Component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
7,597 NHTSA complaints about service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components issues across 46 makes and 567 models.
The service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 7,597 filings from 46 manufacturers and 567 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 1,045 crashes, 66 fires, 674 injuries, and 31 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TOYOTA CAMRY with 174 filings, followed by FORD TAURUS and DODGE CARAVAN. 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.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 174 |
| 2 | FORD TAURUS | 173 |
| 3 | DODGE CARAVAN | 164 |
| 4 | KIA SEPHIA | 163 |
| 5 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 160 |
| 6 | CHEVROLET LUMINA | 157 |
| 7 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 145 |
| 8 | CHEVROLET S10 | 137 |
| 9 | FORD F-150 | 135 |
| 10 | FORD EXPLORER | 135 |
| 11 | FORD WINDSTAR | 126 |
| 12 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 117 |
| 13 | DODGE RAM | 117 |
| 14 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 113 |
| 15 | DODGE NEON | 111 |
| 16 | SATURN SL | 88 |
| 17 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 88 |
| 18 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 87 |
| 19 | BUICK REGAL | 86 |
| 20 | OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS | 83 |
| 21 | HONDA ACCORD | 83 |
| 22 | FORD CONTOUR | 77 |
| 23 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 76 |
| 24 | FORD ESCORT | 73 |
| 25 | MERCURY COUGAR | 72 |
| 26 | FORD THUNDERBIRD | 72 |
| 27 | FORD FOCUS | 72 |
| 28 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 72 |
| 29 | FORD RANGER | 69 |
| 30 | GMC SUBURBAN | 65 |
Recent Complaints
On 11-12-2020, our 2016 Ford F150 experienced a serious and dangerous brake failure. Without warning, the Right Front brake line ruptured while stopping.. The driver was able to stop the vehicle whi
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Edge. The contact stated while pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would not immediately stop causing the braking distance to be extended. The vehicle was examined by an
The brake booster apparently is an issue with Ford Edge vehicles. Mine is a 2013 Ford Edge SE and I can barely stop my vehicle. I have to slam in the brakes really hard to get it to stop safely. The
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving and approaching a stop sign, the contact depressed on the brake pedal however, the vehicle would not slow down or stop until the con
Braking system failed. Unable to stop operating vehicle traveling 30 MPH without downshifting and allowing vehicleâs momentum to dissipate. Vehicle towed to repair facility. Repair has been complet
The brake booster for my vehicle was starting to decline and make it harder for me to stop my car. When driving my vehicle my brake pedal became very hard to push. While trying to stop it took longer
In June of 2018 with 48,182 miles on my vehicle, I experienced the brake pedal very hard to push some of the time, and then other times, the brakes would not stop and you could hear air come out from
I was driving my car and a car pulled in front of me I pressed a little harder on the brakes and after that the brakes went to the floor. I brought to my mechanic and he said that the seal on hydraul
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PRESSURE CON
LTR FROM CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE AN UPDATE ON AN INQUIRY HE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED RE W20 AND W22 CHASSIS BRAKES. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER WORKHORSE CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CALIPERS SEIZED AND BURND THROUGH THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHIL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SEVERAL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INCLUDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS. CURRE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, R
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE BRAKE RESERVOIR CAUGHT FIRE AND CAUSED THE DR
FACSIMILE FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, REGARDING BRAKE FAILURE OF HIS 2003 BMW 745I. CONSTITUENT IS ASKING FOR REVIEW/INVESTIGATION OF BMW OF SAN FRANCISCO AND THE BMW 7 SERIES AUTOMOBILES.
I AM A MECHANIC AT A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE HAVE PURCHASED 3 2007 ODYSSEY VANS. WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOFT BRAKES ON ALL THREE VANS. ONE OF THE VANS HAD A COMPLAINT OF HARD STOPPING I.E. TOO LONG OF DIS
THE FRONT BRAKE COMPONENTS ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED ON AVERAGE OF 3 TIMES A YEAR. MAINLY PADS AND AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR RIGHT FRONT ROTOR. *TR
BRAKES DEFECTIVE HAVE 65,000 MILES ON 06 UNIT AND BRAKES AND / OR ROTORS WORKED ON 5 SEPARATE TIMES BRAKES WORKED ON JAN 07, MAY 07, JULY 07, OCT 07 AND JAN 08. *TR
ON MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE WITH 21,400 MILES THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE WORN WITH LESS THAN 3 MM OF PAD REMAINING. AT 6 DAYS PAST MY 3 YR / 36 K MI. WARRANTY, FORD CUST SERVICE AND FORD CORPORATE SAID TH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 WORKHORSE CHASSIS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ODOR. HE STOPPED AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT FOUND NO FAILURE. AS HE CONTINUED DRIVING, THE ODOR INTENS
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.