I am submitting this letter to report a serious safety defect involving the brake system on my 2013 Ford Edge (VIN: [XXX]). The vehicle is experiencing a brake failure consistent with known ABS/HCU pump issues that have affected similar Ford Edge model years. On XXX, the vehicle was inspected at Randall Reed’s Planet Ford 635 in Garland, Texas. Service Advisor Luis Rodriguez confirmed the brake concern and provided a repair estimate of $3,500. The dealership indicated that the failure is related to the ABS/HCU system. The symptoms include: A spongy brake pedal Inconsistent brake pressure Reduced braking effectiveness Increased stopping distance Unpredictable brake response These symptoms match those described in Ford Recall 16C10, which addressed ABS/HCU pump failures on certain 2012–2014 Ford Edge vehicles. Although my VIN is not included in the recall, the failure pattern is identical and presents a clear safety hazard. I have contacted Ford Motor Company multiple times, including through executive escalation channels, but I have not received a response or assistance. Given the nature of this defect and its similarity to a previously acknowledged safety issue, I believe this may indicate a broader pattern that warrants investigation. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency review this matter to determine whether the existing recall should be expanded to include additional VINs or model ranges affected by the same ABS/HCU defect. Thank you for your attention to this safety concern. I am available to provide additional documentation, including the dealership diagnosis, repair estimate, and service notes. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2013 Ford Edge: soft or spongy brake pedal
88 of the 2,448 complaints about the 2013 Ford Edge describe soft or spongy brake pedal.
- owner complaints
- 88
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- typical mileage
- 80,400
- recalls
- 0
Soft or spongy brake pedal by model year
What owners say
I am reporting a safety issue involving a 2013 Ford Edge Sport AWD related to progressive brake failure. The affected components include the brake booster and master cylinder. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. In mid-2025, the vehicle developed a gradual loss of braking capability. The brake pedal required increasing force over time to bring the vehicle to a stop. Because the failure developed progressively rather than suddenly, the severity of the issue was not immediately apparent. At the time, the vehicle was primarily driven by my teenage son, a new driver, who continued operating the vehicle by pressing the brake pedal harder to compensate. This created a significant safety risk, as the vehicle did not reliably stop under normal braking conditions, increasing the risk of collision. The issue was confirmed by an independent mechanic, and repairs required replacement of the brake booster, master cylinder, and related components. The vehicle was later discussed with a Ford dealership; however, no warning of coverage or recall applicability was identified at that time. There were no clear warning lights or dashboard messages indicating brake system failure prior to the issue. The primary symptom was a progressive increase in required pedal force. After the repair, I learned that brake booster failure is a known issue for this vehicle platform and has been the subject of prior manufacturer service campaigns. I am concerned that this type of gradual brake degradation may not be recognized by drivers, particularly inexperienced drivers, and could result in unsafe operating conditions. The vehicle has also experienced repeated rear differential failures. Replacement parts are no longer manufactured by Ford, requiring use of used components with unknown condition and lifespan, further affecting vehicle reliability and safe operation. I have attached a receipt for the second time purchasing and replacing the rear differential.
Soft brake pedal that goes to floor
The brake pedal became stiff. The pedal would depress and eventually stop the car but then occasionally more play would be in the pedal. When the vehicle stopped the pedal would depress further and additional pressure would have to be applied to get the vehicle to stop completely. A service campaign bulletin was issued for my other vehicle ( Feb 20, 2024- Reference Number 13N02), same model, same year for a brake booster replacement, yet no service campaign was issued for this vehicle. My vehicle would not stop completely consistently without stomping on the pedal. My garage informed me to return it to Ford for warranty replacement of the brake booster, just like my other Ford Edge ( same year, same model). Brake fade was noticed in Fall of 2024 and confirmed by my garage in Feb 2025.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated that there was an air hissing sound near the brakes, entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was hard and tight, requiring added force to depress the brake pedal. There was a loss of power brakes. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the power brake booster had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.
Spongy brake pedal while driving. Brake pedal travel almost to the ground when applying the brakes. Issue is cause by faulty hydraulic control unit. This problem occured while on a family trip on interstate US 95 while traveling at 70 miles per hour with my wife and children on board. The malfunction caused me to have difficulty braking and almost caused a major accident when a vehicle suddenly stopped in front of me. I was 10 hrs from home and was forced to travel back with the faulty, risky and extremely dangerous faulty brake system. The problem persists and I will be calling the Ford dealer on 7/7/2025 to have the problem fixed. There were also no warning lights to indicate a faulty hydraulic control unit that could had proven me from driving the vehicle on a 10 hr trip with my family in tow.
