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Ford Mustang brake failure problems

80 of the 8,915 owner complaints about the Ford Mustang describe brake failure, most of them for the 1999 model year.

owner complaints
80
worst model year
1999
typical mileage
43,000
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed May 23, 2025 · Brakes · MI · crash

My wife was pulling into her head-in parking space at work and the brakes did not slow the car down. She pressed the brakes hard. The car went over a curb and hit a fire hydrant. The fire hydrant broke off and the car rolled over it. The car went into the street and she steered it to keep it out of traffic and stopped by using the parking brake. There were no warning lights. The airbag(s) did not deploy. There were no personal injuries. The car was inspected by a repair shop and deemed a total loss. A brake line was damaged during the crash. The repair shop personnel did not think the brakes failed prior to the accident because the master cylinder had fluid in it. No other brake inspections have been done.

Filed Apr 26, 2025 · CA

We purchased a Ford Mustang for our daughter 6 years ago, and have had the following ongoing dangerous and expensive widespread issue, 6 incidents to date, caused by Ford knowingly using soy based wiring (as opposed to petroleum based) for environmental reasons, that attract rats like it was cheese. The rats have been eating through essential wiring and once in the car also eating hoses and insulation, putting our daughter’s and others lives in grave danger and costing us thousands of dollars in continuous repairs, the last time rats ate through her brakes! (luckily discovered by warning lights in her car before her brakes failed) Ford is very aware of this issue and receive many complaints but do nothing, except refer me to you after I filed a complaint with them. No warranty covers this. Only my neighbors who don't have cars with soy based wiring don't have this issue, showing that this is clearly the cause. In a futile attempt to combat this, we have expensive monthly exterminator rat service, noise makers in her car, glue pads under her car, in her car (removed when driving), spray peppermint and bleach, and check the car daily. (Governor Newsom banned rat poison in Calif making it more challenging) But these expensive and time consuming measures are not full-proof as evidence of our continual costly repairs, and nothing will work until the root cause is addressed, the soy wiring. Ford needs to replace soy based wiring with petroleum based wiring, pay for all rat damage retroactively and future repairs until the soy wiring is replaced. (I have copies of all repair receipts, dating so far from Nov 2019 through April 2025) Just one of many article links in a quick google search that shows this is a widespread issue: "Rodents can’t get enough of Fords soy coated wiring and that’s a big problem!" [XXX] Please do something because Ford won't. (you ask date of incident, I have 6, I put most recent ) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 23, 2024 · Electrical · NC

I visited the [XXX] in Greensboro, NC on [XXX], was inside the Y for around five minutes, and when I came out and got back to my car, the car would not start, the battery was completely dead. I called USAA Road Service, they came and said I had a very discharged battery. They helped me get the car started, and I got home OK. I do not know what caused the battery to fail. After the battery failed, It was inspected on July 9, 2024 by Green Ford in Greensboro, and then replaced by the Ford dealer. My safety was at risk because the dealer said the faulty battery probably was responsible for an accelerator problem I am experiencing (detailed in the federal safety agency complaint number 11619861) and a brake failure which I experienced (detailed in the federal safety agency complaint number 11619933). The Ford dealer that said the battery was defective, and as I said, replaced it (under the car's warranty). There was no warning that the battery would fail, and I do not know why it failed, and had no reason to believe it would fail. If the Ford dealer kept the failed battery, and still has it, it should be available for inspection upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 19, 2023 · Brakes · CA

Anti lock brake pump leaking brake fluid from what appears to be a vent /weep hole resulting in rapid brake fluid loss and low/ soft pedal and significant loss of braking.

Filed Apr 8, 2023 · Airbags, Brakes · NV · crash · 1 injury

Accident after side swiping cattle guard, flew off the road at 70mph, landing roughly, and bouncing off desert terrain, trying to control crash outcome, realign no brakes, and no way to slow down vehicle, except no acceleration, and turned away from homes and power poles, to eventually slam into a a higher terrain, until complete stop. My repaired airbags didn't deploy, and at that speed, my passenger side wheels were shattered, tires flat, face hit the steering wheel and windshield, my knees hit dashboard, arms bounced off off everything the seat belt couldn't protect me from. Because of airbag failure to deploy, I ended up with 2 fractures, T9 and L1, 6 lose teeth making front teeth unable to use, and 2 cervical discs pushing into spinal column. I have Medicaid for insurance, and they will not do the surgery on my neck, so I have permanent nerve damage to my arms and hands, and the rest of my life to avoid any falls, or sudden injury to these areas so I can exist as a cripple, all because the safety equipment mandated by you, failed or was non existent. I had basic motor insurance coverage and no medical for me. What do you propose I do, with what's left of my car and my body parts, to continue existing in this life? Why have safety regulations when the equipment is knowingly defective, and costly, with no recourse in case something happens, before you as owner, are aware of it. I'm so pissed off to discover I own a vehicle, or paid for vehicle, that tried to kill me.

