Brake Fluid Level Low!!
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 596
Likes: 11
Brake Fluid Level Low!!
First issue with a recently purchased(02/2019) 2016 F150 Supercrew 3.5L.
My wife called and said that the Warning light came on that the fluid level was low and the peddle got soft. Thankfully we're in a rural area without traffic. She was almost to our daughters and limped there.
I had her pop the hood and check the reservoir. It was well below the MIN line.
I grabbed a quart from NAPA and headed over. Filled to over the MIN(2/3 of a quart) and pumped and the peddle got firm again. Swapped trucks and took the back roads home about 15 miles. About halfway the warning light came back on and the pedal got increasingly soft. When I got home and put the truck on the garage, I checked the reservoir again and it was back below the MIN. line.
No visible leaks in the garage or in the engine compartment.
From my quick searching it appears there may be an issue with the Master leaking into the Booster.
Is there a TSB/Recall for this issue? If not, has anyone done the replacement themselves? Any issues? Recommended source for parts(factory or Rock Auto)? What all needs to be replaced, ie; Master Cylinder, Booster, Anything else?
Thanks!
My wife called and said that the Warning light came on that the fluid level was low and the peddle got soft. Thankfully we're in a rural area without traffic. She was almost to our daughters and limped there.
I had her pop the hood and check the reservoir. It was well below the MIN line.
I grabbed a quart from NAPA and headed over. Filled to over the MIN(2/3 of a quart) and pumped and the peddle got firm again. Swapped trucks and took the back roads home about 15 miles. About halfway the warning light came back on and the pedal got increasingly soft. When I got home and put the truck on the garage, I checked the reservoir again and it was back below the MIN. line.
No visible leaks in the garage or in the engine compartment.
From my quick searching it appears there may be an issue with the Master leaking into the Booster.
Is there a TSB/Recall for this issue? If not, has anyone done the replacement themselves? Any issues? Recommended source for parts(factory or Rock Auto)? What all needs to be replaced, ie; Master Cylinder, Booster, Anything else?
Thanks!
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
First issue with a recently purchased(02/2019) 2016 F150 Supercrew 3.5L.
My wife called and said that the Warning light came on that the fluid level was low and the peddle got soft. Thankfully we're in a rural area without traffic. She was almost to our daughters and limped there.
I had her pop the hood and check the reservoir. It was well below the MIN line.
I grabbed a quart from NAPA and headed over. Filled to over the MIN(2/3 of a quart) and pumped and the peddle got firm again. Swapped trucks and took the back roads home about 15 miles. About halfway the warning light came back on and the pedal got increasingly soft. When I got home and put the truck on the garage, I checked the reservoir again and it was back below the MIN. line.
No visible leaks in the garage or in the engine compartment.
From my quick searching it appears there may be an issue with the Master leaking into the Booster.
Is there a TSB/Recall for this issue? If not, has anyone done the replacement themselves? Any issues? Recommended source for parts(factory or Rock Auto)? What all needs to be replaced, ie; Master Cylinder, Booster, Anything else?
Thanks!
My wife called and said that the Warning light came on that the fluid level was low and the peddle got soft. Thankfully we're in a rural area without traffic. She was almost to our daughters and limped there.
I had her pop the hood and check the reservoir. It was well below the MIN line.
I grabbed a quart from NAPA and headed over. Filled to over the MIN(2/3 of a quart) and pumped and the peddle got firm again. Swapped trucks and took the back roads home about 15 miles. About halfway the warning light came back on and the pedal got increasingly soft. When I got home and put the truck on the garage, I checked the reservoir again and it was back below the MIN. line.
No visible leaks in the garage or in the engine compartment.
From my quick searching it appears there may be an issue with the Master leaking into the Booster.
Is there a TSB/Recall for this issue? If not, has anyone done the replacement themselves? Any issues? Recommended source for parts(factory or Rock Auto)? What all needs to be replaced, ie; Master Cylinder, Booster, Anything else?
Thanks!
With that being said and since you’re still under warranty, I’m sure your dealer will take care of this ASAP.
Any and all parts on any vehicle can fail at anytime and some without warning.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,279
Likes: 12
If there is aTSB.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Only TSB out there is for the 13/14 MY trucks. I will say however the symptoms of the OP match the TSB. Hopefully the OP has a warranty.
