Component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

2,339 NHTSA complaints about service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings issues across 45 makes and 365 models.

The service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,339 filings from 45 manufacturers and 365 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 123 crashes, 36 fires, 58 injuries, and 6 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO with 110 filings, followed by CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 and FORD WINDSTAR. 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.

2,339
Complaints
365
Models Affected
123
Crashes
36
Fires
6
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 110
2 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 90
3 FORD WINDSTAR 79
4 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 79
5 FORD F-150 71
6 DAEWOO NUBIRA 51
7 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 48
8 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 46
9 DODGE DAKOTA 44
10 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 43
11 FORD EXPLORER 42
12 FORD TAURUS 38
13 GMC SIERRA 1500 37
14 CHEVROLET S10 36
15 GMC SIERRA 34
16 DODGE RAM 2500 29
17 CHEVROLET TAHOE 29
18 FORD AEROSTAR 28
19 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 28
20 FORD RANGER 26
21 DODGE RAM 1500 25
22 JEEP CHEROKEE 24
23 DODGE CARAVAN 24
24 CADILLAC DEVILLE 23
25 FORD EXPEDITION 22
26 CHEVROLET BLAZER 20
27 FORD F-350 19
28 FORD F-250 19
29 DODGE NEON 19
30 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV 19

Recent Complaints

2018 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 20 MPH in a parking lot, the brakes became inoperable. The low brake fluid warning light illuminated after the

2011 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT

The contact owns a 2011 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. In

2018 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking space, the brake pedal extended to the floor while depressed, causing the braking distance to be extended.

2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken for a routine inspection, the dealer diagnosed that the rear brake lines were rusted through. The contact

2017 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brake pedal failed to function as intended. The contact's w

2010 SUBARU OUTBACK

The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at 5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted t

2016 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the

2017 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving 20–30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was tak

2017 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side brake line was fractured. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. There were n

2016 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 5 MPH through a school parking lot, the brake pedal as depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as n

2016 FORD TRANSIT Crash Fatal

The involved individual was found with altered mental status on a highway on 8/13/2023. The vehicle he had been driving was found in the highway median a few hundred feet away. He was admitted to a lo

2016 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, her husband noticed that the brake pedal felt spongy. The brake pedal also extended to the floorboard whenever it

2010 TOYOTA TACOMA

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for State Inspection however, the vehicle failed the inspection due to cracks to the driver’s and passenger’s s

2016 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The low brake fluid level warning light was illuminated.

2017 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and attempting to slow down, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to come to a

2016 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and pulling pulled out of a driveway, the vehicle was hesitating. The contact continued driving and noticed that the brake p

2021 FORD F-250

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake became inoperable. The contact stated there was brake fluid was gushing out from the driver

2018 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the vehicle continu

2014 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated tha

2021 FORD E-450

The contact owns a 2021 Jayco Redhawk Motorhome built on a 2021 Ford E-450 chassis. The contact stated that while her friend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,339 complaints about service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings problems across 365 vehicle models from 45 manufacturers.
How dangerous are service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings defects?
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS issues have been linked to 123 crashes, 36 fires, 58 injuries, and 6 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings issues is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO with 110 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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