As you’ve probably noticed, a lot of people are excited about the release of the upcoming 2021 Ford F-150. It’s going to be a completely new truck with tons of new features. Just like in previous years, the F-150 will also serve as an excellent work truck.

Although the Ford F-150 is a very good pickup, it has had its fair share of recalls in recent years. The 2020 model alone can potentially suffer from a malfunctioning cable locking clip, shoddy seatbacks, and faulty daytime running lights. The good news is that one of the F-150’s most extensive problems finally seems to be fixed, according to Car Complaints.

Ford’s master cylinder problem

The first reported brake problems started popping up in 2016. Many drivers reported that they were experiencing a loss of brake power as they were driving the truck. In some instances, they also heard warning chimes and saw illuminated warning lights right before the brakes went out.

The NHTSA opened its initial investigation in 2016 after receiving numerous complaints from concerned drivers. Nine crashes were reportedly caused because of the brake issues. Another investigation was opened a few months later after the NHTSA received even more reports of the problem.

The issue was most common for trucks from either 2013 or 2014 that were equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. Over 400,000 trucks were possibly affected, but Ford only recalled around 270,000 trucks in May 2016. However, after more problems arose, Ford issued another recall for the master cylinder last month.

This time, the issue was prevalent in Ford F-150 trucks from 2014-2017. Almost 300,000 trucks with the same Ecoboost engine that was affected in previous years were included in the recall. The automaker seems confident that any remaining issues with the brake master cylinder have been fixed.

How does this affect your truck?

The brake master cylinder is what holds the brake fluid for your car. When it isn’t functioning properly or develops a leak, you can lose a lot of brake fluid in a short amount of time. This means that by the time any warning lights come on, your master cylinder may already have lost too much fluid. This is what caused many drivers to unexpectedly lose braking power.

Brake fluid leaks are usually easy to spot since the fluid makes a dark puddle on the ground. However, drivers never saw any leaking fluid. Unbeknownst to them, it dripped directly onto the brake boosters instead.

Is your Ford F-150 safe to drive?

Ford has been slow to respond to this issue in the past, but it seems to have found the cause of the problem. According to the automaker, the brake fluid inside the master cylinder was contaminated – possibly by excess moisture. The contaminated fluid damaged the rear cup seals, which ultimately lead to brake fluid leakage.

The NHTSA has officially closed the investigation, which means these trucks probably won’t have this issue in the future. Still, it’s important to know the warning signs of a brake fluid problem so that you can avoid dangerous situations. 

What’s in store for the Ford F-150

With that hurdle behind it, the future looks bright for the 2021 Ford F-150. We’re looking forward to testing out those Max Recline seats, a new option for this model year. The truck will also have an optional workspace in the back as well as a built-in generator.

It will come with all the engine options from previous years and a new hybrid powertrain. The new 2021 F-150 will be released this fall. The all-electric variant is set to be officially unveiled sometime next year.