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 596
Likes: 11
The 3yr/36k has expired. Still have the 5yr powertrain, but highly unlikely it covers brake system.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 72
My 2017 had a similar issue that actually caused brake failure....not too long after I bought it. The brake pedal would go all the way to the floor, intermittently, when trying to stop.
It was the intermittent part that was most unsettling when it first occurred on my drive home from work....
The dealership fixed it....but it wasn't the warm and fuzzy I was expecting from my first ever Ford F150.
On the bright side, the brakes have worked just fine since it was fixed.
It was the intermittent part that was most unsettling when it first occurred on my drive home from work....
The dealership fixed it....but it wasn't the warm and fuzzy I was expecting from my first ever Ford F150.
On the bright side, the brakes have worked just fine since it was fixed.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 596
Likes: 11
Dealership quoted me about $1100 to R&R the Booster and Master Cyl. The tough part is getting it towed to the dealership. I'm out of town during the week for business M-F in June, which means my wife has to deal with it.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 244
Likes: 2
Get a AAA membership, drive the truck down the road and park it. Call AAA
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
For that price I would go elsewhere that's so outrageous! I did mine on my 14 and was less than 500 for everything including hoses and vacuum pump. I had everything done in 2 hours flat. Very easy job to complete.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
And they wonder why they are called stealerships....
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
Take it to an outside shop that you trust for the repair.
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 596
Likes: 11
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,818
Likes: 3
7/13/2019 2016 F-150 with 3.5 Ecoboost: Same issue as original posting except after refilling reservoir and pumping pedal to obtain reasonably firm pedal, I started the truck and let it idle a few minutes. After climbing in and getting ready to go, I tested the pedal and it sank almost to the floor and the "low level" warning again appeared. Popped the hood and the reservoir was again below the MIN level. Empty after less than 5 minutes and not even moving the vehicle. Obviously the fluid is being sucked into the vacuum booster as there is no visual evidence of leakage anywhere along the brake lines or components.
This is a deadly serious issue with lethal implications. If this had happened 20 minutes later you would not be reading this post as I would, in all likelihood, have been trying to negotiate a 7% downhill grade on a narrow, mountain road finding myself suddenly without brakes. The sloth-like response of Ford Motor Company to dangerous issues such as this is more maddening than the defect itself. Having been a Ford man for over 50 years, I am really considering a change of brands.
This is a deadly serious issue with lethal implications. If this had happened 20 minutes later you would not be reading this post as I would, in all likelihood, have been trying to negotiate a 7% downhill grade on a narrow, mountain road finding myself suddenly without brakes. The sloth-like response of Ford Motor Company to dangerous issues such as this is more maddening than the defect itself. Having been a Ford man for over 50 years, I am really considering a change of brands.
Last edited by aerocolorado; Jul 15, 2019 at 09:58 AM. Reason: Additional text
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
7/13/2019 2016 F-150 with 3.5 Ecoboost: Same issue as original posting except after refilling reservoir and pumping pedal to obtain reasonably firm pedal, I started the truck and let it idle a few minutes. After climbing in and getting ready to go, I tested the pedal and it sank almost to the floor and the "low level" warning again appeared. Popped the hood and the reservoir was again below the MIN level. Empty after less than 5 minutes and not even moving the vehicle. Obviously the fluid is being sucked into the vacuum booster as there is no visual evidence of leakage anywhere along the brake lines or components.
This is a deadly serious issue with lethal implications. If this had happened 20 minutes later you would not be reading this post as I would, in all likelihood, have been trying to negotiate a 7% downhill grade on a narrow, mountain road finding myself suddenly without brakes. The sloth-like response of Ford Motor Company to dangerous issues such as this is more maddening than the defect itself. Having been a Ford man for over 50 years, I am really considering a change of brands.
This is a deadly serious issue with lethal implications. If this had happened 20 minutes later you would not be reading this post as I would, in all likelihood, have been trying to negotiate a 7% downhill grade on a narrow, mountain road finding myself suddenly without brakes. The sloth-like response of Ford Motor Company to dangerous issues such as this is more maddening than the defect itself. Having been a Ford man for over 50 years, I am really considering a change of brands.