Ford Recalls F-150 Trucks for Faulty Brake Master Cylinders

By Chris Chase

May 25, 2016

Summary

Multiple reports of brake failures prompted NHTSA investigation

June 3, 2016: Edited to add Transport Canada recall link

Ford has recalled nearly 44,000 F-150 pickup trucks in Canada to replace faulty brake master cylinders.

The announcement comes from Ford itself, following an investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into 33 reports of complete brake failures in some trucks sold as 2013 and 2014 models.

NHTSA investigators, in speaking to technicians at garages that fixed the runaway trucks, discovered that brake fluid had leaked from the reservoir into the brake booster. Ford says the defect only affects the front brakes, but as the fronts do the bulk of the work in stopping a vehicle, the effect is much like having no braking power at all.

All affected trucks have the 3.5L "EcoBoost" turbocharged V6 engine and were built at the company's Dearborn, MI and Kansas City, MO factories. Dealers are being instructed to replace the master cylinder in all affected trucks, and will also replace the brake booster if they find evidence of leakage.

Meet the Author

As a child, Chris spent most of his time playing with toy cars in his parents’ basement or making car sounds while riding his bicycle. Now he's an award-winning Algonquin College Journalism grad who has been playing with real cars that make their own noises since the early 2000s.