Problems · by component
1999 Ford F-250 service brakes, hydraulic problems
121 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford F-250 cite service brakes, hydraulic, 15% of all 830 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
121
15% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY SANK TO THE FLOOR. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED AN EXPANDING POOL OF HYDRAULIC FLUID FORMING UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK, JUST FORWARD OF THE REAR, DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE HAD CHAFFED A HOLE ON THE FRAME RAIL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKES. HAD THIS BRAKE LINE FAILED AT ANY OTHER TIME, RATHER JUST BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DIRE CONSEQUENCES.”
“BRAKE LINE FAILURE! THE PORTION OF THE BRAKE LINE BETWEEN THE FRAME RAIL AND THE FUEL TANK IS SUBJECT TO EXTREME RUSTING AS DEBRIS IS NOT EASILY CLEARED FROM THIS AREA. (SAND, MUD, WATER, ECT...) THIS AREA BECOMES WEAK, AND THE RUSTING CAUSED A RUPTURE WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. THE FRONT BRAKES/REAR BRAKES DO NOT HAVE SEPARATE FLUID RESERVOIRS. THIS CAUSED COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE. I HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPOT! THANK GOD THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT RATHER THAN DRIVING 5 BOY SCOUTS AT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. *TR”
“APPROACHING INTERSECTION APPLIED BRAKES AND BRAKE PRESSURE FAILED. REAR IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PUSHED THEM INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION AFTER ACCIDENT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE WAS HANGING AND LEAKING FLUID. HAD TRUCK TOWED BACK TO MY SHOP AND REMOVED ALL 3 LINES TO HAVE REPLACED WITH STAINLESS BRAIDED LINES. UPON INTERSECTION OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINES THE CRIMP CLAMPS LOCATED UNDER THE RUBBER COVERING ON RUBBER LINE BEFORE IT TURNS INTO STEEL AND GOES INTO CALIPER. SPOKE WITH BRAKE LINE BUILDER AND STATES THAT IT IS AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE. REPLACE FRONT AND REAR LINES ON VEHICLE. THE RUBBER STORES ALL THE MOISTURE,SALT,SAND AND OTHER ELEMENTS. I WAS TICKETED WITH CARELESS DRIVING FROM REAR ENDING THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE LINE FOR VISUAL INSPECTION. *TR”
“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR VEHICLE, SHE WAS STOPPING AT INTERSECTION (4 WAY) AND WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP AT THIS INTERSECTION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR CAUSING TO HER TO RUN THE STOP SIGN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND THE DEFECT, THE BRAKE LINE ON DRIVER'S SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH BRAKE LINE. *TR”
“DROVE TRUCK WITH NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEM, WHEN ARRIVING HOME PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. LATER WENT TO MOVE TRUCK AND OBSERVED PUDDLE OF FLUID IN DRIVEWAY WHERE TRUCK WAS PARKED. CRAWLED UNDER TRUCK BEFORE MOVING IT AND DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM LINE THAT RUNS FROM FRONT OF TRUCK TO REAR. BRAKE LINE HAD SEVERE EVIDENCE OF RUST. REPLACED STEEL BRAKE LINE THAT RAN FROM JUNCTION AT FRONT TO JUNCTION AT REAR AXLE. OLD LINE THAT WAS REMOVED IS AVAILABLE. *TR”
“THE MAIN FORE-AFT BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH WHERE IT FOLLOWS THE FRAME RAILS ON MY 1999 FORD SUPERDUTY PICKUP. AS A RESULT, THE LINE FAILED, AND I LOST ALL BRAKING CAPABILITIES. LUCKILY, THIS HAPPENED AT HOME, AND NO INJURY OR CRASH OCCURED. *JB”
Showing 6 of 121 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.