Ford Ranger Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 483 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Ranger across 19 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (80). The words owners use most often: “rear brakes” (7% of reports).
- 483service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 59mention a crash
- 22mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $620typical repair cost reported by owners
- 25%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.
- Rear brakes: mentioned in 35 of 483 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the Ford Ranger at $620, and half of them between $530 and $1,200.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 140 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 483 complaints, 59 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 22 an injury.
Ford Ranger service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ranger | 2 | 5% | 1,050 |
| 2023 Ranger | 1 | 6% | 1,640 |
| 2022 Ranger | 1 | 3% | 10,000 |
| 2021 Ranger | 1 | 1% | 4,500 |
| 2009 Ranger | 3 | 2% | 2,000 |
| 2008 Ranger | 2 | 1% | 22,000 |
| 2007 Ranger | 1 | 0% | 33,541 |
| 2006 Ranger | 2 | 1% | 44,000 |
| 2005 Ranger | 3 | 1% | 43,000 |
| 2004 Ranger | 19 | 5% | 30,000 |
| 2003 Ranger | 29 | 12% | 45,283 |
| 2002 Ranger | 20 | 6% | 26,491 |
| 2001 Ranger | 49 | 10% | 35,000 |
| 2000 Ranger | 65 | 10% | 51,000 |
| 1999 Ranger | 80 | 11% | 55,000 |
| 1998 Ranger | 54 | 9% | 66,500 |
| 1997 Ranger | 36 | 9% | 48,000 |
| 1996 Ranger | 60 | 15% | 161,200 |
| 1995 Ranger | 55 | 17% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control module
Model years: 2025
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 26, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 3, 2025.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control module:software
Model years: 2025
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The EBB module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S77.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The brakes and check engine warning lights were…
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while her son was operating the vehicle, the message "Brake Failure" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the ABS Module had failed, and a software update was needed. The…
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there were several warning lights illuminated with an abnormal beeping sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer was informed to open the doors, turn off and restart the…
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the brake pedal and accelerator pedal were too close together. While driving at various speeds, the contactâs foot slid off the brake pedal onto the accelerator pedal and the vehicle lunged forward. While reversing, the vehicle…
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V306000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was totaled. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Rangers have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 483 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the Ford Ranger. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Ranger service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Ranger?
Owners report a typical cost of $620 (half paid between $530 and $1,200), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Ranger?
The most frequent phrase is “rear brakes”, in 35 of 483 complaints.
Other Ford Ranger problems
- Air Bags problems (1,882)
- Power Train problems (745)
- Tires problems (701)
- Structure problems (668)
- Suspension problems (523)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (486)
- Electrical System problems (434)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (334)
See all Ford Ranger problems.