The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) have opened an investigation (PE16-003) into brake fluid leaks in certain 2013- 2014 Ford F-150 pickup trucks equipped with 3.5L engines. There have been approximately 35 driver reports of reduced braking due to brake fluid leaks from the master cylinder into the brake booster. The complaints allege symptoms of brake pedal going to the floor with complete loss of brake effectiveness, an illuminated brake warning lamp, and/or low or empty master cylinder reservoir fluid level with no visible leakage.

The highway safety agency said it is launching the investigation because the pace of complaints has accelerated in recent months. The agency reported that it received 31 complaints from F-150 drivers in the past year, with 20 of them in the past seven months. Four of the complaints allege that the defect resulted in an accident.