2016 Ford Expedition Brakes
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
When merging on the highway in the rain the vehicle locked up on me and almost killed me. I could have been seriously injured I could not stop the car and it slid along the highway at high speeds . Luckily was able to get to the shoulder
Hello, on a number of occasions (while driving on the highway and attempting a stop at a light) our brake system has gone unresponsive. It almost caused a collision the other day when I was approaching a red light. What happens is I push the brake, and then it almost feels like there is no resistance whatsoever and it goes soft, then I have to push very hard all the way down (pedal to the metal) on the brake to get it to stop. Ford tells me my vehicle is not part of this recall for brake issues, but it is just a little suspcious that I have the same kind of car where there is a brake recall issue. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-recalls-defects/ford-suv-pickup-recall-brake-concerns-a9762212717/#:~:text=Ford%20Recalls%20SUVs%20and%20Trucks%20With%203.5L%20Engine%20Due%20to%20Brake%20Concerns&text=Ford%20Motor%20Company%20is%20recalling,leak%2C%20eventually%20risking%20a%20crash. Recall #22S11 (22V150000). Did Ford accidentally leave my vehicle off this recall, or has this issue just not been discovered by Ford yet and I am the unlucky first person reporting an issue? This is very dangerous. We take long road trips very frequently in this vehicle.
Multiple times while driving the vehicle I had trouble getting the brakes to work while driving and needing to slow down or coming to a complete stop. This almost resulted in an accident 2 times. We thought it was the current related to recall 22S11 which we had fixed already in July 2022. However, it is an issue that is not a reported recall at the moment. It is for the Hydrolic Control Unit. Ford will not replace this part at their cost and is forcing me to pay even though it is a major safety issue.
While driving, brake pedal suddenly went straight to the floor with no resistance and no braking. Took to Ford and found that brake master cylinder had failed catastrophically, just like F-series trucks which have been recalled. Vacuum booster was full of brake fluid and master cylinder empty. Incurred $1062.62 in repair costs and could have had deadly consequences if it hadn’t occurred in a parking lot at low speed. There were no warning indicators activated. Repair done by AutoNation Ford inTorrance, CA, and I have the parts in my possession. Insurance and law enforcement were not involved.
Brake fluid level light came on. Stopped at Autozone, added fluid, drove 2 miles to Walmart brakes get soft, barely got home and reservoir was empty again. No visible leaks on the ground. Vehicle only has 60K miles on it and this could have been catastrophic and deadly if we needed to stop quickly. Research shows that the NHTSA issued a recall for this problem on the 2016 F150. The Expedition is essentially the same vehicle chassis, with a different body. The chassis components are the same. Reason and logic therefore would conclude that the recall be extended the the Expedition , as well as any other shared chassis vehicles.
Low brake fluid light comes on then brake pedal go's to the floor. Brake fluid level checks low. After refilling brake fluid it doe's the same thing. Find no sign of any brake fluid leak.
