1999 Ford F-150 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES AS A RESULT OF CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ

THREE BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND LEAKING IN LAST 2 YEARS INCIDENT DATE IS AN ESTIMATE. *TR

FORTUNATELY, I WAS UNDER 1/2 MILE FROM MY HOUSE. MY ROAD DEAD ENDS ONTO ANOTHER. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AS I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN. I WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND INTO THE DRAINAGE DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS 4 WHEEL DRIVE, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE DITCH AND RETURN HOME. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE THAT GOES FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR WAS RUSTED AND FAILED. THERE WAS LITTLE DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH, JUST A FENDER THAT NEEDS REPLACED. I AM ANAL WITH REGARD TO MY VEHICLES CONDITION AND MAINTENANCE. TO HAVE A FAILURE LIKE THIS ON A WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST BUILT TRUCK IS ABSURD AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! MY BROTHERS 1999 HONDA, MY STEP SON'S 1991 NISSAN STANZA (RECENTLY SOLD) A 1993 GEO PRIZM (I.E. TOYOTA COROLLA!!!) RECENTLY SOLD HAD ZERO RUST ON ANY BRAKE FITTING, BRAKE LINE OR FUEL LINE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD FEEL SPONGY AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER ALSO REPAIRED THE LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE BUT NOT THE AIR THAT WAS BEING RELEASED AND CAUSING THE BRAKES TO NOT PERFORM PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 204,000.

1999 FORD F150 BRAKE FAILURE DO TO BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

FRONT BRAKES:: GRADUAL UNKNOWN BRAKING DEGRADATION OVER TIME UNTIL IT GOT TO THE POINT I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES LIKE AS IF A BRAKE LINE WAS SUCKING AIR OR THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS GOING BAD, IN ORDER TO STOP. UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT BOTH DUST SHIELDS ON THE FRONT BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY RUSTED AND THE RUST PIECES WERE FALLING BETWEEN THE FRONT INBOARD BRAKE PADS AND REAR ROTOR SURFACES CAUSING EXTREME CONTAMINATION OF THE BACKSIDE OF BOTH ROTORS TO THE POINT THAT LESS THAN 50% CONTACT SURFACE WAS LEFT. SINCE THE INBOARD BRAKE PADS DO MORE STOPPING THAN THE OUTSIDE BRAKE PADS IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TO ADD TO THE DANGER THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM DOES ABOUT 75% OF A VEHICLES TOTAL BRAKING. AND, IF IT HAPPENS ON A LONG DOWN HILL GRADE WITH ALLOT OF BRAKING, IT CAN CAUSE THE FRONT BRAKE FLUID TO BOIL INSIDE THE CALIPERS GIVING SOMEONE ONE HELL-OF-A WILD RIDE. IN FACT, ONE DAY I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES WITHOUT HAVING TIME TO PUMP THEM AND JUST ABOUT HIT A KID ON A BIKE THAT DARTED OUT FROM BETWEEN 2 CARS. THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED I HAD BETTER DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT FORD HAS BEEN LOVING IT BECAUSE NON-MECHANICAL PEOPLE WILL NEVER KNOW OR FIND OUT AND FORD WILL JUST RIP PEOPLE OFF FOR A MAJOR BRAKE OVERHAUL IN THE TUNE OF $600.00 AND THROW EVERYTHING AWAY SO NOBODY WILL EVER KNOW. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GRADUAL DEGRADATION OF BRAKING. THE FIX IS TO REPLACE BOTH DUST SHIELDS (FORD P/N= 2L3Z - 2K004 - AA) "THE PRIMARY CAUSE" OF THE PROBLEM. I TOOK MANY PICTURES WITH MY DIGITAL CAMERA OF ALL THE COMPONENTS AND CAN E-MAIL THEM TO NHTSA . I ALSO HAVE ALL THE FRONT BRAKE COMPONENTS; 2 ROTORS, 4 BRAKE PADS, 2 DUST SHIELDS. THE ROTORS ARE VERY HEAVY BUT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PACK EVERYTHING UP AND SEND IT TO NHTSA IF YOU PAY THE SHIPPING. *TR

