2016 Ford Expedition

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTO BRAKE BOOSTER RENDERING THE VEHICLE BRAKES USELESS. NOTE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE 2016 F-150 TRUCKS AS WELL AND THE 2 VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME PARTS FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING BACK TO THE OFFICE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS TAKING A LONG STROKE OF THE PEDAL TO APPLY THE BRAKES. UPON ARRIVAL BACK AT THE OFFICE THE RESERVOIR WAS INSPECTED AND THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO FLUID LEFT, AND NO VISIBLE LEAKS.

RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF LOW BRAKE FLUID. SHORTLY AFTER, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAD TROUBLE STOPPING AND WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. DROVE TO LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE FLUID ADDED AND LOOK FOR LEAKS. NO LEAKS FOUND, FLUID TOPPED OFF, SEEMED TO BE FINE. WITHIN MINUTES, SAME 'LOW BRAKE FLUID' MESSAGE APPEARED. SOON AFTER, NO BRAKES AGAIN. AGAIN, NEARLY AN ACCIDENT. SEARCHED ONLINE, SAW THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING TO OTHERS AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2014-2016 F-150 THAT SHARES THE SAME PLATFORM AND IS BUILT IN THE SAME FACTORY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V-332. FORD'S REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 20S31). FORD WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR SINCE IT IS AT AN OUTSIDE SHOP. *TR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE I HAD TO COME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT I PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO SERVICE BRAKE AVAILABLE AND WENT THROUGH RED LIGHT AND NARROWLY AVOIDED HITTING A CAR THAT HAD RIGHT OF WAY. I ROLLED TO A STOP. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS SO UPSET THAT HE DROVE AROUND AND THREATENED ME WITH PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WHEN HE PROCEEDED TO BEAT ME WITH A STICK OF SOME SORT. I WAS ABLE TO DIFFUSE THE SITUATION WHEN I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAD A FRIEND TOW THE VEHICLE ON A TRAILER TO MY HOUSE WHERE I REFILLED THE RESERVOIR. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEIR WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKING FLUID ANYWHERE ON VEHICLE OR GROUND. I CHECKED VEHICLE AGAIN AFTER A ABOUT 8 HOURS AND RESERVOIR HAD EMPTIED DOWN TO BELOW THE LOW LEVEL. I ADDED THE REMAINING AMOUNT OF FLUID WHICH PUT THE RESERVOIR AT LINE JUST BELOW THE FULL LINE. AT THIS POINT I STOPPED LOOKING FOR LEAKS. I WAS PREPARING TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO MECHANIC WHEN I HEARD ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FORD F-150 BRAKE SAFETY RECALL NHTSA NUMBER 20V-332 AND FORD RECALL NUMBER 20S31. I IMPLORE YOU TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 2016 FORD EXPEDITION. IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. *TR

GOING HOME WHEN VEHICLE WAS MOVING, I NOTICED BRAKES WERE PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. EACH BRAKING EVENT REQUIRED 25% MORE TRAVEL THEN PREVIOUS BRAKE APPLICATION. MADE IT HOME SAFELY WITHIN 3 MILES. NO BRAKE FLUID ONCE I PARKED VEHICLE. DROVE SLOW AND USED THE BRAKE VERY LITTLE DURING THE TRIP. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT GOING FAST AND REALIZED SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO MOSTLY COST HOME. LATER THAT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALER. AFTER THEY INSPECTED, THEY REPORTED TO ME THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED THE BRAKE FLUID INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. REPAIR QUOTE WAS FOR $1500 FOR NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER.*DT*JB