I WAS DRIVING AND MY LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHT CAME ON AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND MY MASTER CYLINDER IS CRACKED
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE STOPPED. BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BACK PRESSURE. BRAKE FLUID HAD DRAINED INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED F150! REAR BRAKES WERE RUINED PRESUMABLY TO FRONT MASTER CYLINDER FAILING SILENTLY. *TR
RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF LOW BRAKE FLUID. SHORTLY AFTER, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAD TROUBLE STOPPING AND WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. DROVE TO LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE FLUID ADDED AND LOOK FOR LEAKS. NO LEAKS FOUND, FLUID TOPPED OFF, SEEMED TO BE FINE. WITHIN MINUTES, SAME 'LOW BRAKE FLUID' MESSAGE APPEARED. SOON AFTER, NO BRAKES AGAIN. AGAIN, NEARLY AN ACCIDENT. SEARCHED ONLINE, SAW THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING TO OTHERS AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2014-2016 F-150 THAT SHARES THE SAME PLATFORM AND IS BUILT IN THE SAME FACTORY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V-332. FORD'S REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 20S31). FORD WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR SINCE IT IS AT AN OUTSIDE SHOP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE I HAD TO COME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT I PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO SERVICE BRAKE AVAILABLE AND WENT THROUGH RED LIGHT AND NARROWLY AVOIDED HITTING A CAR THAT HAD RIGHT OF WAY. I ROLLED TO A STOP. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS SO UPSET THAT HE DROVE AROUND AND THREATENED ME WITH PHYSICAL VIOLENCE WHEN HE PROCEEDED TO BEAT ME WITH A STICK OF SOME SORT. I WAS ABLE TO DIFFUSE THE SITUATION WHEN I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAD A FRIEND TOW THE VEHICLE ON A TRAILER TO MY HOUSE WHERE I REFILLED THE RESERVOIR. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEIR WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKING FLUID ANYWHERE ON VEHICLE OR GROUND. I CHECKED VEHICLE AGAIN AFTER A ABOUT 8 HOURS AND RESERVOIR HAD EMPTIED DOWN TO BELOW THE LOW LEVEL. I ADDED THE REMAINING AMOUNT OF FLUID WHICH PUT THE RESERVOIR AT LINE JUST BELOW THE FULL LINE. AT THIS POINT I STOPPED LOOKING FOR LEAKS. I WAS PREPARING TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO MECHANIC WHEN I HEARD ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FORD F-150 BRAKE SAFETY RECALL NHTSA NUMBER 20V-332 AND FORD RECALL NUMBER 20S31. I IMPLORE YOU TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 2016 FORD EXPEDITION. IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. *TR
GOING HOME WHEN VEHICLE WAS MOVING, I NOTICED BRAKES WERE PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. EACH BRAKING EVENT REQUIRED 25% MORE TRAVEL THEN PREVIOUS BRAKE APPLICATION. MADE IT HOME SAFELY WITHIN 3 MILES. NO BRAKE FLUID ONCE I PARKED VEHICLE. DROVE SLOW AND USED THE BRAKE VERY LITTLE DURING THE TRIP. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT GOING FAST AND REALIZED SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO MOSTLY COST HOME. LATER THAT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALER. AFTER THEY INSPECTED, THEY REPORTED TO ME THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED THE BRAKE FLUID INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. REPAIR QUOTE WAS FOR $1500 FOR NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER.*DT*JB
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTO BRAKE BOOSTER RENDERING THE VEHICLE BRAKES USELESS. NOTE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE 2016 F-150 TRUCKS AS WELL AND THE 2 VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME PARTS FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING BACK TO THE OFFICE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS TAKING A LONG STROKE OF THE PEDAL TO APPLY THE BRAKES. UPON ARRIVAL BACK AT THE OFFICE THE RESERVOIR WAS INSPECTED AND THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO FLUID LEFT, AND NO VISIBLE LEAKS.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY NEARING SPEEDS OF 65MPH WHEN THE BREAK LIGHT CAME ON AND INDICATED LOW BREAK FLUID (PRIOR TO THE ALERT MY BREAKING SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING NORMAL) MY BREAKS COMPLETELY GAVE OUT, AND I DEPRESSED THE BREAK PETAL AS FAR AS IT COULD GO ONLY SLIGHTLY SLOWING MY VEHICLE AND RELIED ON MY PARKING BREAK TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER TOWING IT TO AN OFFICIAL FORD REPAIR SHOP, THE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED A FAILED MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH LEAKED BREAK FLUID INTO THE BREAK BOOSTER CAUSING THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO SUDDENLY FAIL PUTTING MY THREE YEAR OLD SONS LIFE IN DANGER AS WELL AS MINE
THE CHECK BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. REFILLED AND DRAINED IMMEDIATELY WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKS FROM SYSTEM. PEDAL COULD BE PRESSED TO FLOOR WITHOUT ACTIVATING BRAKES. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKING INTO BOOSTER.
