Component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

27,102 NHTSA complaints about service brakes, hydraulic issues across 61 makes and 1112 models.

The service brakes, hydraulic is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 27,102 filings from 61 manufacturers and 1112 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 2,473 crashes, 452 fires, 1,359 injuries, and 136 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TOYOTA PRIUS with 1,386 filings, followed by FORD WINDSTAR and HONDA ACCORD. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

27,102
Complaints
1112
Models Affected
2,473
Crashes
452
Fires
136
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 TOYOTA PRIUS 1,386
2 FORD WINDSTAR 979
3 HONDA ACCORD 887
4 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 830
5 TOYOTA CAMRY 463
6 FORD FUSION 441
7 FORD F-150 415
8 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 397
9 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 387
10 FORD EDGE 374
11 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 364
12 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 364
13 RAM 2500 358
14 HONDA ODYSSEY 342
15 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 327
16 HYUNDAI TUCSON 324
17 GMC SIERRA 1500 302
18 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 285
19 TOYOTA COROLLA 261
20 WORKHORSE W22 259
21 KIA SORENTO 252
22 DODGE JOURNEY 252
23 FORD FOCUS 239
24 CHEVROLET MALIBU 238
25 HYUNDAI SONATA 230
26 TOYOTA TUNDRA 229
27 FORD ESCAPE 228
28 CHEVROLET IMPALA 212
29 NISSAN ARMADA 208
30 KIA SPORTAGE 205

Recent Complaints

2018 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the vehicle made an abnormal dinging sound. The vehicle was take

2018 RAM 3500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light unexpectedly illuminated with a chiming sound coming from the vehicle. The contac

2018 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th

2018 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th

2018 RAM 2500

The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repa

2018 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th

2021 TOYOTA COROLLA

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact discovered brake fluid on the clutch pedal, and the brake pedal was mushy while depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that

2015 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera image was delayed while being displayed. Additionally, the camera remained displayed while shifted o

2019 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailabl

2015 GMC SIERRA 1500

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firm and unresponsive, and the vehicle was difficult to stop. The vehicle ev

2016 LINCOLN MKX

The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.

2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that a week after the dealer performed the recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V061000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); the contact was

2018 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The cont

2026 TESLA MODEL Y Crash

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH into a parking spot, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop. The ve

2016 FORD EDGE

See attached document for complaint. I am writing regarding an issue I am having getting a refund for something I paid for to have repaired that was placed on a recall list by Ford 6 months later. I

2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the clutch pedal traveled to the floorboard and the low oil warning light illuminated. Due to the f

2017 RAM 2500 Crash

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired on two occasions under warranty and under extended warranty due to the brake failure. The contact later re

2018 RAM 2500 Crash

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local

2001 DODGE RAM 1500 Crash

The contact owned a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while exiting a parking lot and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal floored, causing the contact to roll to a stop o

2018 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The cont

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic issues?
The NHTSA has received 27,102 complaints about service brakes, hydraulic problems across 1112 vehicle models from 61 manufacturers.
How dangerous are service brakes, hydraulic defects?
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC issues have been linked to 2,473 crashes, 452 fires, 1,359 injuries, and 136 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most service brakes, hydraulic problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for service brakes, hydraulic issues is the TOYOTA PRIUS with 1,386 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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