NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
10 reportsClear category filter21,000 miles · Nov 12, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE BUILDING SUPPLY WITH THE TRUCK. I WAS TOWING A SMALL UTILITY TRAILER. AS I APPROACHED A FAIRLY SHARP CURVE I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK BRAKES WERE GONE WITHOUT WARNING. THE TRAILER BRAKES LOCKED AND SLOWED THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO GET SAFELY THROUGH THE TURN. I RELIED ON T…
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I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE BUILDING SUPPLY WITH THE TRUCK. I WAS TOWING A SMALL UTILITY TRAILER. AS I APPROACHED A FAIRLY SHARP CURVE I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK BRAKES WERE GONE WITHOUT WARNING. THE TRAILER BRAKES LOCKED AND SLOWED THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO GET SAFELY THROUGH THE TURN. I RELIED ON THE TRAILER BRAKES AND THE TRANSMISSION TO COMPLETE THE TRIP AND GET THE VEHICLE SAFELY HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME I CALLED THE DEALER AND HAD THE TRUCK TOWED THERE FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO BADLY WORN BRAKE PADS CAUSING THE CALIPERS TO OVEREXTEND AND A CALIPER PISTON SEAL HAD FAILED. PADS ON ALL 4 WHEELS WERE BADLY WORN. IT WAS THE LEFT REAR CALIPER THAT FAILED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE BRAKES CAN BE THIS BADLY WORN AFTER ONLY 21,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10485463
55,000 miles · Apr 17, 2012
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering
SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT HIGHWAY AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AS IF THE TRUCK SHUT OFF, BUT IT WAS STILL RUNNING. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10455488
40,000 miles · Aug 22, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED HE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RECURRING PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 10/5/11 *CN UPDATED 10/24/11
NHTSA ODI #10420916
115,000 miles · Feb 6, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
EVERYTIME I GET ON THE BRAKES HARD THE STEERING QUITS, CANNOT STEER 2008 F250, DIESEL, HARD ON BRAKES STEERING LOCKS IN DIRECTION YOU ARE GOING, HAPPENS EVERYTIME WITHOUT FAIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10380906
10,292 miles · Aug 17, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
IN APRIL 2010, MY 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY'S RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FROZE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO HEAT UP AND BEGIN SMOKING. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN APRIL, BUT IN JULY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE (SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM THE WHEEL ON THE HIGHWAY). UPON INSPECTION, THE…
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IN APRIL 2010, MY 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY'S RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FROZE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO HEAT UP AND BEGIN SMOKING. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN APRIL, BUT IN JULY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE (SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM THE WHEEL ON THE HIGHWAY). UPON INSPECTION, THE FORD MECHANIC FOUND ALL FOUR BRAKES ON THE TRUCK SEIZED, INCLUDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE AGAIN. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE SEES THE PROBLEM ALL THE TIME ON THE SUPER DUTY TRUCKS, BUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE DESIGN ON ITS TRUCKS. SO FAR, THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK HAVE SEIZED TWICE WITHIN A THREE MONTH SPAN, AND THE DEALERSHIP MORE OR LESS ASSURED ME IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN EXPENSIVE BRAKE OVERHAUL EVERY TIME IT OCCURS. THIS FAULTY DESIGN NOT ONLY PRESENTS A FINANCIAL BURDEN BECAUSE OF COSTLY REPAIRS, BUT ALSO PUTS MY LIFE, AND MY FAMILY'S LIVES, AT RISK EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10350028
33,000 miles · Aug 3, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F250 SD. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING IN HER DRIVEWAY AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS IT FELL MUCH FARTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F250 SD. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING IN HER DRIVEWAY AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS IT FELL MUCH FARTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A FRACTURED CALIPER AND PISTONS. THE CALIPER AND PISTONS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.
NHTSA ODI #10347015
30,000 miles · Mar 23, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering
2008 FORD F250 CREW! WHERE DO I BEGIN? I'VE HAD THIS TRUCK IN MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT! MOST RECENTLY FOR POWER STEERING ISSUES! I'M HAVING IT WORKED ON FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY! ALONG WITH ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFTS, WHICH IT HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST TWO OTHER TIMES FOR! THE POWER STEERING DOESN'T WORK AT LOWER …
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2008 FORD F250 CREW! WHERE DO I BEGIN? I'VE HAD THIS TRUCK IN MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT! MOST RECENTLY FOR POWER STEERING ISSUES! I'M HAVING IT WORKED ON FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY! ALONG WITH ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFTS, WHICH IT HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST TWO OTHER TIMES FOR! THE POWER STEERING DOESN'T WORK AT LOWER SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO MANEUVER AROUND OR EVEN WHEN TRYING TO TURN AROUND! YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO CRANK AS HARD AS YOU CAN TO GET IT TO TURN AND BEING A FAIRLY FIT 28 YEAR OLD CONSTRUCTION WORKER I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK THAT HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL ON A TRUCK THAT HAS POWER STEERING! I JUST ABOUT RAMMED A LIGHT POLE WHILE OUT PLOWING AT ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOUR WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD RIDING IN THE BACK! THIS OF COURSE WAS BEFORE I HAD IT IN THE LAST TIME AND IT IS A LITTLE BETTER BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING THIS TRUCK TRYING TO GET ONTO A ROADWAY WITH ANY OF MY FOUR CHILDREN WHEN IT DECIDES TO ACT UP AND GET HIT BY A MACK TRUCK! I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE WITH THIS AND HOPE TO HEAR BACK! THANK YOU!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262866
1,000 miles · Aug 25, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE APPLYING FOOT BRAKE PEDAL, FOOT ALSO DEPRESSES GAS PEDAL. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN HAVING TO STOP QUICKLY. CONDITION INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE. CONDITION IS BAD WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND MUCH MORE SO WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SELLING DEALER AND ANOTHER DEALER IN TEXAS SAID THERE IS NO A…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE APPLYING FOOT BRAKE PEDAL, FOOT ALSO DEPRESSES GAS PEDAL. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN HAVING TO STOP QUICKLY. CONDITION INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE. CONDITION IS BAD WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND MUCH MORE SO WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SELLING DEALER AND ANOTHER DEALER IN TEXAS SAID THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT. IN MY OPINION THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239694
10 miles · Feb 29, 2008
Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR CONDITIONING FAILED. ALL OF THE GAUGES DISPLAYED ZERO. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE, BUT NOTHING WOULD DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STUTTER AND THEN THE GAUGES WOULD…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR CONDITIONING FAILED. ALL OF THE GAUGES DISPLAYED ZERO. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE, BUT NOTHING WOULD DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STUTTER AND THEN THE GAUGES WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS FAULTY AND WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.
NHTSA ODI #10219699
4,700 miles · Jan 14, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES FOR UPCOMING STOP LIGHT AND REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE REAREND OF THE TRUCK TO HOP VIOLENTLY. TOOK TRUCK TO FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214752
NHTSA investigations
1PE13014 · Alleged Loss Of Steering
Opened May 7, 2013 · Closed Jan 31, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
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