BRAKING ABILITY WENT TO 0% WHILE DRIVING; ACCOMPANIED BY A "BRAKE FLUID IS LOW" DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHT (DASHBOARD LAMP BECAME LIT AFTER BRAKING APPLIED ). WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS 0% AVAILABLE TO SLOW/STOP THE VEHICLE (IN HEAVY TRAFFIC). DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CROWDED INTERSECTION AND A RED LIGHT TO MY VEHICLE TRAFFIC DIRECTION (RED LIGHT TO ME) BY APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE AND A SURVIVABLE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE TRAFFIC IN MY 4 (TRAVELING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION) LANES. UPON TURNING ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET NEAR MY HOME, I WAS ABLE TO CREEP (<5MPH) HOME. I ADDED DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID (FROM A NEWLY OPENED BOTTLE) AND FILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER TO JUST BELOW THE "MAX" LINE ON THE RESERVOIR. IN THE MORNING YOU COULDN'T GAUGE MY SHOCK, WHEN TO MY SURPRISE THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND DEVOID OF ANY BRAKE FLUID. NOT ONLY THAT! BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE ON THE GROUND. I HAVE A PAINTED DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE OF ANY KIND OF VEHICLE FLUID LEAKS. I WAS AGHAST! I HAVE SEVERAL OF MY NEIGHBORS COME OVER AS THEY SAW ME ATTENDING TO MY VEHICLE. WE ALL HAD FLASHLIGHTS AND WERE SCOURING THE VEHICLE LOOKING FOR ANY EVIDENCE OF BRAKE FLUID. THERE SIMPLY WAS NONE! I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY FORD DEALER AND AWAITED A DIAGNOSIS. TURNS OUT IT WAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER IN COMBINATION WITH A BRAKE BOOSTER THAT DRINKS BRAKE FLUID WHEN IT CAN GET IT. TOGETHER THEY ARE A POTENTIALLY LETHAL COMBINATION NOT TO MENTION A COSTLY PAIR TO REPAIR. IF THERE EVER WAS A REASON FOR A RECALL IT WOULD BE TO REMEDY THIS LIABILITY WAITING TO HAPPEN ONTO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I SIMPLY CANNOT FATHOM WHY NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AND HENCE THE REASON I AM COMPLAINING. I SEEK TO GET SOME SATISFACTION FROM FOMOCO ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE OF THEIR TRUSTING, BUYING PUBLIC BECOMES A TRAGEDY OF THIS SIMPLE FIX. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE! ACT NOW!
WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BREAK FLUID WARNING CAME ON AND THE BREAK PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE IS NO SIGN OF A LEAK EVEN THOUGH THE BREAK RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. AFTER FILLING IT BACK UP AND CHECKING FOR LEAKS, IT EMPTIED AGAIN. AFTER MORE RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITHOUT A RECALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED FROM THIS.
MY VEHICLES BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. FORTUNATELY I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS ON A HILL, AND ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AFTER COMING TO A STOP I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND IT WAS EMPTY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY LEAKS. I REFILLED THE BRAKE FLUID AND THE NEXT MORNING WAS EMPTY AGAIN. I CHECKED AGAIN TO FIND NO SIGN OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. I HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO GOSCH FORD TEMECULA FOR THEM TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE.
ISSUE WITH BRAKING SYSTEM. WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON INDICATING LOW BRAKE FLUID, AND WITHIN MILE, THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, AND THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE. WAS VERY FORTUNATE I WAS ON AN UNCROWDED CITY STREET AND WAS ABLE TO ROLL INTO A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO LEAKING IDENTIFIED ANYWHERE NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER OR BRAKES.
TL* 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. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE CYLINDER WAS FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,450. *BF *TR
I WAS TRAVELING AWAY FROM HOME AND WAS TOWING MY BOAT (ABOUT 4K WEIGHT). NO PERFORMANCE ISSUES OR WARNING LIGHTS ON THE TRIP THUS FAR. WHEN LEAVING THE HOTEL WE STAYED IN, I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED TOO. THE FLUID RESERVOIR, TOPPED OFF A WEEK BEFORE, WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY, YET NO FLUID WAS ON THE GROUND. GOT THE TRUCK TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. NEEDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER, SAYING THAT THE SEAL BETWEEN THOSE 2 PARTS FAILED AND THE FLUID QUICKLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE PREVIOUSLY SEALED MASTER CYLINDER INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH, I SEE A NHTSA RECALL ON F-150S THAT HAVE THE SAME MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER. I ALSO SEE AN INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY FOR '15 AND '16 F150S FOR BRAKE FAILURE. AND I SEE STORY UPON STORY OF EXPEDITION OWNERS ON THE EXPEDITION FORUM DESCRIBING THE SAME CRITICAL, POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I'M GRATEFUL THE TRUCK WAS STOPPED WHEN IT FAILED. I TRULY FEEL I WOULD NOT BE HERE DESCRIBING THE SITUATION TO YOU IF IT HAD FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY, ON A BOAT RAMP, OR EVEN IN A CITY. IT'S REMARKABLE TO ME THAT POSSIBLY A $2.00 SEAL (PART) COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE, OR THOSE ALSO IN THE TRUCK. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO ALLOW TRUCKS TO REMAIN ON THE ROAD WITH A CHEAP PART THAT CAN FAIL THAT EASILY, LIKELY CAUSING DEATH OR SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO SELF AND THOSE YOU RUN INTO. FORD CAN DO BETTER. NHTSA CAN DO BETTER. LET'S GET THIS RECALLED BEFORE OTHERS DIE UNNECESSARILY.
MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER TOTAL FAILURE. THANKFULLY THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY BEFORE HEADING OUT TO DINNER. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR TOTALLY EMPTY. NO SIGNS OF ANY LEAKS OR FLUID ON THE GROUND. HAD IT TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR THINKING IT WOULD BE COVERED BY THE FORD CPO POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS HE HAS SEEN A MASTER CYLINDER FAIL ON AN EXPEDITION. I AGREE WITH OTHER OWNERS THIS SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ISSUE FORD HAD WITH THE 2013-2014 YM F-150 PICK UP TRUCKS WITH THE 3.5L ECOBOOST ENGINE.
SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TRAVELING WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN A WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH "LOW BRAKE FLUID". I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT DEPRESSED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING ENGINE BRAKING AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, NO VISIBLE LEAKS AT ANY OF THE WHEELS OR IN THE ENGINE BAY. BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. HAD VEHICLE TAKEN TO CLOSEST FORD DEALER. WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DAMAGED MASTER CYLINDER THAT LEAKED INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED.
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. WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE BOOSTER, VALVE ASSEMBLY, AND VACUUM BRAKE SENSOR ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE MC WAS LEAKING INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. THIS IS THE EXACT ISSUE THAT THE 2013-2014 F150S (VERY SIMILAR PLATFORM) HAD A RECALL FOR. HTTPS://MEDIA.FORD.COM/CONTENT/FORDMEDIA/FNA/US/EN/NEWS/2016/05/25/FORD-MOTOR-COMPANY-ISSUES-ONE-SAFETY-RECALL-AND-ONE-SAFETY-COMPL.HTML SERVICE TECH STATED THE MC HAD LIKELY BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER WHICH INCLUDED A FULL BRAKE INSPECTION WHICH WAS GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH LESS THAN ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE.
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. CHECKED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR AND THERE WAS NO FLUID IN IT. CHECKED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FOR VISIBLE LEAKS AND DID NOT SEE ANY FLUID.
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.HIS DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD FAILED AND THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID WAS SYPHONED OUT AND IN TO THE ENGINE. VERY SCARY LITTLE WARNING JUST COMPLETE FAILURE
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The 2016 Ford Expedition has 29 Brakes complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.