3 SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO ROTTED/RUSTED BRAKE LINES. LUCKILY THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. IF I WAS GOING FASTER THIS COULD HAVE HAD DEADLY CONSEQUENCES! SINCE THEN, ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH STAINLESS STEEL LINE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. EVERY PROBLEM THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS TRUCK (AND THERE WERE MANY) CAN BE TRACED BACK TO CATASTROPHIC METAL FATIGUE! THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS MANUFACTURERS CONTINUED USAGE OF SUBSTANDARD AND/OR POORLY DESIGNED MATERIALS!!!! *TR

WAS STOPPING ON HIGHWAY, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. VEHICLE STOPPED, UPON INSPECTION FOUND REAR BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING. I REPLACED THE FAILED BRAKE LINE. *TR

1999 FORD F-159 ABS LIGHT ON AND RED BRAKE LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY WITH CHANGE IN BRAKE "FEEL". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F150. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES AND NOTICED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

MY BRAKES FAILED ON MY 1999 FORD F150 THAT ONLY HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS AMAZED TO DISCOVER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A HEAVILY CORRODED STEEL BRAKE LINE. I AM HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY THE NHTSA DOESN'T REQUIRE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS TO USE STAINLESS STEEL FOR BRAKE LINES. AFTER TALKING WITH A FEW MECHANICS, IT SEEMS THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON IN VEHICLES WITH 100,000+ MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I'M AFRAID TO THINK WHAT KIND OF ACCIDENTS CAN OCCUR WITH THIS TYPE OF PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F150. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ABS MODULE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PART DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER DISCONTINUING THE COMPONENT. THE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO SEARCH THE SALVAGE YARD FOR A USED PART, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERATIVE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000. UPDATED 11/12/08 *CN UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

I WENT TO DRIVE MY 1999 FORD F-150 LAST NIGHT, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. NO PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS WERE EVIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, IT IS EVIDENT THE BRAKE LINE ALONG THE FRAME TO THE REAR WHEELS BURST DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT ALL OF THE OTHER BRAKE AND FUEL LINES ON THE TRUCK ARE ELECTROPLATED, AND MAINTAIN A SILVERY NON CORRODED FINISH. HOWEVER THIS LINE ALONG THE FRAME IS OBVIOUSLY UNPLATED, FLAKING CHIPS OF RUSTED STEEL, RESULTING IN FAILURE. WHETHER IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, OR MANUFACTURING OVERSIGHT, THE UNPLATED BRAKE LINE COULD HAVE HAD SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

I WAS ON A TRIP IN ALABAMA TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-85 ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2008. I STOPPED FOR A BREAK JUST NORTH OF MONTGOMERY. WHEN I GOT ON THE ON RAMP TO I-85, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY WENT FLAT. I REPLACED THE WHEEL WITH THE SPARE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE WHEEL HAD BEEN RIPPED OPEN. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER IN MONTGOMERY WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT A BRAKE CALIPER BOLT HAD COME OUT AND CAUSED THE BRAKE CALIPER TO RIP THE WHEEL APART. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ON THE ON RAMP RATHER THAN TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE SAME CALIPER BOLT HAS COME OUT. THE LAST TIME WAS IN ONEONTA ALA AND WAS REPLACED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IN ONEONTA. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE. *TR

FRONT ANTILOCK SENSOR DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES AN ADDITIONAL 15 FOOT ROLL BEFORE STOPPING. IT NEARLY CAUSED ME MY LIFE. AND IF I WAS HIT BY THAT DUMPTRUCK IT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE I JUST MADE A MISTAKE. I GOT THE NEW SENSOR INSTALLED AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN UPGRADE AND NEEDED BOTH SENSORS INSTALLED TO AVOID THIS. I'M VERY HAPPY I DIDN'T GO TO A LOCAL GARAGE. THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE BAD ONE AND I WOULD HAVE ANOTHER SHOT OF HITTING THAT DUMPTRUCK. *TR

1999 FORD F-150 WHILE ON A SHORT TRIP OUT OF TOWN I EXPERIENCE ALMOST COMPLETE, SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. UPON SIDE OF THE ROAD INSPECTION, I FOUND LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED WITH BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING ON THE PAVEMENT. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH. HE REPLACED THE BROKEN LEFT REAR AND THE BADLY RUSTED RIGHT REAR. *JB

