10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
19 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
17 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,012 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Ford F-150:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #240

May 242021

F-150

  • miles
Car lost all braking within 5 miles of starting truck. THERE WAS RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH. No issues were experienced before parking the car the day before. Audible alert and panel "brake fluid low light" came only only 2 miles before total brake loss. Brake reservoir was empty. Refilled reservoir, pumped brakes until "normal" braking was experienced and the refilled brake reservoir. Ran the engine and drove 3 miles before all braking was lost again. Checked engine compartment and area surrounding brake reservoir and cylinder plus all hydraulic fittings around all four brakes and found all to be bone dry. No evidence of any leak anywhere. Mechanic believes the fluid is being consumed by the engine (bakes sense) and plans on examining to determine.

- Prescott, AZ, USA

problem #239

May 172021

F-150

  • miles
low brake fluid light is continuously going on and off. Parking brake also came on. There was a recall and brought to dealer and they said it was fixed. Happen shortly after, dealer said needed a battery. Replaced battery and light is still going on and off. The recall said front brakes wil go out with this issue. If this isn't fixed it will cause a crash.

- Roscoe, IL, USA

problem #238

May 012021

F-150

  • 49,000 miles
No brakes. Took to Ford. Does not fall under current recall of NHTSA campaign number 20V-332. However my Ford dealer is charging me to replace the same exact parts under the recall. Brake booster pump and brake master cylinder. Exactly what happened. No brakes. Brake fluid low. Added more brake fluid, not leaking under truck. Emergency brake still works. Had it towed to Ford 2 weeks ago. They are not returning my call. They did tell me they had to order brake booster pump, brake master cylinder and flush the brake lines. $3000 repair. Odd that this is the same repair under the recall.

- Kihei, HI, USA

problem #237

May 012021

F-150

  • 44,500 miles
My 2016 F150 3.5L eco boost has the same issue as the recall 20S31. Out of nowhere my brakes went out. Dash said brake fluid low. No signs of leaks even after refilling. It was dumping into the brake booster. VIN does not show up under the affected vehicles though.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #236

Apr 072021

F-150

  • miles
I have had no problems but ask to change de brake master cylinder...but inhave had no leaks and nothing shows up in the dash. At the dealer they said they just carry the brake master cylinder. They dont have the brake booster. Am I safe" why asked to change a part when they dont have the othwr parte just in case"

- Winter Garden, FL, USA

problem #235

Feb 012021

F-150

  • 110,000 miles
Brake pedal is dropping to the floor while the engine is on. This has not happened before. I'm afraid the brake will fail at any moment while on the road.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #234

Aug 012020

F-150

  • miles
I went to the Ford dealership & they're the ones who told me about the recall on the vehicle after I had purchased it. They made up excuses as to why they couldn't fix the problem, according to them they didn't have parts to resolve the recall issue & to come back another day. Not to worry that my vehicle is fine. I've noticed my truck is malfunctioning when I try to slow down & starts shaking making it hard to break on time. I now put in the VIN number to their website so I can schedule a service & the website tells me there's not a recall on my vehicle. I uploaded a image of what it says so there's evidence of their negligence. Not only did they sell me a truck with mechanical issues guaranteeing me that the truck was in phenomenal conditions but now they're also refusing to fix it.

- Monticello, GA, USA

problem #233

Jan 242021

F-150

  • 62,000 miles
There was a recall for the master brake cylinder and I brought the truck in to have the recall work done in October of 2020. The brake fluid low light is coming back on.

- Roscoe, IL, USA

problem #232

Jan 152021

F-150

  • 70,000 miles
I was driving straight on route 5 in enfield ct, when I needed to apply the brakes there was no reaction from the vehicle. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor, I had to go up over a curb into grass to avoid other vehicles and get the vehicle to slow/stop without any brakes available. I almost crashed into a building.

- Enfield, CT, USA

problem #231

Jan 112021

F-150

  • miles
Brakes won't hold fluid or stop

- Pelham, NC, USA

problem #230

Nov 272020

F-150

  • 51,000 miles
Sudden brake failure. Warning message came on that I was low on brake fluid while driving on a divided highway between towns. After hitting ok, red brake light warning remained on. Within a minute I lost most braking ability. I pulled over but saw no leaks under the truck. Walked to a Napa dealer and bought brake fluid and filled reservoir. Got some brake ability back but with in a few minutes, brake pedel went to the floor and very minimal braking ability. Still no leak found under the truck. I can not use the truck with limited brakes. Ford recall #20S31 should include my 2016 model but for some reason does not- even though model, make, year and symptoms the same as outlined in the recall. I was lucky not to have been invoved in a high speed accident.

