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2017 Ford Expedition brakes problems
severe
Owners of the 2017 Ford Expedition have filed 67 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 94,121 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Q1 70kmed 94kQ3 117kn=32
Complaints
67
Recalls
2
Avg fix
$450
brakes complaints on the Ford Expedition, by model year
Of the 67 brakes complaints filed for the 2017 Ford Expedition,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
2 (100%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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
Of the 16 model years of Ford Expedition we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 67.
All 2 active brakes recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3
A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles
A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S37. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 22V-150.
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.
Service BulletinSSM 51962Oct 2023
Some 2016-2018 F-150 and 2016-2017 Expedition/Navigator vehicles may require pressure bleeding of the brake system. The brake system pressure bleeding procedure in the Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 206-00, has been updated to add a warning to not apply the brake pedal or master cylinder damage may occur.
Some 2013-2018 F-150/Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration. This may be due to a loss of vacuum to the integrated wheel end (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
SOME 2008-2017 FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC MAY GENERATE A VHR THAT IDENTIFIES A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION CATEGORY INDICATING SERVICE IS REQUIRED DUE TO A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED. IF THE PARK BRAKE WAS APPLIED WHEN THE VHR WAS GATHERING DATA FROM THE MAJOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS, THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION MESSAGE WILL BE REPORTED AS THE VHR LOOKS FOR ANY WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. RERUN THE VHR WITH THE ENGINE ON AND VEHICLE IN PARK, AND ENSURE THE PARK BRAKE IS DISENGAGED. IF THE SYNC VHR IS STILL REPORTING A CONCERN TO THE CUSTOMERS SYNC OWNERS ACCOUNT, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION FOR DIAGNOSIS BY
SOME 2008-2017 FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC MAY GENERATE A VHR THAT IDENTIFIES A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION CATEGORY INDICATING SERVICE IS REQUIRED DUE TO A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED. IF THE PARK BRAKE WAS APPLIED WHEN THE VHR WAS GATHERING DATA FROM THE MAJOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS, THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION MESSAGE WILL BE REPORTED AS THE VHR LOOKS FOR ANY WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. RERUN THE VHR WITH THE ENGINE ON AND VEHICLE IN PARK, AND ENSURE THE PARK BRAKE IS DISENGAGED. IF THE SYNC VHR IS STILL REPORTING A CONCERN TO THE CUSTOMERS SYNC OWNERS ACCOUNT, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION FOR DIAGNOSIS BY
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe sudden brake system failures at highway and parking-lot speeds where the brake pedal goes to the floor with zero resistance. Most commonly, the brake master cylinder seal fails internally, allowing brake fluid to leak directly into the brake booster. Engine vacuum then sucks this fluid into the intake manifold, draining the reservoir completely in minutes. Owners add brake fluid only to watch the warning light return within five minutes. No fluid appears on the ground—it's being pulled into the engine and burned off, sometimes producing white smoke from the tailpipe.
The low brake fluid warning light and brake failure alarm come on during driving. Owners report depressing the pedal all the way down with little to no stopping effect, forcing them to use the parking brake or coast to safety. One crash occurred when brakes failed while backing up. Another owner was preparing for highway travel when the system suddenly dumped fluid.
Owners have documented that their vehicles exhibit the exact same symptoms as the master cylinder recalls (NHTSA 22V150000, 22S11, 22S14, 20V-332), yet many VINs are excluded from coverage because of narrow build-date or plant-location windows. Even after recall repairs were performed in 2024, one master cylinder failed again by 163,000 miles, raising questions about remedy adequacy. For those eligible, recall parts remain on national backorder with no delivery timeline—dealerships and Ford have told owners to wait indefinitely.
Same Ford Expedition brakes reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Master cylinder leaking brake fluid into brake booster
The brake master cylinder seal fails, allowing brake fluid to leak past internal seals directly into the brake booster chamber. Engine vacuum then draws this fluid into the intake, draining the reservoir rapidly. The brake pedal becomes soft or extends fully to the floor with little to no braking force. The brake fluid warning light and low brake fluid message illuminate. Owners report the reservoir empties in minutes despite repeated refilling.
When: Failures reported between 48,000 and 227,000 miles; most clusters 60,000–140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floorboard with no resistance; Brake fluid reservoir empties within minutes; Low brake fluid warning light illuminates; Brake warning message or alarm sounds; Brakes fail to respond; extended stopping distance required; Soft or spongy brake pedal feel; No visible external brake fluid leak; Fluid confirmed leaking into brake booster by dealer inspection
Codes mentioned:C109D-20
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement and brake booster replacement required. One owner reported $823 repair cost. Some repairs performed at independent shops and dealerships; many vehicles still unrepaired due to parts unavailability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V150000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 22S11/22S11D, 22S14 issued for some model years/build dates/plants; however, many 2017 Expedition owners report their VINs excluded from recall despite identical symptoms. Campaign 25V236000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) issued in 2025 but recall parts on national backorder with no availability timeline. One owner reported recall repair performed in March 2024 at Lugoff Ford (SC) but master cylinder failed again by 163,000 miles, suggesting possible inadequate remedy.
Brake booster failure or malfunction
The brake booster fails to generate adequate vacuum assistance, resulting in hard pedal feel and reduced braking force. Some owners report the vacuum pump fails intermittently. The vehicle may exhibit multiple warning lights. In one documented case, a vacuum pump was replaced after diagnostic code C109D-20 confirmed intermittent vacuum pump failure.
When: Reported at various mileages; one case at approximately 60,000 miles with vacuum pump replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes hard or requires excessive force; Reduced braking response despite pedal depression; Loud grinding noise from brake system during wet conditions; Multiple brake warning lights illuminated; Grinding noise from front driver's side wheel well at 15–20 MPH
Codes mentioned:C109D-20
Repairs/costs cited: Vacuum pump replaced; vehicle brake system functioned normally after repair per service technician. Some cases required brake booster replacement in addition to master cylinder.
Brake fluid loss without external leak
Owners report brake fluid level drops rapidly despite no visible external leaks under the vehicle or at the firewall. Upon investigation, fluid is confirmed to be entering the brake booster chamber internally (via master cylinder seal failure) rather than leaking to ground.
When: Sudden onset; some cases occurring within minutes of fluid refill
Symptoms owners cite: Brake fluid reservoir empty or critically low; Low brake fluid warning light recurring within minutes of refill; No visible puddles or leaks beneath vehicle; Brake pedal soft or extending to floor; White smoke from exhaust in some cases (fluid burning in engine)
Repairs/costs cited: None; most vehicles not repaired due to parts unavailability or exclusion from recall coverage.
Synthesized from 67 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
3 most recent
brakes
· filed 11/21/2023
Brake Master Cylinder is LEAKING out the back of master cylinder and into brake booster, lost almost ALL of the brake fluid in short trip as soon as it started.. Its an Identical issue to current Recall 22S11 or 22S14 on many if not all 2016 2017 Expeditions. My truck was built at the same Kentucky plant that produced the trucks with this exact issue, build date [XXX] built in the same time…
brakes · 120,000 mi
· filed 11/19/2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the front driver's side wheel well. The contact had to depress the brake pedal sooner to allow more stopping distance while stopping the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The…
brakes · 108,000 mi
· filed 11/17/2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V236000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) and 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the part to do the recall repair on the rearview camera was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that…
Had brakes trouble with your 2017 Ford Expedition?
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 2017 Ford Expedition?
It's a meaningful issue. 67 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 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 70,000 and 117,000 miles, with the median around 94,121. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 117,000. 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?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2017/Ford/Expedition.
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.