BRAKING ABILITY WENT TO 0% WHILE DRIVING; ACCOMPANIED BY A "BRAKE FLUID IS LOW" DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHT (DASHBOARD LAMP BECAME LIT AFTER BRAKING APPLIED ). WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS 0% AVAILABLE TO SLOW/STOP THE VEHICLE (IN HEAVY TRAFFIC). DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CROWDED INTERSECTION AND A RED LIGHT TO MY VEHICLE TRAFFIC DIRECTION (RED LIGHT TO ME) BY APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE AND A SURVIVABLE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE TRAFFIC IN MY 4 (TRAVELING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION) LANES. UPON TURNING ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET NEAR MY HOME, I WAS ABLE TO CREEP (<5MPH) HOME. I ADDED DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID (FROM A NEWLY OPENED BOTTLE) AND FILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER TO JUST BELOW THE "MAX" LINE ON THE RESERVOIR. IN THE MORNING YOU COULDN'T GAUGE MY SHOCK, WHEN TO MY SURPRISE THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND DEVOID OF ANY BRAKE FLUID. NOT ONLY THAT! BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE ON THE GROUND. I HAVE A PAINTED DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE OF ANY KIND OF VEHICLE FLUID LEAKS. I WAS AGHAST! I HAVE SEVERAL OF MY NEIGHBORS COME OVER AS THEY SAW ME ATTENDING TO MY VEHICLE. WE ALL HAD FLASHLIGHTS AND WERE SCOURING THE VEHICLE LOOKING FOR ANY EVIDENCE OF BRAKE FLUID. THERE SIMPLY WAS NONE! I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY FORD DEALER AND AWAITED A DIAGNOSIS. TURNS OUT IT WAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER IN COMBINATION WITH A BRAKE BOOSTER THAT DRINKS BRAKE FLUID WHEN IT CAN GET IT. TOGETHER THEY ARE A POTENTIALLY LETHAL COMBINATION NOT TO MENTION A COSTLY PAIR TO REPAIR. IF THERE EVER WAS A REASON FOR A RECALL IT WOULD BE TO REMEDY THIS LIABILITY WAITING TO HAPPEN ONTO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I SIMPLY CANNOT FATHOM WHY NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AND HENCE THE REASON I AM COMPLAINING. I SEEK TO GET SOME SATISFACTION FROM FOMOCO ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE OF THEIR TRUSTING, BUYING PUBLIC BECOMES A TRAGEDY OF THIS SIMPLE FIX. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE! ACT NOW!

WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BREAK FLUID WARNING CAME ON AND THE BREAK PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE IS NO SIGN OF A LEAK EVEN THOUGH THE BREAK RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. AFTER FILLING IT BACK UP AND CHECKING FOR LEAKS, IT EMPTIED AGAIN. AFTER MORE RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITHOUT A RECALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED FROM THIS.

MY VEHICLES BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. FORTUNATELY I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS ON A HILL, AND ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AFTER COMING TO A STOP I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND IT WAS EMPTY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY LEAKS. I REFILLED THE BRAKE FLUID AND THE NEXT MORNING WAS EMPTY AGAIN. I CHECKED AGAIN TO FIND NO SIGN OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO GOSCH FORD TEMECULA FOR THEM TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE.

I WAS TRAVELING AWAY FROM HOME AND WAS TOWING MY BOAT (ABOUT 4K WEIGHT). NO PERFORMANCE ISSUES OR WARNING LIGHTS ON THE TRIP THUS FAR. WHEN LEAVING THE HOTEL WE STAYED IN, I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED TOO. THE FLUID RESERVOIR, TOPPED OFF A WEEK BEFORE, WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY, YET NO FLUID WAS ON THE GROUND. GOT THE TRUCK TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. NEEDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER, SAYING THAT THE SEAL BETWEEN THOSE 2 PARTS FAILED AND THE FLUID QUICKLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE PREVIOUSLY SEALED MASTER CYLINDER INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH, I SEE A NHTSA RECALL ON F-150S THAT HAVE THE SAME MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER. I ALSO SEE AN INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY FOR '15 AND '16 F150S FOR BRAKE FAILURE. AND I SEE STORY UPON STORY OF EXPEDITION OWNERS ON THE EXPEDITION FORUM DESCRIBING THE SAME CRITICAL, POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I'M GRATEFUL THE TRUCK WAS STOPPED WHEN IT FAILED. I TRULY FEEL I WOULD NOT BE HERE DESCRIBING THE SITUATION TO YOU IF IT HAD FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY, ON A BOAT RAMP, OR EVEN IN A CITY. IT'S REMARKABLE TO ME THAT POSSIBLY A $2.00 SEAL (PART) COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE, OR THOSE ALSO IN THE TRUCK. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ALLOW TRUCKS TO REMAIN ON THE ROAD WITH A CHEAP PART THAT CAN FAIL THAT EASILY, LIKELY CAUSING DEATH OR SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO SELF AND THOSE YOU RUN INTO. FORD CAN DO BETTER. NHTSA CAN DO BETTER. LET'S GET THIS RECALLED BEFORE OTHERS DIE UNNECESSARILY.