2015 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 315owner reports
- 51,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 10involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
315 of the 1,718 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 F-150.
Narrower sheets: Brake pedal feels soft or spongy (152 reports) · Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails (100 reports) · Brakes failed to stop the car (89 reports) · Brake warning light stays on (71 reports) · Brake fluid leaks or a brake line bursts (37 reports)
Tick what matches of 315 reports
Brake wear 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: 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the master cylinder (121 reports), the booster (95 reports), the pads and rotors (13 reports) and the ABS module (11 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
18 of the 315 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $900 to $1,337.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 36,200 and 71,000 miles, from the 275 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00.
Some 2013-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00.
SOME 2015-2016 F-150 VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF THROTTLE PEDAL RESPONSE, ILLUMINATED WRENCH, HILL DESCENT, AIRBAG, ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM(ABS) AND/OR ADVANCED TRAC WARNING INDICATORS AND/OR P2122, P2123, P2124, P2125, P2127, P2128 AND/OR ...
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
“gears dropped fast on the highway, rpm's went up because my foot was on gas because I was on the highway, rear end locked up and I skidded going from 60MPH to 30 in a second.”
Filed Sep 5, 2025
“Brakes became completely unoperational and brake lights on dashboard lit up at same time. Luckily it happened coming out of my garage and not while on road or highway.”
Filed Jun 1, 2024
“Al darmarcha mi camioneta no dio marcha creei que la vateria estaba baja pero no dio marcha solo encendieron las luces del tablero brake system y Electric park brake no damarcha se bloqueo por completo”
Filed Dec 8, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 10 of 315 reports involved a crash and 8 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 73 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 70 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 70 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 69 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