Symptom explainer · every vehicle on the site
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
Most reported: 2018 Ram 2500 with 2,331 reports. Across the 881 model years on this site with at least five, owners filed 31,994.
- 31,994owner reports
- 881model years affected
- 37,000median miles
- 3,144involved a crash
- 232involved a fire
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.
Narrower explainers: ABS Light On (6,199)
Which cars report it most · By model · When it happens · What it is and what to do
The 25 vehicles with the most reports
Each row is one model year. The bar is its count of brake wear reports; the share is how much of that car's complaint file this problem takes up. Bigger sellers draw more reports, so read the share alongside the count. Red dots mark crashes and fires in these reports; amber marks a recall on the same system.
- 12018 Ram 250025 crashes1 firerecall2,33190% of its complaints44k mi
- 22018 Ram 35009 crashes1 firerecall66383% of its complaints39k mi
- 32017 Ram 25007 crashes1 firerecall51174% of its complaints49k mi
- 42015 Chevrolet Silverado 150026 crashesrecall38132% of its complaints60k mi
- 52014 Ford F-15011 crashesrecall34123% of its complaints50k mi
- 62016 Ford F-15024 crashesrecall33917% of its complaints38k mi
- 72023 Fisker Ocean9 crashes1 firerecall32337% of its complaints6k mi
- 82015 Ford F-15010 crashesrecall31418% of its complaints51k mi
- 92014 Chevrolet Silverado 150024 crashes1 firerecall28520% of its complaints72k mi
- 102016 Ram 150010 crashes2 fires27818% of its complaints75k mi
- 112016 Chevrolet Silverado 150028 crashesrecall26633% of its complaints50k mi
- 122018 Nissan Rogue12 crashes26440% of its complaints14k mi
- 132018 Honda Accord6 crashes25514% of its complaints17k mi
- 142015 GMC Sierra 150015 crashes2 firesrecall22932% of its complaints57k mi
- 152017 Chevrolet Silverado 150023 crashesrecall22126% of its complaints45k mi
- 162024 Hyundai Palisade10 crashes22157% of its complaints9k mi
- 172017 Ford Edge12 crashesrecall20815% of its complaints81k mi
- 182015 Chevrolet Tahoe16 crashesrecall19630% of its complaints78k mi
- 192018 Honda CR-V13 crashes1969% of its complaints16k mi
- 202019 Chevrolet Silverado 150011 crashesrecall19218% of its complaints9k mi
- 212017 Ram 35004 crashesrecall19061% of its complaints40k mi
- 222021 Tesla Model Y18 crashesrecall18117% of its complaints5k mi
- 232014 Ram 15007 crashes17610% of its complaints91k mi
- 242017 Honda CR-V13 crashes17310% of its complaints20k mi
- 252014 Jeep Cherokee7 crashes1 fire1687% of its complaints50k mi
Where it dominates the complaint file
Model years with at least 25 reports, ranked by the share of all their complaints that describe brake wear. That takes most of the sales-volume effect out (small sellers still swing more).
- 12018 Ram 250025 crashes1 firerecall2,33190% of its complaints44k mi
- 22018 Ram 35009 crashes1 firerecall66383% of its complaints39k mi
- 32015 Nissan Leaf7 crashesrecall8578% of its complaints33k mi
- 42017 Ram 25007 crashes1 firerecall51174% of its complaints49k mi
- 52025 Chevrolet Traverse3 crashes11263% of its complaints5k mi
- 62024 BMW X54 crashesrecall9062% of its complaints6k mi
- 72017 Ram 35004 crashesrecall19061% of its complaints40k mi
- 82024 Hyundai Palisade10 crashes22157% of its complaints9k mi
- 92015 Toyota Prius11 crashes9256% of its complaints95k mi
- 102014 Toyota Prius14 crashes9653% of its complaints106k mi
By model, every year together
The 12 models with the most reports. Each chip is a model year; the darker chip is its worst year.
- Ram 25002,992
- Ford F-1501,415
- Ram 15001,169
- Ram 3500943
- Honda Accord721
- Honda CR-V709
- Ford Edge620
- Nissan Rogue608
When it happens
14,342 of the 31,994 reports state a mileage. The middle half fall between 13,511 and 67,000 miles; the median is 37,000. Each column is a 20,000-mile band.
Reports by model year
Every report of brake wear, grouped by the model year of the car. 3,144 involved a crash and 232 a fire. 1,789 people were hurt.
What owners describe
Share of the 31,994 reports that use each phrase. One report can use several.
What got replaced
Reports that name the part, across every vehicle.
What it is and what to do
What is usually involved
The parts owners name here are pads and rotors, the calipers that squeeze them, the master cylinder, the power brake booster and the ABS module. Which of those a report names depends on the symptom, and the tick sheet on each vehicle page shows how often owners of that car describe each one.
What the warning light is telling you
Federal standard 135 sets out when the brake warning indicator must come on. The list includes a big loss of brake fluid or pressure, such as a drop in the master cylinder reservoir below the manufacturer's safe level, an electrical failure in the antilock system, the parking brake being applied, and on some cars worn-out linings. So a red brake light with the parking brake fully released is the car telling you something is wrong with the hydraulics or the ABS. It isn't a service reminder.
When to stop driving
A pedal that sinks, feels spongy or needs much more travel than usual is a stop-driving problem. So is a red brake warning light that stays on with the parking brake off, or a pull hard to one side when braking. Get the car inspected before driving it any farther than you have to. The Car Care Council recommends a brake inspection every year even when nothing seems wrong, and sooner when something does.
What to tell the mechanic
Say whether the problem happens at low speed, at highway speed, or both, and whether it's worse when the brakes are hot. Describe the pedal: firm, soft, pulsing, or sinking under steady pressure. Mention which warning lights came on and when the brakes were last serviced. If you've had brake fluid changed, say where, since Delphi's technical team notes that on cars with electronically controlled ABS a bleed may need a diagnostic tool to cycle the ABS valves and purge the air.
Recalls, bulletins and warranty
Check your VIN at NHTSA's recall page before paying for a brake repair. Recall repairs are free. Pads and rotors wear with use, so a warranty claim for them has to show a defect rather than ordinary wear. When a model has a known brake issue, the manufacturer's service bulletins about it have to be filed with NHTSA, and you can read them in the same search. Keep every brake receipt with the date and mileage.
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints on the 1,040 vehicle model years that have a page here, grouped by the word patterns described on the method page. A vehicle needs five matching reports to be counted in this ranking. Checked Sep 27, 2026. All problem explainers.