RoadVitals

1999 Ford F Super Duty 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.
25
Latest Sep 13, 2006
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.
27%
of 93 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

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 1999 Ford F Super Duty submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 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

Brakes
Filed Sep 13, 2006

THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE END CAME OFF OF THE CABLE FROM WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10168169
Incident
Sep 12, 2006
Mileage
55,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 13, 2005

DRIVING 1999 F250 SUPERDUTY SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION. LATER FOUND RUPTURED CORRODED REAR BRAKE LINE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE, DUAL CIRCUIT MASTER CYLINDER WAS NOT EFFECTIVE IN ALLOWING ALTERNATE BRAKE CIRCUIT TO SLOW TRUCK CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID
10128538
Incident
Jul 9, 2005
Mileage
71,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 18, 2003

FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A RECALL OF MY TRUCK (1999 FORD F-250) THAT IS LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE RECALL IS FOR A FAULTY PARKING BRAKE, AND MINE HAS BROKEN AS NOTED IN THE RECALL. WHAT IF ANY RECORURSE DO I HAVE THROUGH YOUR AGENCY TO FORCE FORD TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE? THE INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET INDICATES THAT THE RECALL NUMBERS ARE AS FOLLOWS: NHTSA 02V068 FORD RECALL NUMBER 02S34 *LA

NHTSA ID
10047103
Incident
Nov 18, 2003
Mileage
102,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Aug 14, 2002
Crash reported2 injuries reported

MY NAME IS [XXX] AND MY WIFE AND I WERE INJURED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN MY 1999 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY POWERSTROKE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED APRIL 20TH,ON MY DRIVEWAY DUE TO A FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING / BRAKE ASSIST PUMP. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND MY WIFE SUSTAINED A SEVERE NECK STRAIN AND MISSED FIVE WEEKS OF WORK. WE REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO FORD THE WEEK OF APRIL 22. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS RETAINED THE SERVICES OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ENGINEER, AND WE ARE WORKING TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT WITH FORD.SINCE I HAVE BEGUN TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM WITH THE POWER ASSIST, I HAVE LEARNED OF ANOTHER ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE SAME DESIGN FLAWS IN THE PS/PB PUMP. IN MY CASE THE PUMP FAILED COMPLETELY LEAVING ME WITHOUT ANY ASSIST IN BRAKES OR STEERING, AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS APPROACHING A SWITCHBACK THAT DROPS AT AN 18% GRADE I SELECTED AN EMBANKMENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE ROLLOVER. I CALLED THE NHTSA TODAY, 8/17, AFTER FINDING OUT ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE. I READ THE COMMENTS FROM NHTSA ACTION #EA00017 THAT SHOWED THE INVESTIGATION CLOSED 7/29 (TWO WEEKS AGO) WITH NO RECALL # IT SEEMS THERE IS NO MORE INFORMATION READILY FORTHCOMING FROM THE NHTSA. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR FINDINGS AND GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION AS WELL. PLEASE CONTACT ME @ [XXX] OR VIA EMAIL @ [XXX] Y MAILING ADDRESS IS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
765665
Incident
Apr 20, 2002
Brakes
Filed Jun 12, 2002

RIGHT REAR CALIPERS CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON INSIDE OF ROTOR AND WORE DOWN TO CALIPER PISTONS, IN THE FIRST INCIDENT. TWO SUBSEQUENT OCCURRENCES, THE CALIPER REBUILD KITS HAVE LEAKED. THE FORD DEALER SAYS CALIPERS HAVE TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED. IN DISCUSSIONS W/ PARTS HOUSES, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A LOT OF THESE SAME REPAIR ITEMS ARE BEING REQUIRED. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IF SUCH LARGE QUANTITIES OF THESE ITEMS ARE BEING SOLD, A "FAULTY" DESIGN EXISTS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM..

