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NHTSA Probes Ford F150 Brake Failure

Power assist can fail, consumers complain

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

January 15, 2008
Federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are investigating the 2005 model year Ford F150 pickup because of consumer reports of brake failure.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) at NHTSA has received 10 reports “that allege loss of brake power assist” on the 2005 F150 on trucks equipped with the5.4 liter V8 engine.

The complaints describe the loss of brake power assist "suddenly and without warning," according to NHTSA.

NHTSA reports on its Web Site that the failure “resulted from a brake booster assembly vacuum hose becoming detached from the intake manifold.”

The agency said it is not aware any crashes or injuries because of the brake failure but “one complainant did allege that loss of brake power-assist resulted in a loss of vehicle control that prevented the operator from obeying a stop sign.”

The driver “was unable to stop the vehicle using the service brakes and the vehicle continued its forward motion until the automatic transmission gear selector was shifted into the park position,” according to NHTSA.

ODI is now trying to determine the “scope and safety consequences of the alleged defect.”

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