PULLING A 10 FOOT BOX TRAILER WELL WITHIN GVW LIMIT...MAIN BRAKE LINE FAILURE, LINE ALONG THE FRAME RAIL APPEARS TO BE RUSTED WAY BEYOND WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED FOR THE VEHICLE YEAR, BRAKE LINE BURST WHEN BRAKES APPLIED...THROUGH INSPECTION REVEALED ALL METAL PARTS NOT ALUMINUM ARE RUSTED, APPEARS METAL IS INFERIOR QUALITY BUT FACTORY...LINES TO BE REPLACED. *JB

1999 FORD F150 PICKUP. STEEL BRAKE TUBING RUSTED. WHILE STOPPED BRAKE PETAL WENT TO FLOOR. LOST MOST OF THE BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND FROM A RUST BREAK NEAR THE JUNCTION OF TWO TUBES ON THE FRAME RAIL. BOTH BRAKE TUBES AND THE CONNECTOR ARE BADLY RUSTED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RESIDENCE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A LOCAL MECHANIC CAME TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINES GOING TO THE LEFT REAR BRAKES. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE FUEL LINES WERE RUSTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES THERE WAS A METAL TO METAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER, CABLE GUIDE AND ADJUSTER LEVER WERE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE DRUM CABLE WAS TOO SHORT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE BRAKES TO ADJUST. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON YEARLY STATE INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ROTORS HAD TOO MUCH POROSITY DURING THE CASTING PROCESS. AS A RESULT, THE ROTORS MUST BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS THIS YEAR'S INSPECTION; HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18,2005, WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH THE ROANOKE, VA AREA, I DESCENDED DOWN A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY. AS I NEARED THE BOTTOM OF THE STEEP INCLINE, I NOTICED A BACKUP OF TRAFFIC IN BOTH LANES. SLOWING UP AS I NEARED THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP TO ALLOW TWO VEHICLES FROM THE LEFT LANE TO MERGE IN FRONT OF IT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP UNEXPECTEDLY THEREBY ALERTING ME TO INSTANTLY STOP MY VEHICLE TO AVOID AN IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY (INSTANTLY), THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SLOW UP AND "SHUTTER" OR A "PULSATING" MOTION OF SLOWING DOWN. THE TRUCK CAME CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT DID NOT STOP!!!! THIS SHUTTERING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS THE ABS SYSTEM BECOMING ACTIVATED. BECAUSE OF THIS ACTIVATION, MY VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP IN TIME AND THUS IMPACTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WITH MINOR DAMAGE. AFTER I EVENTUALLY STOPPED, I NOTICED I DID LEAVE SKID MARKS ON THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND NO PRECIPITATION, PAVEMENT WAS DRY. I FEEL THAT UNDER NORMAL HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM, I WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID THIS MISHAP. I DID HAVE ENOUGH TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP TO AVOID THE MISHAP. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS ABS SYSTEM HAS ENGAGED ITSELF PRIOR TO MY STOPPING DUE TO STOPPED VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE YET TO HAVE AN EVALUATION DONE ON THE TRUCK TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A DEFECT SINCE THE ABS SYSTEM, WITHOUT QUESTION, DOES ENGAGE AS IT SHOULD. MY CONCERN IS THAT ABS DOES NOT LOCK UP THE BRAKES AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO, HOWEVER, THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE FROM FULLY STOPPING WHEN NECESSARY. I DON'T THINK THIS WAS PART OF IT'S INTENDED DESIGN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS IN EITHER OF MY MISHAPS, HOWEVER, THESE WERE SLOW SPEEDS. *JB

BRAKES DON'T WORK WHEN I BACK UP OR WHEN GOING SLOW FORWARD. *NM

DT: THE BRAKES LINES UNDER THE HOOD RUSTED, AND THEY BLEW OUT. TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE. IT JUST LET GO, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 25,2005. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THEY WERE STEEL LINES . THEY BLEW OUT RIGHT BESIDE THE BOX THAT CONTROLLED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERS , AND THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO CORROSION. ALSO, THEY ALSO SAY THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKE LINES.*AK

1999 F-150 FRONT BRAKES LOCKING UP/FAILURE TO RELEASE PROPERLY, BRAKES DRAGGING