2016 Ford Expedition brake problems
52 of the 217 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Expedition name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 52 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2025: 1
Half of the 38 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 49,000 and 73,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
217 complaints in all about the 2016 Ford Expedition, 1 filed in 2025. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Expedition brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. While driving 40 MPH and making a turn, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The contact could not stop the vehicle. When the contact pumped the brake pedal, the vehicle stopped. Also, the brake fluid warning indicator illumined.
Brake fluid warning light came on while taking daughter to school, stopped at gas station to check. Was almost completely empty. No visible sign of leaks in engine compartment, under vehicle or on wheels/tires. Refilled. Warning light came on mile later. Stopped at another gas station, almost completely empty again.
Catastrophic brake failure during normal operation on a city street I was able to safely stop due to a low fluid light but by the time I was at a safe place to stop the brakes had almost completely failed. I had to be towed to dealer.
Wife was driving home from work when the "low brake fluid" warning light came on going 45 MPH. Less that one minute later when she went to stop and the brake pedal went to the floor and the vehicle would not slow down. Thankfully she was going up hill and able to get the vehicle to stop safely.
Whie driving 2016 Expedition el the light came on saying that the brake fluid was low shortly after the brakes went out completely ,pedal went to floor. Thankfully used the emergency brake and down shifting to get car stopped .was very fortunate. My mechanic checked car -no leaks of brake fluid even thou the system was completely empty.
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 22V150000 HighMar 11, 2022 · 195,864 vehicles
- 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.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2016 Ford Expedition?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 52 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (24% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the brakes on the 2016 Ford Expedition?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 22V150000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2016 Ford Expedition?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 60,000 miles; half of them between 49,000 and 73,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.