NHTSA ID
763006
Incident
Jun 10, 2002
Brakes
Filed Apr 28, 2002

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FOR HAULING AND THE DEALERS RESPONSE WAS THAT I WAS TOWING TOO HEAVY LOADS.. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD TAKEN A TRIP WITH A TRAILER THAT HAD TRAILER BRAKES AND THANK GOD I MADE IT HOME..MY SON TOOK IT TO THE STORE AND WITH OUT WARNING HAD NO BRAKES COMING HOME THE LINES COMPLETELY SEVERED WHEN THE ROTORS BROKE OFF THE IN THE BACK OFF THE TRUCK....NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE FRONT BRAKES ...THE SHOES HAVE BEEN CHANGED BUT IN A SHORT TIME IN THE FRONT NOW I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
761292
Incident
May 15, 2001
Brakes
Filed Dec 10, 2001
Crash reported

THE ABS IN THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN ACTIVATING DURING NORMAL BRAKING AT STOP SIGHNS WHEN THERE IS A BUMP OR SLIPPERY SURFACE AND TAKES TO LONG TO RE-ENGAGE THE BRAKES ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN RELEASED, RESULTING IN NOT STOPING UNTIL YOU HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE SIGN. *AK

NHTSA ID
755479
Incident
Dec 9, 2001
Brakes
Filed Dec 4, 2001

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS UNDER 25,000 MILES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
899838
Incident
Dec 4, 2001
Brakes
Filed Oct 23, 2001

FRONT ROTORS GET OUT OF ROUND AFTER ABOUT 12,000 MILES AND MUST BE TURNED. THIS IS TOO OFTEN AND SUGGESTS THEY ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE VEHICLE. THEY NEED TO BE TURNED AGAIN AND I BELIEVE THAT THE ROTORS DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FACING TO PERMIT THIS.*AK

NHTSA ID
753564
Brakes
Filed Jul 9, 2001

BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES DUE TO WARPING, AND THEY ARE DUE AGAIN NOW. *AK

NHTSA ID
748136
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 2001

1) CANNOT STEER AND BRAKE AT SAME TIME. I CANNOT CONTROL TRUCK IF I HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES HARD. WINTER DRIVING IS VERY DIFFICULT. 2) THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND APPLYING BRAKES. IT FEELS LIKE TRUCK IS SLIDING ON ICE EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO ICE ON ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ID
747192
Incident
Jul 30, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jun 19, 2001

USED AS A PERSONAL VEHICLE MAINLY IN HIGHWAY TRIPS OF AT LEAST AN HOUR. SEVERE VIBRATION UPON BRAKING.*AK

NHTSA ID
747059
Incident
Jun 19, 2001
Brakes
Filed Apr 25, 2001

THE BRAKE ROTORS WARP ABOUT EVERY 8,000 MILES. DEALERSHIPS CLAIM NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM. HAVE HAD BRAKE ROTOR WORK 6 TIMES IN 44,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
744530
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Brakes
Filed Apr 18, 2001

TRUCK PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A PANIC STOP. TRUCK ALSO IS HARD TO TURN WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD.*AK

NHTSA ID
744225
Incident
Feb 15, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jan 7, 2001

I HAVE HAD A RECURING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PULSATION, THAT SEEMS TO RESULT IN THE FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MADE A COMPLAINT TO FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE LAST TIME THE BRAKES STARTED PULSATING ON THIS TRUCK I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. WHEN I ENGAGED AND HELD THE BRAKE PEDAL MY TRUCK SLID SIDE WAYS ON THE EXPRESSWAY INTO THE MEDIAN. I THOUGHT ANTILOCK BRAKES WERE SUPPOSED TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THE BRAKE PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITH THIS VEHICLE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SITUATION. I KNOW OF OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD CORRECT THIS DEFECT BEFORE IT GETS SOMEONE KILLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
738917
Incident
Nov 5, 1999
Brakes
Filed Nov 2, 2000

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AND ENCOUNTERING ROUGH ROAD SURFACES ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM RELEASES THE BRAKE AND ALLOWS VEHICLE TO CONTINUE FORWARD AT A RATE OF SPEED THAT IS FASTER THAN DESIRED. END RESULT IS THAT THE VELE COULD HIT AN OBJECT IT WOULD NOT ORDINARILY ENCOUNTER IF THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT RELEASE THE BRAKE. IF THE BRAKE IS APPLIED WITH A FIRM AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, AND A TIRE ENCOUNTERS BUMPS OR DEPRESSIONS IN THE ROADWAY BRAKE IS EFFECTIBELY RELEASED FOR THE DURATION OF THE ENCOUNTER. THE ROUGHER THE SURFACE THE MORE THE EFFECT IS AMPLIFIED. IT DOES NOT TEND TO HAPPEN ON SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES. *AK

NHTSA ID
735616
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Oct 28, 2000

AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC, WHEN BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL CHATTERS AND KICKS BACK AS WOULD BE EXPECTED WHEN THE ANTI SKID SYSTEM ENGAGES. THE BRAKES RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD. I NHAVE NARROWLY MISSED HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. AS A TEST, I TEMPORARILY REMOVED THE FUSE ON THE ABS SYSTEM. AT THAT TIME THE BRAKES FELT NORMAL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN AT A FORD DEALER TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING. IT IS AN INTERMITTANT FAILURE. I HAVE HAD A MOTORHOME DEALER SUPERVISOR EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AND HE SUGGESTED IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. THE INTERMITTANT MODE MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE ANYONE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I AM UNAWARE OF ANY COMPUTER FAILURE CODE THAT MIGHT BE STORED THAT WOULD RECORD THE EVENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
735336
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2000

HAVE HAD BROUGHT BACK TRUCK FOR BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE TWICE. SEVERE VIBRATION UPON BRAKING. ROTORS WERE CUT/TURNED BUT PROBLEM REOCCURS. WILL BE GOING BACK FOR THIRD TIME SHORTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
725994
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed May 21, 2000

UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE WITH BRAKES APPLIED. STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE WITH BRAKES APPLIED. CAN NOT TURN WHEELS WITH BRAKE APPLIED WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. UNABLE TO PARALLEL PARK. *AK

NHTSA ID
722990
Incident
Mar 15, 1999
Brakes
Filed May 21, 2000

UNDER NORMAL BRAKING, TRUCK SUDDENLY AND SHARPLY PULLS LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
722988
Incident
Nov 25, 1998
Brakes
Filed May 21, 2000
Crash reported

WITH PARKING BRAKE FULLY SET TO THE FLOOR, TRUCK ROLLED DOWN BOAT LAUNCH SMASHING BOAT TRAILER INTO DOCK. WITH PARKING BRAKE COMPLETELY SET TO FLOOR, ON LEVEL GROUND, DRIVER ACCIDENTLY LEFT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EXITED WITH MOTOR RUNNING. TRUCK ROLLED FORWARD NEARLY RUNNING OVER DRIVER. PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE WITH MAXIMUM RATED GVWR, WILL NOT HOLD ON INCLINE, AND WILL NOT HOLD WHEN TRUCK IS LEFT IN GEAR. EXCESSIVE PEDAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO GET BRAKE TO WORK AT ALL. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. FORD SAYS "CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE". *AK

NHTSA ID
722987
Incident
Oct 3, 1999
Brakes
Filed May 14, 2000

THE BRAKES HAVE NOT YET FAILED TO STOP THE TRUCK. THE ROTORS WARP AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE RAKES TO FADE. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE EARLY MODEL SUPERDUTY. FORD HAS NOT DONE A RECALL BUT THEY HAVE PUBLISHED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE BRAKES. I HAVE TALKED TO FORBY FORD (I DID NOT PURCHASE THE TRUCK FROM THEM) AND THE ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I ALSO CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH NO RESULTS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY A SPECIALIST THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE ROTORS ARE UNDERSIZED AND THIS CAUSES THE ROTORS TO WARP. IN ADDITION, I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF TRUCK AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
722673
Incident
Dec 10, 1999
Brakes
Filed May 10, 2000

THIS TRUCK IS USED FOR LIGHT HAULING (PERSONAL) OF MY LAWN MOWER AND SNOW PLOWING MY RESIDENCE. CONTINUOUS/EXCESSIVE BRAKING WAS NOT APPLIED, THEREFORE NO REASON FOR BRAKE ROTORS TO BE WARPED AT 26K MILES (EXCEPT A DESIGN DEFICIENCY). THE DEALER IS SAYING THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HELP ME. WITH THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A REPEAT OF THE SAME DEFICIENCY IN ANOTHER 26K MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY). THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE DEALER IS WANTING TO PASS THE BUCK AND BLAME THE CUSTOMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
722482
Incident
May 8, 2000
BrakesElectrical
Filed Aug 5, 1999

BRAKE CONTROLLER MODULE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
547762
Incident
Jul 8, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jan 7, 1999

DESIGN OF BRAKE PEDAL BEING TOO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES THE DRIVERS FOOT TO GET STUCK UNDER THE PEDAL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE.

NHTSA ID
543268

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .