2017 Ford F-150 brake problems
116 of the 1,442 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford F-150 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 3 recalls. 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 database9 of the 116 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 29
Half of the 57 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 7,000 and 59,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,442 complaints in all about the 2017 Ford F-150, 29 filed in 2026. 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 F-150 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.
There has always been a "brake light" sign turn on inside dashboard, and the brakes do not brake while it is in motion. When I step on the brake pad, the pad goes all the way in but does not stop my vehicle at all. It works sometimes, but my stopping is not guaranteed every time.
The vehicle was bought brand new in corpus christ, tx back in april 2017. August 26, 2017, I was on my way to colorado and realize my break pedal would go all the way to the floor and suddenly lose braking ability simultaneously, which would be a disaster if an emergency brake is necessary in some situation.
On 08/07/2017 while traveling approximately 55 miles per hour on highway 281 in san antonio, tx my 2017 Ford F-150, v8 super crew, 4X4 ftx experienced complete brake failure. My brakes went to the floor with no brake activation and I had to swerve to the left two lanes to avoid impacting the vehicles in front of me.
The brakes went completely out. They replaced the master cylinder, upon getting it back the brakes failed to stop adequately, and it was returned at that moment. They "bled the brakes" again and returned it. There was only 1 work order for this. The truck sat for a week and not the brakes are soft and inconsistent.
I was driving and when I need to make a hard stop, the brake pedal went to the floor. I had to use the emergency brake to help slow me down. While there is some braking, if you are stopped and push hard on the brakes, the pedal goes to the floor
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 25V236000 HighApr 11, 2025 · 123,611 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
- 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.
- 20V332000 HighJun 8, 2020 · 292,311 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2017 F-150 pickup trucks equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 546 complaints
- engine problems 382 complaints
- electrical problems 134 complaints
- body and structure problems 110 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2017 Ford F-150?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 116 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (8% of everything owners filed about it), and 3 recalls are 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 2017 Ford F-150?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 25V236000, 22V150000, 20V332000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2017 Ford F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 27,000 miles; half of them between 7,000 and 59,000. 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.