2015 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 100owner reports
- 53,810median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 24, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
100 of the 314 reports of brake wear on the 2015 F-150 describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (314 reports) · also: soft brake pedal, brake failure, brake light on, brake fluid leak
Tick what matches of 100 reports
Brake booster failure on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the brake booster (95 reports), the master cylinder (83 reports) and the vacuum pump (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The brake master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster.
All 14 recalls on the 2015 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the F-150
Brake master cylinder failure. Closed jul 5, 2020, led to recall 20V-332.
Master cylinder external leak. Closed jul 26, 2016, led to recall 16V-345.
Brake vacuum pump failure. Closed apr 28, 2016.
Brake vacuum pump failure. Closed oct 19, 2015.
Loss of brake power-assist. Closed may 9, 2008, led to recall 08V-208.
Parking brake failure. Closed sep 23, 1994, led to recall 94V-169.
Parking brake failure. Closed jul 27, 1993.
Loss of brake effectivenes. Closed oct 30, 1992, led to recall 92V-026.
Loss of brake effectivenes. Closed oct 31, 1991.
What owners paid
14 of the 100 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $900 to $1,068.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 42,778 and 70,000 miles, from the 95 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The vacuum pump failed and leaks oil on manifold, leading to burning oil on manifold. The vehicle has 75,000 miles [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
Filed May 19, 2026 · 75,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 100 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 159 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 108 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 79 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 71 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 70 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 70 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 68 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 63 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 60 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 53 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 48 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 40 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 40 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 35 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 26 reports