- Punta Gorda, FL, USA

problem #229

Oct 262020

F-150

  • 41,120 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and the low brake fluid warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was loose. The contact pulled over and check the brake fluid reservoir and became aware that the brake fluid level was low. The contact reached out to autonation Ford bradenton (5325 14th street West, bradenton, fl 34207 (941) 275-1267) and inquired what brake fluid was recommended for use in the vehicle. The brake fluid was purchased and the reservoir was topped off. The contact re-entered and restarted the vehicle, depressed the brake pedal and the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact re-checked the brake reservoir and became aware that the reservoir was empty. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence and then had the vehicle towed to the same dealer. The contact was informed that the brake fluid leaked from the brake master cylinder into the brake booster. The contact was quoted a cost for the repairs and was also informed that the warranty on the vehicle had expired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer offered to assist financially with the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 41,120.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #228

Oct 282020

F-150

  • 60,000 miles
While driving on Suburban highway the low brake fluid warning alerted and the brake warning light illuminated. The brake pedal travel increased and eventually lost almost all braking effect. The vehicle was parked and towed to a repair facility where it was determined that the master cylinder failed and leaked into the booster. A check of the VIN indicated that it was not included in the existing recall for this same problem.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

problem #227

Oct 112020

F-150

  • 84,000 miles
Brakes went out while driving, seems to be part of an issue Ford is aware of.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #226

Aug 182020

F-150

  • 60,000 miles
Master cylinder leaked brake fluid into the brake booster causing loss of stopping ability. This occured one morning as I arrived at work. The low brake fluid warning came on and I planned to get more fluid during my lunch break. When I attempted to leave in my vehicle for lunch I immediatley notice a total lack of braking ability and narrowly missed backing into a nearby building. I had to have my truck towed to a local shop for repair. The repair included a new master cylinder and booster. I paid $225 for the tow truck and nearly $700 for the repairs. Luckily this did not occur while driving at highway speeds and cause an accident.

- Donaldson, AR, USA

problem #225

Sep 302020

F-150

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while in a parking lot, the brake pedal was depressed to shift from park to drive, after releasing the pedal the vehicle was coasting in the parking lot, the brake was depressed again and travelled to the floorboard. The contact stated he had to swerve from colliding with another vehicle. The parking brake was applied to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was shifted to park and turned off. The brake fluid level and parking brake warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that he exited the vehicle and upon opening the hood discovered that the brake fluid reservoir was empty. The contact stated that he parked the vehicle and went to autozone for brake fluid. The brake fluid was added to the vehicle, the vehicle was restarted, the brake pedal was depressed several times until the brakes was operational. The contact drove to his residence, where the vehicle was parked with the parking brake applied. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while stopping on a hill. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V332000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to remedy the failure was not available. The vehicle was towed to the dealer fritts Ford (8000 auto dr, riverside, ca 92504) where it was awaiting diagnosis and repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #224

Sep 272020

F-150

  • 74,000 miles
Complete brake failure. Entered vehicle in morning and pedal went to floor. Popped hood and checked fluid (fine). Got back in vehicle and attempted to move it a few feet - pumped brakes - no stopping force - after 2 - 3 pumps the brake fluid light came on - stopped engine and rechecked fluid (had dropped about 1 inch - was not below min) - big pool of brake fluid under rh front wheel. Had (day before) just completed long trip through mountains (steep canyons) - feel lucky to be alive!

- Danville, CA, USA

problem #223

Sep 082020

F-150

  • 101,000 miles
On 9/6/2020, while driving approx 60mph on hwy 128 between jal and carlsbad nm, the brake pedal on my 2016 Ford F150 lariat went to the floor and I had no brakes. A message on my dash came up saying to add brake fluid and I did. I took my truck to the nearest dealership, carslbad Ford Lincoln. The master cylinder and booster had a recall and was replaced, but the brake fluid that leaked into the engine was never addressed by the service and repair center. As a result, I now have over $6,000 worth of collateral damage to my engine that the dealership is refusing to fix because I'm being blamed for the damages for adding brake fluid to the resevoir. It's beyond obvious that the only way any brake fluid leaked into the engine was due to the damaged manufacturer part(s), the master cylinder and the booster, that were not only damaged but in recall status - recall# 20S31. The GM and service manager of the carslbad Ford Lincoln dealership have the power, the support and backing of a behemoth. They have the full support of the great american auto giant Ford Motor Company and I have 100% nothing and nobody! there has to be some law or some thing to protect your everyday innocent tax paying american citizen from being taken advantage of by people who work for these powerful entites and/or companies. I'm writing this complaint on 9/27 and they've had my truck since 9/12; just over two weeks. I'm issuing this complaint because I literally cannot pay for the $6,212 worth of repairs that Ford Motor Co is accountable and responsible for. Also, with (2) blown turbo chargers, tube asy, converter asy, sensors etc which all need to be replaced; my truck is not safe for me to drive and other citizens communting with or without their families on american highways shouldn't be subjected to this unsafe vehicle being on the road.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #222

Sep 242020

F-150

  • 74,222 miles
Losing break fluid, no visible areas underneath truck indicating busted line. Attempted to fill line with up to 64oz, fluid kept disappearing. Maintenance has been completed by certified Ford dealer for entirety of the trucks life. I have read online similar issues with recalls for same type of vehicle.

- Espanola, NM, USA

problem #221

Sep 112020

F-150

  • 81,208 miles
Brake master cylinder spontaneously developed a leak causing significantly reduced braking while the vehicle was in motion. The pedal became very soft and went almost to the floorboard. This is the very problem described in recall 20V-332, but my manufacturing date is 9 days past the cut-off window of August 1, 2016. There are probably more trucks out there like mine waiting to fail.

- Sugar Hill, GA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »