

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES,THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER NEXT WEEK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10074309
Incident
May 26, 2004
Brakes
Filed Nov 12, 2003

WHILE PULLING FROM A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *NLM DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, WHEN TRAFFIC OPENED UP THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND WOULD STOP FOR 20 MINUTES AND UNLOCKED WHEN COOLED DOWN. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY FOUND A DRAGGING PROBLEM. *SCC JB

NHTSA ID
10042246
Incident
Sep 12, 2003
Mileage
8,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine26Driver assistance13Electrical10Fuel system10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .