Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports17 fire reports5 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

38 reports

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495 miles · Jul 15, 2013

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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1995 FORD F250. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH LEAKING GAS LINE, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS. *SMD THE MASTER CYLINDER, AIR PUMP, BRAKE PADS, SERPENTINE BELT, BRAKE LINES, ALTERNATOR, CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR, BATTERY, HEADLIGHT CONTROL AND UPPER SWITCH WERE ALL REPLACED. ALSO, THE STARTER SOLENOID SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE OIL PAN, THAT WAS RUSTED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, DUE TO CRACKING.

NHTSA ODI #10524433

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2012

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Diesel

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1995 FORD F250. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING. *TGW WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED, THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT THE SHIFTER INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART. HE ALSO, STATED THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR WAS REPLACED. ALSO, OTHER REPAIRS INCLUDED, NEW HOSES, FAN CLUTCH, IDLER WHEEL, BRAKE PADS, RELAY ON GLOW PLUG, V-BELT, SEVERAL BATTERIES, THE LIFT PUMP AND THE SOLENOID ON THE STARTER. JB ALSO, THE O-RINGS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/31/12 THE DEALER FOUND PROBLEMS WITH THE ICP INJECTOR PRESS, EBA EXH BACK PRESS, MAP, MANIFOLD AND ABS. UPDATED 03/14/13. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10480485

148,000 miles · Jan 3, 2011

Service Brakes, HydraulicFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE HOOD, FENDER WALLS AND WIRES WERE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO WAIT UNTIL THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT CONTACTED HIM BEFORE ANY REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 12/19/2011 *LN

NHTSA ODI #10373965

300 miles · Feb 27, 2010

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

1998 FORD F150 TRUCK (BRAKES LOCKING WHENEVER FAST BRAKING APPLIED, FORD F250 SAME THING TRUCK WAS WRECKED LAST NIGHT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THANKS GOD NO ONE WAS KILLED ! 1997 FORD MUSTANG SAME PROBLEM ,BRAKES LOCK WHEN FAST PRESSURE IS APPLIED . HELP THESE VEHICLES ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY . OH YES AND ON THE F250 WE NOW HAVE …

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NHTSA ODI #10314812

1,200 miles · Sep 10, 2004

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKE FAILURE/ ON 4TH SET FRONT ROTERS,CALAPERS WITH 45,000 ON TRUCK WHEN JACK UP WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE ON BRAKEREAR BRAKES ONLY WORK TO STOP WHEELS AT VERY SLOW APPLACATION AT 12,000 MASTER CYLINDER,BUSTER,ABSVALVE BY PA FORD DELER.20, AT COURTESY FORD PT WASH/LAST TWO I DID,{KANG REPAIR}*AK

NHTSA ODI #10090739

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2002

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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DROVE TRUCK INTO THE GARAGE, BRAKES WORKED FINE. NEXT DAY STARTED ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT BRAKE WARNNG LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, NOTICED THAT I HAD ONLY ABOUT 10% OF NORMAL BRAKING POWER. BROUGHT TRUCK TO A SLOW STOP AND CALLED LOCAL DEALER. TRUCK WAS TOWED IN. DEALER REPLACED A VACUUM PUMP ASSEMBLY, FORD PART F4TZ-2A451-A . PART COST $308.55, LABOR $101.99. HAD THIS TRUCK BEEN IN ITS NORMAL SERVICE, TOWING A 9,000 POUND TRAVEL TRAILER THE RESULTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR DESIGN DEFECT. A BRAKE PART SHOULD NOT GO FROM 100% EFFECTIVE TO 10% WITH NO WARNING. DT

NHTSA ODI #769722

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755744

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE APPLING BRAKES PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL TO FLOOR BOARD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER, VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896806

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON NINE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #885164

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE WAS AT A STANDSTILL/ IDLING, AND SUDDENLY EXHAUST SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES, AND TURBO QUIT. ALSO, HAD TO GET REAR MAIN SEAL REPLACED TWICE. BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED, AND TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875015

Official recalls

06V286000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 1, 2006

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)

05V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 7, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)

96V064000 · Seats

Apr 16, 1996

THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE POWER LUMBAR FEATURE ON THE SEAT IS UNDERNEATH THE FRONT SEAT CUSHION SUPPORT WIRES. THE SUPPORT WIRES ON THE DRIVER SEAT CAN CONTACT AND DAMAGE THE INSULATION HARNESS RESULTING IN A HIGH RESISTANCE ELECTRICAL SHORT THROUGH THE SUPPORT WIRES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: OVER HEATING OF THE SUPPORT WIRES COULD RESULT, AND MELTING, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLE IGNTION OF THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEATS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. IF NO DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE DRIVER SEAT WIRE HARNESS WILL BE COVERED WITH A PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE TUBING, WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE AND THE HARNESS WILL BE REROUTED. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE WIRE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA05005 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Mar 22, 2005 · Closed Aug 2, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (21)

Electrical System

Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

PE96052 · Separated Front Suspension

Opened Aug 23, 1996 · Closed Jan 27, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REPORT THAT BOLTS WHICH RETAIN THE AXLE PIVOT BRACKET TO THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER CAN LOOSEN OR FAIL, CAUSING THE INBOARD END OR THE AXLE TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE.OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, HOWEVER THE COMPLAINT DATA SHOWS ONLY ONE INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY FOLLOWING AXLE SEPARATION, WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.IN ADDITION TO THE 225 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, THERE WERE 4,315 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND MEMBERS, AND 22 VEHICLES WERE REPLACED FOR GOODWILL.DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY FORD, UNDER REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT INDICATE THAT THE BOLTS WERE INADEQUATE FOR THE DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE VEHICLE.ALSO, BOLTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY TORQUED AT ONE OR MORE ASSEMBLY PLANTS.OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS WAX TREATMENT OF THE FRAME, CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM.INCREASED BOLT DIAMETER AND INCREASED TORQUE APPARENTLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.A SERVICE BULLETIN, 96-20-13, WAS ISSUED TO ADVISE DEALERS OF THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION.IN THESE DOCUMENTS, FORD ALSO REPORTED THAT A VEHICLE, EQUIPPED FOR SIMULTANEOUS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ALL PIVOT BRACKET FASTENERS, WAS EVALUATED RESULTING IN A SLIGHT VEHICLE PULL TO ONE SIDE WITH NO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ODI HAS NOT REPLICATED FORD'S VEHICLE TESTING, HOWEVER ANALYSIS OF THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION INDICATES THAT EVEN IF THE INBOARD END OF THEAXLE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME, THE OUTBOARD END WOULD REMAIN FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE LEAF SPRING WITH TWO U-BOLTS.THIS WOULD RETAIN THE WHEEL IN ITS APPROXIMATE POSITION, ALTHOUGH THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WOULD BE GREATLY IN ERROR.THEREFORE IT IS UNLIKELY THAT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOST.OWNERS REPROT MANY SIGNIFICANT NOISES IN THE SUSPENSION, SUCH AS CREAKING, GROANING, CLUNKING, AND SQUEAKING, PRIOR TO NOTICING ANY SEPARATION OF THE AXLE.THIS PROVIDES WARNING OF THE LOOSENING OF THE BOLTS TO THE DRIVER, AND SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.FORD HAS STATED THAT REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S BUMPER WARRANTY.COMPLAINTS ABOUT WARRANTY COVERAGE BY A FORD DEALER SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FORD, OR TO APPROPRIATE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.