Filed Sep 30, 2022 · Brakes · 80,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 30 MPH, as he tried to slow while following the road steering to the left, the vehicle's brakes failed. The vehicle left the roadway spun several times and crashed into a tree. The roadway surface was not dry, the contact's son said that the conditions had been misty. The driver's side door was crushed and the entire side panel to the rear wheel was crushed by the impact. The driver's side window, the rear windshield, and the passenger side window were shattered. The contact stated that additionally large branches from the tree had fallen off at impact and damaged the hood and trunk of the vehicle. The driver's side air bag and passenger side air bag, and driver's front air bag had deployed. The contact's son had sustained bruising and abrasions to the left side of his neck and forehead, he had bruising and abrasions to his shins and knees. The son also had abrasions to both his hands on the tops the hands. The contact stated that only an EMT squad had arrived and treated the son. The son had not been transported to the Emergency Room, the police were not on the scene. The vehicle had been towed to an impound lot and the contact's insurance provider declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Sep 2, 2022 · Brakes · 67,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle in rush hour traffic, the vehicle experienced total brake failure and the brake failure message had displayed. The contact had to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle while in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The contact indicated that the vehicle had been serviced by the local mechanic on multiple occasions for the same failure and the brake master cylinder and brake booster were replaced. The vehicle was also taken to the local dealer who readjusted the brake pads but the failure continued. The contact also indicated that the failure had occurred during very hot temperature days. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 67,000.

Filed Mar 12, 2020 · Brakes · 71,796 miles · CA

While driving on a residential street at a low rate of speed I attempted to stop at a stop sign. The brake pedal went completely to the floor. The vehicle did not stop. Many lights and warnings lit up letting me know I had no brake fluid. I stopped the vehicle using the emergency brake. After having it towed to ford and inspected it was discovered that the passenger side brake line had ruptured and the driver side brake line had a 'bubble' and also needed replacement.this was a potentially very dangerous situation. If I were on the highway at a higher rate of speed this could have been fatal. Please investigate this brake failure in the 2016 mustang.

Filed Nov 6, 2019 · Acceleration, Brakes · 111,000 miles · OK · crash

My son was driving his 2009 mustang and after stopping at a stop sign in a residential neighborhood, he slowly accelerated and the car suddenly accelerated quickly on its own. He said the gas pedal went to the floor, he tried pushing brake and it was not stopping the car. It sent him through another intersection, he engaged emergency brake to no avail. Luckily his car went through an area of soggy grass that helped slow the car down, and came to a stop by running into hedges and resting next to a brick church. He described hearing the RPM's revving up along with the sudden acceleration. He also described the steering wheel as "locking up".

Filed Aug 21, 2019 · Lights · 54,397 miles · TX

The stop pedal pad brok and the brake light were always on. The car stopped braking at all suddenly! I did not crash because the loss of braking happened while parking in a low transit street. Firts there was loss of acceleration randomly in a highway. I found the pieces of the brake pedal pad in the car floor. This is a severe risk factor for crash because when the stop pedal pad brakes the car will not brake suddenly.

Related recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: switch/sensor/floatReported June 28, 2024 · 10 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Mustang vehicles. The brake fluid level sensor may not be properly configured after a Body Control Module (BCM) service update, resulting in a constantly illuminated brake fluid level warning light that can conceal a low brake fluid condition.
Risk
An undetected low brake fluid condition can lead to a loss of braking function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the body control module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S43.

Recall number 24V496000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkagesReported November 28, 2023 · 66 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Mustang vehicles. The brake pedal assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a loose brake pedal.
Risk
A loose brake pedal can result in a loss of braking function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the brake pedal and bracket assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S61.

Recall number 23V800000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkagesReported January 13, 2022 · 199,085 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 Mustang vehicles originally sold or ever registered, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Hawaii. Exposure to certain environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high humidity, and salt air can cause the brake pedal bumper to corrode and separate from the brake pedal.
Risk
A separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously, causing confusion to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash. On automatic transmission vehicles, a missing brake pedal bumper can allow the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the brake pedal bumpers and clutch pedal bumpers, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S02.

Recall number 22V011000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkagesReported September 23, 2020 · 38,005 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Mustang vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The brake pedal bracket may fracture during sudden stopping.
Risk
A broken brake pedal could affect braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal bracket assembly, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S52.

Recall number 20V573000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliperReported December 10, 2015 · 461 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Roush Performance Products, Inc. (Roush) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Mustang GT Roush Stage 3 vehicles manufactured April 1, 2015, to October 31, 2015, and equipped with Roush Extreme Duty Half Shafts. The affected vehicles have a brake caliper guide pin that may not have been sufficiently tightened during installation of the half shafts. As a result, the caliper guide pin may loosen while driving, reducing the vehicle's rear braking ability.
Risk
A partial loss of the rear braking system can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Roush will notify owners, and Roush-authorized Ford dealers will tighten the caliper guide pin to the proper specification, free of charge. The recall began in February 2016. Owners may contact Roush customer service at 1‑800‑597‑6874.

Recall number 15V832000 · Recall details

Parking brake: conventionalReported October 30, 2000 · 434,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. If a vehicle is parked with the parking brake not fully applied and not in first gear, as directed in the owner guide, and the self adjustment pawl subsequently skips one or two teeth, the vehicle could move on some grades.
Risk
This could result in unintended vehicle movement and a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Remedy
Dealers will modify the parking brake control and install a plate or over-bracket to the control to lock the self adjust mechanism in position following adjustment.

Recall number 00V349000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford Mustang brake failure

Which Ford Mustang years have brake failure problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1999 (12 complaints), 2000 (8 complaints) and 1994 (7 complaints).

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