With over 33 complaints of brake failures on previous generation Ford F-150 pickups being reviewed by federal regulators, Ford’s latest safety concerns may affect as many as 420,000 of their signature vehicles.
The investigation, opened on February 29th, covers F-150s with 3.5-liter V-6 engines from the 2013 and 2014 model years. Complaints include a complete loss of braking ability and four crashes. No injuries have been reported.
Owners who filed reports with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said a dealership inspection determined that all of the brake fluid inside the master cylinder reservoir had emptied into the brake booster.
“Applied brakes to slow down getting off Interstate I-85 and the pedal went to the floor with no warning other than the check brake fluid level afterwards,” an owner from Georgia wrote. A Texas driver said the fluid repeatedly disappeared almost immediately after refilling the reservoir.
“The next morning the brake pedal went straight to the floor,” the owner wrote. “No brakes at all. No sign of leak anywhere. No fluid on driveway. Vanishing fluid?”
A number of the complaints said Ford replaced the master cylinder and brake booster for free under the factory warranty, but the investigation could determine that some or all of the pickups need to be recalled to proactively make repairs.
This isn’t the first time that Ford has had safety concerns with it’s most popular truck model. In September of 2015, Ford experienced a massive recall of F-150’s – over 37,000 – due to yet another issue with the brakes. Some F-150’s would apply the brakes randomly while the car was in motion, causing several accidents. Since the late 90’s, the Ford company has experienced problems with their F-Series trucks and it’s braking system.
While this story is developing, the Sawaya Law Firm will keep an eye on Ford and the potential for another massive recall. While we hope that this auto manufacturer will do the right thing by their owners, we must remain educated and vigilant about our rights as consumers. If you or someone you love has questions about brake failure in their Ford F-150 pickup truck, we’d like to hear from you.
Contact us 24/7 at 303.GOOD-LAW or on the web HERE.
