What 2,796 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel

Vacuum pump and brake booster failure. Same problem and recalls have been issued to other eco boost models in newer and older years.

NHTSA ODI 11433896

The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 1 MPH, he attempted to park the vehicle, but the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed and the brakes failed to engage. The contact used the parking brake to stop and park the vehicle. The contact refilled the brake fluid reservoir and was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the brake master cylinder leaked brake fluid into the brake booster pump. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 26,500.

NHTSA ODI 11432328

Loss of Brake fluid, no visible leaks anywhere.

NHTSA ODI 11431871

The contact's girlfriend owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving through a parking lot at a low rate of speed, the brake pedal hardened as the check brake system warning light appeared on the instrument panel. His girlfriend was forced to apply the parking brake to stop the vehicle. Due to the failure, his girlfriend had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a leak in the front seal master cylinder. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V345000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which he linked to his girlfriend's failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 11431044

While operating the vehicle, driver experienced complete loss of brake pressure. Brake pedal extended to the floor and offered no stopping power. E-brake was utilized to bring the vehicle to a full stop. Vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and repair. Tow to a Ford dealer was not possible based on location and distance. Independent mechanic diagnosed a catastrophic failure of the main cylinder causing fluid to leak into the brake booster. This problem has already been addressed in Ford recall notice # 16V345000. This is a known problem with this model year. However, the specific VIN is not included in the recall despite the same parts and components identified in the recall. The incident occurred in a location far from owner's area of residence during off-hours. Additionally, owner was stranded far from area of residence with members of a youth group. Owner has incurred significant costs associated with towing, repairs, and alternative transportation for multiple persons. Circumstances at the time allowed for a safe stop of the vehicle. Had the failure occurred a few minutes earlier or later, the potential for catastrophic injury or death was high.

NHTSA ODI 11425542

My problem sounds like this issue: https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1104150_2013-2014-ford-f-150-recalled-to-fix-brake-fluid-leak-271000-trucks-affected My wife was driving the truck when a low brake fluid warning light came on and the brake pedal went to the floor. She was able to pump the pedal a bit to get the truck to slow down. Luckily she was on a street and not the highway and was able able pull off into a parking lot and coast to a stop. She left the truck there. I went to the truck and added a bottle of brake fluid the next morning. The reservoir looked empty prior to me adding the fluid. I drove the truck 1.9 miles to a garage and had almost no braking power. I kept the truck in a low gear to control speed and had to pump the brakes at stop signs and traffic lights along the way to get it to stop. At one point the brakes weren't working at all and I almost rolled out into a cross street into a passing truck that was going approx 40mph. I kept pumping and came to a stop in the lane and the passing truck was able to swerve around me to avoid a collision. When I got to the garage I checked the reservoir and the brake fluid level had dropped back below minimum on that short drive. The mechanic investigated the issue and told me the master cylinder had a leak and would need to be replaced. It was basically failing. The total for the repairs will be around $750. Thankfully my wife was on a city street and not on the highway when the master cylinder failed. Otherwise this could have ended in disaster. I called Ford and they said my truck was not covered by the recall, even though it was a 2013 Ecoboost with the 3.5L engine and came out of the the Kansas City plant as mentioned in the recall article linked above. I wanted to report it to put it on your radar in case others experience this issue. It seems like a major safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11422782

Went to leave parking lot and low brake fluid warning light appeared.No brake fluid in master cylinder..repair was replace master cylinder and booster .Fluid drained from master cylinder into booster.This is a recall on 2013 f150 with 3.5 engine but not on the 5.0!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11421619

The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the brake pedal would stiffen up when depressed and the E brake light would illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed as a brake booster and master cylinder failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was 149,045.

