2018 Ford F-150 Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the 2018 Ford F-150, 3% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 18,335 miles. The words owners use most often: “brake fluid” (37% of reports).
- 71service brakes complaints
- 18,335median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Brake fluid: mentioned in 26 of 71 complaints (37%)
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 22 of 71 complaints (31%)
- Pedal went: mentioned in 7 of 71 complaints (10%)
- Lost braking: mentioned in 5 of 71 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 27 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 71 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Ford F-150 service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-150 | 4 | 33% | — |
| 2025 F-150 | 18 | 17% | 4,000 |
| 2024 F-150 | 13 | 7% | — |
| 2023 F-150 | 39 | 9% | 10,307 |
| 2022 F-150 | 24 | 4% | 10,100 |
| 2021 F-150 | 53 | 5% | 8,000 |
| 2020 F-150 | 18 | 2% | 3,700 |
| 2019 F-150 | 20 | 1% | 4,700 |
| 2018 F-150 | 71 | 3% | 18,335 |
| 2017 F-150 | 85 | 6% | 10,000 |
| 2016 F-150 | 302 | 15% | 31,000 |
| 2015 F-150 | 299 | 17% | 50,000 |
| 2014 F-150 | 290 | 19% | 43,000 |
| 2013 F-150 | 321 | 11% | 52,000 |
| 2012 F-150 | 124 | 7% | 57,000 |
| 2011 F-150 | 162 | 7% | 57,390 |
| 2010 F-150 | 44 | 5% | 69,700 |
| 2009 F-150 | 25 | 8% | 88,000 |
| 2008 F-150 | 21 | 6% | 60,411 |
| 2007 F-150 | 16 | 3% | 78,542 |
| 2006 F-150 | 23 | 4% | 101,000 |
| 2005 F-150 | 21 | 2% | 85,087 |
| 2004 F-150 | 24 | 1% | 79,500 |
| 2003 F-150 | 10 | 2% | 77,250 |
| 2002 F-150 | 12 | 1% | 180,500 |
| 2001 F-150 | 15 | 1% | 164,000 |
| 2000 F-150 | 7 | 1% | 145,258 |
| 1999 F-150 | 7 | 1% | 50,000 |
| 1998 F-150 | 1 | 0% | 200,000 |
| 1997 F-150 | 8 | 0% | 144,000 |
| 1996 F-150 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 1995 F-150 | 2 | 0% | 100,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder; service brakes, hydraulic:power assist
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S37. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 22V-150.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder; service brakes, hydraulic:power assist
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Risk: A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While driving my brakes went from normal, to squishy, to total loss of brakes. Brake indicator light came on while in the squishy phase. After avoid collision by nothing other than sure luck I was able to slow the vehicle and use the emergency brake to stop. Once stopped I popped the hood and found…
My 2018 Ford F-150 is experiencing a dangerous loss of braking power, a soft/spongy brake pedal, and brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder into the brake booster. These are the exact symptoms and component failures described in Ford Recall Campaign 25S37 (NHTSA Campaign 25V236). However…
While engaging my brakes at a traffic light, suddenly the brake pedal went to the floor. Once I was able to safely park the vehicle (because there was no brake function), I inspected around the tires, brake fluid, and brake calipers. I noticed a puddling of brake fluid around the front passenger…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 Ford F-150s have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 71 owner complaints about service brakes for the 2018 Ford F-150 (3% of the 2,318 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Ford F-150 service brakes?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes problems start?
The median reported mileage is 18,335 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the 2018 Ford F-150?
The most frequent phrase is “brake fluid”, in 26 of 71 complaints, followed by “master cylinder” (22).
Other 2018 Ford F-150 problems
See all 2018 Ford F-150 problems or service brakes problems across all F-150 years.