FORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Ford F-150 brakes problems
severe 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
4crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 32 brakes complaints filed for the 2007 Ford F-150, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 32 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a cascade of brake failures on the 2007 F-150. Front rotors warp prematurely—as early as 9,000 to 12,000 miles—with minimal brake pad wear, pointing to a design flaw rather than owner abuse. Machining only delays the problem; rotors warp again within 20,000 to 33,000 miles. One owner had rotors fail twice, the second time after grinding them thinner. Dealerships refuse warranty coverage and Ford never issued a recall, though one shop replaced them with heavier-duty aftermarket rotors at $1,400 with no recurrence.
The brake and accelerator pedals sit dangerously close. Drivers report their right foot lands on both pedals when braking at low speeds, causing unintended acceleration—sometimes multiple times in one day. This has led to near-crashes running through stop signs and lights, nearly hitting pedestrians. One dealership manager acknowledged replicating the problem intermittently but stated Ford refuses to recognize it.
Brake system losses of pressure are also reported: pedals fade to the floor during normal stops, and in at least three cases, this caused collisions when vehicles failed to slow. One owner's brake pedal broke under extreme pressure during an emergency stop that resulted in a crash. Ford replaced the master cylinder and bled the system in one case without fixing the problem, then claimed the condition was normal. An ABS control module failure was also documented, costing over $1,000 to repair.
Same Ford F-150 brakes reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Front rotor warping
Front brake rotors warp prematurely, sometimes repeatedly. Owners report rotors warping as early as 9,000–12,000 miles, requiring machining (which only delays recurrence) or replacement. One owner had rotors warp twice: first at 49k miles, again at 82k miles. Multiple owners note that pads show minimal wear when rotors fail, suggesting a design/material issue rather than driver behavior. Dealerships often refuse warranty coverage. One shop owner reports replacing rotors with heavier-duty aftermarket parts ($1,400) solved the issue permanently.
When: 9,000–12,000 miles for initial failure; can recur within 20,000–33,000 miles of machining
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibration when braking at highway speeds; Bed bounces noticeably at speeds over 50 mph; Brake pedal vibrates when pressure applied; Deep grooves forming in rotors; Visible warping and runout
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership machining ($hundreds, per one owner); rotor replacement ($1,400 for aftermarket heavy-duty rotors per narrative #11); Ford refuses warranty coverage despite design flaw suspicion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; no warranty coverage; dealership attempted half-price rotor replacement in one case; Ford did not acknowledge systemic problem
Brake and accelerator pedal proximity issue
Brake pedal positioned so close to accelerator that drivers' right foot lands on both pedals simultaneously when attempting to brake, causing unintended acceleration. Multiple owners report this occurs at low speeds with cold engine, or when unfamiliar drivers use the truck. At least one owner notes brake pedal travels below accelerator height. Owners cite near-misses running through stop signs/lights and nearly hitting pedestrians and vehicles. One dealership sales manager acknowledged replicating the problem intermittently but stated Ford refuses to recognize it.
When: Occurs at speeds 5–10 mph, particularly with cold engine; also reported at 4 mph and 35 mph; one incident at 200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates when brake pedal depressed; Brake pedal travels past or below accelerator pedal; Engine revs to 1,750–4,000 RPM when attempting to brake; Unable to stop vehicle; must shift to neutral or apply harder brake pressure; Multiple near-crashes: ran stop signs/lights, nearly hit pedestrians and other vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer replaced accelerator pedal; problem recurred immediately (narrative #14); one dealership made unspecified adjustment that corrected problem (narrative #24)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford refuses to acknowledge problem despite multiple complaints and dealership replication; no recall; no design change for 2007 model (system redesigned for 2009)
Brake pedal fades to floor / loss of braking pressure
Brake pedal sinks gradually or suddenly to the floor, indicating loss of hydraulic pressure. Occurs both during hard braking and after applying steady pressure. In at least three cases, this caused rear-end collisions when vehicle failed to slow. One owner reports pedal fades after stopping or after holding pressure. Another reports brake pedal went to floor upon normal application. One narrative suggests recurrent issue after Ford replaced master cylinder and bled system.