NHTSA ODI 11421732

I was driving on the instate this morning and my brakes totally went out. After I was able to get vechicle stopped I drove slowly to a local shop. I car repair place was the closest one as I was out of town and was pulling a camper trailer. When the mechanic looked at it he said the brake fluid leaked from the reservoir into the brake booster. Result need to replace brake booster and master cylinder. Just like the recall from Ford # 16s24. Although my vin # is not on the recall this is the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11420909

Brake failure master cylinder leaked all fluid in brake booster. No injuries or accident. Lost brakes was able get off road safely.

NHTSA ODI 11420039

The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the brake light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and saw that there was no brake fluid in the brake reservoir. The reservoir was topped off with brake fluid. After driving 2 miles, the failure recurred. While attempting to refill the reservoir bottle, the contact noticed brake fluid was not accumulating in the reservoir. There was no leak detected. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was no brake fluid found in the brake reservoir and informed the contact that there was a recall associated with the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V345000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11418642

RECEIVED LOW BRAKE FLUID WARNING AND THEN CATASTROPHIC SUDDEN BRAKE LOSS TO THE VEHICLE. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE . MASTER CYLINDER SEAL HAS FAILED AND FILLED BRAKE BOOSTER WITH BRAKE FLUID. VEHICLE WAS IN VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAVE MADE REPAIRS WITH NEW OEM MOTORCRAFT PARTS TO RESTORE BRAKES. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 72K MILES. 6.2 V8 2WD. I HAVE RECEIPTS OF MY REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11415356

TRUCK IS HESITANT TO PULL OFF AS IF BRAKES ARE STUCK, IDLES HIGH, JERKS VIOLENTLY AND SEEMS AS IF IT'S LOSING POWER. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME NOW AND LIBERTY FORD MAPLE HAS BEEN 0 HELP RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. I'VE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND 2 TIMES AS WELL AS MULTIPLE OTHER CLOSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE FREEWAY OUT OF FEAR OF A ACCIDENT , WHICH REALLY AFFECTS MY WORK. IT'S ALMOST LIKE I DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE AS I'VE BEEN USING FAMILY VEHICLES OR RENTING.

NHTSA ODI 11408673

I WAS ON CARSWELL TURNING RIGHT TO FORRESTAL TOWARDS WYNN WHEN MY TRUCK ACTED WIRED MY SPEED WASNT READING NO MILEAGE AND MY TRUCK WASNT ACCELERATE RIGHT IT WAS GOING UP TOO MUCH ON RPMS SO I DECIDED TO PARK AND TURN IT OFF AND THEN TURN IT ON AGAIN SO I DID SO THEN IT WENT AWAY SO I TURNED LEFT ON WYNN TOWARDS DANIEL DRIVE AND TURNED RIGHT BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO LISAS CHICKEN WHEN I WAS COMING BACK TO CARSWELL THE SAME WAY I WENT IT DID IT AGAIN SO I GOT IT HOMW AND HAVENT MOVED IT SINCE AND ALSO A WHILE BACK MY TRUCK LOCKED MY FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WHEN I WAS COMING FROM OKLAHOMA CASINO GOING TOWARDS ARLINGTON ON HWY 114 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DIDNT LET ME DRIVE AND I BARELY MADE IT TO A GAS STAION RIGHT NEXT TO THAT HWY WHERE 114 AND 377 MEET

NHTSA ODI 11407191

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR HOWEVER, THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED. THE LOW BRAKE FLUID LOW MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER KEESEE MOTOR COMPANY LOCATED AT 111 S BROADWAY, CORTEZ, CO 81321 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V345000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11403310

I WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT INS # 11229625 MAY 24 23016. I THINK FORD MIS REPRESENTED HOW MANY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS WERE INSTALLED ON NEW 2013 F150 THAT ARE BAD AND CAUSING LOSS OF MOST BRAKING AND $1200 FIX BECAUSE IT ALSO DAMAGES THE VACCUME CANISTER FILL UP WITH BRAKE FLUID ..... NO WARNINGS WHEN FAILED I WAS IN REVERSE IN A WALMART PARKING LOT

NHTSA ODI 11403034

BRAKE FLUID LEAKING INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER, AUDIBLE CHIME, MESSAGE CENTER ALERT, BRAKE WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT.

NHTSA ODI 11378232

THE BRAKES BECAME HARD OUT OF NOWHERE AND WOULDNT STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AT NIGHT! I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A VACUUM ISSUE OR WHAT IT IS. VERY DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ODI 11374698

BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BRAKE MASTERCYLINDER INTO THE BRAKE POWER BOOSTER. ONCE THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTERCYLINDER REACHED A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL, BRAKE FLUID WAS SUCKED THROUGH THE VACUUM LINES INTO THE INTAKE AND INTO THE ENGINE, WHERE PRESUMABLY IT FILLED UP THE CYLINDERS. THIS OCCURRED BOTH WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, I SUSPECT IT ONLY OCCURRED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND A VACUUM WAS ON THE VACUUM LINES.

NHTSA ODI 11364248

IN NORMAL CITY STREET, WITH MY FAMILY, IT'S SUDDENLY HAPPENED WITH NO ANY SPEED MAYBE BELOW THE 40KM,

NHTSA ODI 11364072

BRAKE FLUID FILLED THE BOOSTER AND RUINED MASTER CYLINDER.

NHTSA ODI 11361602

LWITH OUT WARNING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, LOST ALL BRAKING APPROACHING AN IINTERSECTION. WAS ABLE TO TURN CORNER & MAKE IT TO MY DRIVEWAY WITH OUT ANY BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI 11355280

THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON MY 2013 F-150, THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED BRAKE FLUID INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. 'I WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR I WAS LUCKY THERE WASN'T A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME OR I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. 'I PULLED INTO GAS STATION AND GOT DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID AND FILLED UP THE RESERVOIR, THE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED 98% FULL. 'I DROVE COUPLE BLOCKS HOME AND WENT TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN (I WAS LUCKY I DID NOT GO THRU THE GARAGE).

NHTSA ODI 11349782

2013 FORD F-150 RECALLED BY FORD IN 2016 UNDER RECALL 16V345000. VEHICLE HAD THE DEFECTIVE HITACHI MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED IN MAY OF 2017 BY JENKINS FORD IN FORT MEADE FLORIDA AT NO CHARGE. ON JULY 30TH 2020 WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, TRAVELLED TO THE FLOOR WITH MINIMAL BRAKING AND BRAKE FLUID LOW LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON WITH WARNING CHIME. REMAINED IN CONTROL TO STOP VEHICLE WITH NO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE TOWED TO BARTOW FORD, DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER SEAL ALLOWING COMPLETE BYPASS OF BRAKE FLUID INTO THE VACUUM BOOSTER. FORD REFUSED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR $1282 CLAIMING THEY HAD FIXED THIS PROBLEM IN 2017. UPON INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THAT THE DEFECTIVE HITACHI MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER IDENTICAL DEFECTIVE HITACHI MASTER CYLINDER. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO TRY TO CORRECT A DEFECT WITH THE IDENTICAL DEFECTIVE PART WHEN THE BRAKING OF A 6000 POUND VEHICLE IS AT STAKE! I JUST SAW ANOTHER RECALL JUST OUT FOR 2015 THRU 2018 F150 WITH THE SAME POORLY DESIGNED SINGLE SEAL MASTER CYLINDER. HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE THERE BEEN FOR THE REPLACEMENT MASTER CYLINDER ALSO FAILING?

NHTSA ODI 11348452

THE MASTER CYLINDER IS DUMPING THE FLUID FROM THE PRIMARY RESERVOIR INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKES. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE PREVIOUS RECALL (16S24), BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. MY VEHICLE IS A F150 PLATINUM WITH THE 3.5L ECO BOOST ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000 MILES. THE BRAKE LOSS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN A PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11341260