Brakes became spongy and went to the floor. Vehicle could not stop short and was extremely dangerous to drive. Was at a high risk of slamming into the car in front of me and also could not stop before the line of a red light. Braking was delayed by more than 60%. The dealer confirmed the failure was the HCU of the ABS module. This is extremely similar to a recall on other Fords. 19S54 and 20S13
My brakes are failing intermittently. I have been driving and pressed the brake pedal and it goes all the way to the floor but the car only gradually stops. Thankfully it has not caused an accident, yet. Once I am able to stop I pump the pedal to get things back to somewhat normal. But the pedal still feels spongy. I looked up a customer service program ford has (13N02) but my VIN isn’t under it. But my car does fit the assembly plant and dates of this known issue. I’m afraid I’m going to get in an accident over a known issue.
2013 Ford Edge Limited Mileage approximately 69,000 Have had issues for several months (2024-2025) with an intermittent soft brake. As soon as I feel the soft or spongy brake I release & pump the brake pedal again & that seems to fix it. April 30, 2025 I stepped on the brake & did not get a good pedal. Pumped the brake again & did not get a good pedal (did this 3 times) then noticed it went real low & it felt like a sensation of maybe pedal feeling disengages or collapsing during failure. The soft brake pedal lasted for the approximately next 5 times I pumped the brake. I have found the 2013 Ford Edge has 465 the federal safety agency complaints for service brakes, averaging 56,907 miles, with many describing intermittent pedal issue similar to mine. No ABS or any warning lights are on. Checked for recall & don’t see one for this year even tho there have been 465 existing complaints. Have had the rear brake pads replaced. Master cylinder Front brake pads & rotors. Been bled numerous times Brake fluid level is good After researching this issue I have found that HCU/ABS Module issues are most frequently cited as the cause for these symptoms. This is a pricey repair (HCU) & I think that with all the complaints & the dangerous aspect to this it should be a recall that Ford should be responsible for.
Probable power brake booster failure, in a panic stop attempt when another motorist ran a red light the vehicle brake pedal became very hard and did not want to stop the vehicle. Other instances include spongy and soft pedal going to the floor with very poor braking. This vehicle was included in FoMoCo Customer Satisfaction Program 13N02 but did not exhibit these symptoms until just recently. These are the exact symptoms covered by the program but time and mileage has expired for this build date even though later models are still covered.
Brake booster needs to be replaced because it has failed, making the car unable to stop. This has caused the car to shut off if the brake pedal is pressed to long, like stopping at a stop light. The vehicle is in a Ford authorized service shop and has been confirmed as brake booster failure. The issue started with stalling, car throwing codes such as no oil, hissing in the brake lines, spongy brake pedal, leading to zero ability to stop. Issues started slowly around October and by January, the car is completely unable to stop.
The contact owns a 2013 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 brake pedal was depressed to the floor and the brake pedal was stiff. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed ABS and brake booster. The contact was informed that the ABS and the brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had been present for a year, however, the brakes were replaced and the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the Customer Satisfaction Program 13N02, which had a similar failure description. The contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Certain 2010-2014 Model Year Edge and MKX Vehicles
- Some 2008-2017 ford/mercury/lincoln vehicles equipped with sync may generate a vhr that identifies a...
- Ford: under driving and certain environmental conditions, a small tear CAN develop in the diaphragm of the...
- Ford/lincoln: due to corrosion buildup between brake pad and anchor bracket, vehicle experience a rear...
- Ford: some vehicles will experience, from brake booster, a grunting noise during first portion of brake...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2013 Ford Edge spongy pedal
Is soft or spongy brake pedal a common problem on the 2013 Ford Edge?
88 of 2,448 owner complaints about the 2013 Ford Edge (4%) mention soft or spongy brake pedal. The model year with the most reports is 2013.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2013 Ford Edge?
There are 0 recalls and 7 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2013 Ford Edge
Door locks 381Brake failure 109Battery drain 91Check engine light 82Loss of power 77Stalling 77ABS 74Backup camera 69Headlights 45Grinding brakes 26Fuel smell 23Jerking 22Hesitation 18Sunroof shattered 16Fuel leak 14Screen failure 14Wipers 13Won't shift 12Won't start 11No deployment 10Engine failure 10Fire or smoke 10Key fob 10Overheating 10Sudden acceleration 8Warning lights 8Adaptive cruise 7Shudder 7Steering lock-up 7Fuel pump 6Oil consumption 6Power steering loss 6Slipping 6Transmission failure 6Collision warning 5Fuel gauge 5Misfire 5
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