When: At low speeds (10 mph or less when braking); after 8,000–22,000 miles; one instance at 14,000–16,000 miles with four separate incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels to floor; Vehicle does not slow or stop despite pedal application; Loss of braking power; Spongy brake feel with bleed-down between stops; Requires extreme pressure on pedal to stop
Repairs/costs cited: One owner: Ford replaced master cylinder and bled system without resolving issue; dealer then claimed condition was normal
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claimed condition normal; Ford did not address in some cases; no recall
Brake pedal broke under emergency braking
One owner's brake pedal broke as a result of excessive force applied during emergency stop at 50 mph when brakes failed to slow vehicle. Owner crashed into vehicle ahead. Airbags failed to deploy.
When: 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive force required on brake pedal to slow vehicle; Vehicle failed to slow despite aggressive braking; Brake pedal fractured from applied pressure; Airbags did not deploy on impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to collision shop; brake system repaired and airbag sensor replaced at authorized dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
ABS control module failure
ABS control module failure eliminates all-wheel braking control. Affects multiple model years (2007–2012, per narrative #16). Repair cost over $1,000. Causes vehicle to fail state emissions inspection.
When: Unknown; one owner inherited vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: No ABS function; Loss of all-wheel braking control; Vehicle fails state emissions inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement ABS control module; cost $1,000+
Front brake caliper sticking / locking
Front right caliper stuck, destroying pad and rotor prematurely.
When: 29,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Caliper sticks; Premature pad wear on one wheel; Rotor destruction
Repairs/costs cited: Caliper, pad, and rotor replacement required
Rear emergency brake pad distortion
Rear emergency (parking) brake pads completely distorted after 25-mile first drive, just 33 miles from dealership lot. Dealer attributed failure to brake pad defect. Owner noted potential for rear axle lockup while in motion.
When: 33 miles (25 miles into first drive)
Symptoms owners cite: Emergency brake pads completely distorted; Risk of rear axle lockup during motion
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads and parts replacement; owner noted parts not in stock at dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer called it a 'brake pad defect'
Brake system issue related to engine backfire
After engine backfired, brakes required extremely hard pedal pressure just to slow down. Owner notes this mirrors recall 08V208000 (Ford recall #08S05) for 2005–2006 models, but his 2007 (built August 2006) was not covered.
When: Not specified; built August 2006
Symptoms owners cite: Engine backfires; Extremely hard brake pedal pressure required to slow vehicle; Would be emergency hazard
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford denied coverage under recall 08V208000, citing model year cutoff
Brake hose failure
Front driver side brakes locked; mechanic diagnosed failed brake hose requiring replacement.
When: 22,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front driver side brakes locked; Vehicle came to slow stop
Repairs/costs cited: Brake hose replacement needed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer denied assistance; manufacturer not contacted
Excessive brake dust
Heavy brake dust on front wheels from day one of ownership; by 28,000 miles, front end wobbles and shimmies when braking, especially at highway speeds above 65 mph.
When: From delivery; wobble/shimmy by 28,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive brake dust accumulation; Front end wobbles and shimmies when braking; Worse at highway speeds (65+ mph) during harder braking
Repairs/costs cited: Tire rotation and balance performed; did not fully resolve issue
Unintended acceleration when braking (distinct from pedal proximity)
Vehicle accelerates dramatically when brake pedal is depressed, sometimes within the first 100 miles of ownership. Engine revs loudly. Multiple instances in single day in some cases. Brake light came on for one owner at 33 miles. Dealership installation of black box recorder could not identify cause. In one narrative (#14), accelerator pedal replacement did not fix recurrence.
When: 33 miles to 33,000 miles; can occur multiple times in one day at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Dramatic vehicle acceleration when brake pedal applied; Loud engine revving noise; Engine RPM rises to 4,000 RPM; Brake light illumination (one instance); No warning lights in other instances; Requires excessive brake pedal pressure to stop
Repairs/costs cited: Accelerator pedal replacement (did not resolve in one case)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership installed black box recording device for diagnostic purposes but found no malfunction; Ford stated unaware of problem; no recall
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
At slow speeds, 5 to 10 MPH, and when the engine is cold, when you attempt to brake for a stop, the engine can rev to 1750 to 2000 RPM, prohibiting your stop, potentially causing an accident. A hard braking action is necessary or shifting to neutral is required. After discussing this complaint with another Ford truck own, we'd decided that our right foot was not only attempting to depress the…
Had brakes trouble with your 2007 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2007 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 32 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 10,000 and 38,255 miles, with the median around 22,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 38,255. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Ford/F-150.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.