Brake Problems and Brake Recalls: Which Cars, From NHTSA Data

Brake problems are among the most-reported safety issues in NHTSA’s complaint file, and brake recalls have covered tens of millions of vehicles. Most of the largest recalls fix a loss of power brake assist or a brake hose or line that can leak. This guide shows which cars and model years draw the most brake complaints, which of those were recalled, the biggest brake recalls and how many are still unrepaired, and what to do if your brakes feel wrong.

How common are brake complaints?

NHTSA files brake complaints under “service brakes”, which covers the pedal, master cylinder, power assist, hoses and lines, calipers, pads and the anti-lock brake (ABS) system:

One complaint can name several components. Recent model years are still collecting reports. Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

The share swings with individual problem models: a single model year with thousands of brake complaints, like the 2010 Prius or the 2018 Ram heavy-duty pickups, lifts the whole year. For how brakes compare with other problem areas, see the most common car problems.

Cars with the most brake complaints

Counts of owner reports, not verified defects or rates; models that sold in larger numbers draw more complaints. The share compares with all complaints for that model over the same model years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified defects, and best-sellers draw more of every kind of complaint. The share column shows how dominant the brakes are among each model’s problems; across the whole file, about one complaint in nine names the brakes. Here is how the top model years line up with recalls in NHTSA’s file:

• Ram 2500 and 3500, 2017–2018: FCA recalled about 318,000 heavy-duty Ram pickups and cab-chassis trucks in November 2024 because the brake hydraulic control unit could fail, disabling the anti-lock brakes, stability control and traction control (campaign 24V896). See the Ram 2500 by year.
• Toyota Prius, 2010: Toyota recalled the 2010 Prius and Lexus HS 250h in 2010 for a software change after owners reported inconsistent brake feel after the ABS activated on rough or slick roads, which could lengthen stopping distances (10V039).
• Chevrolet Silverado, 1999: covered by GM’s 2000 recall for a brake pipe that could chafe against the body (00V345) and its 2005 recall for unwanted ABS activation (05V379).
• Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon, 2014–2018, and Cadillac Escalade 2015–2017: recalled in 2019 because the brake vacuum pump’s output could decrease over time (19V645).
• Ford Fusion: the 2006–2010 Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ were recalled in 2019 because valves in the ABS hydraulic control unit could react with certain brake fluids (19V904), and the 2013–2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ in 2023 for front brake hoses that could rupture (23V162).

We found no brake recall covering the 2001–2003 Ford Windstar or the 2008 Honda Accord, two of the model years with the most brake complaints. Every model’s best and worst years page shows its main problem areas year by year.

Brake recalls: what fails

Two failure types stand out among the largest recalls.

Loss of power assist. The brakes still work, but the driver must press much harder. GM’s 2019 recall of about 3.5 million trucks and SUVs is the largest brake recall of recent years. NHTSA’s record states the risk plainly:

“As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.”NHTSA recall record for GM campaign 19V645, nhtsa.gov

Leaks and ruptures. A brake hose or line that leaks fluid makes the pedal travel farther and lengthens stopping distances. Ford has filed several of the largest, including front brake hoses on the 2013–2018 Fusion and MKZ (23V162) and on the 2015–2018 Edge and Lincoln MKX (20V469), followed in 2025 by a rear brake hose recall for the same Edge and MKX years (25V544).

Anti-lock brake modules are the third theme, and some are fire risks rather than braking problems: Hyundai and Kia recalled millions of vehicles because the ABS module could short and cause an engine-compartment fire, with a warning to park outside. Our Park Outside list and car fire statistics cover those.

Vehicle descriptions are NHTSA’s own summary wording; “repaired” is the share the manufacturer reports as fixed, and new campaigns start near zero. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Brake recalls filed in 2026

The newest brake campaigns in NHTSA’s file, in NHTSA’s own wording. New recalls start near 0% repaired while owner letters and parts go out:

Vehicle descriptions are NHTSA’s own summary wording; “repaired” is the share the manufacturer reports as fixed, and new campaigns start near zero. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Recalls announced after our last data refresh appear on NHTSA’s site first; the VIN check there is always current.

Brake recalls by automaker

“Repaired” weights each campaign’s reported completion rate by its vehicle count; “not yet repaired” is the matching estimate. A vehicle in several campaigns is counted in each. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Truck-heavy automakers dominate by vehicles, because a single brake recall on a full-size pickup or SUV platform can cover millions of vehicles. The repair column shows how far each automaker has got with fixing them; a low figure usually means large recent or phased campaigns, so check your own VIN rather than relying on a brand average.

What federal law requires of your brakes

Since the early 2000s, cars, SUVs, pickups and vans up to 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) have had to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 135, which sets stopping-distance tests, failure tests and warning-light rules. Its purpose is short:

“The purpose of this standard is to ensure safe braking performance under normal and emergency driving conditions.”49 CFR 571.135, S2

The standard also requires a brake warning indicator in front of the driver that comes on with, among other conditions, a gross loss of brake fluid or fluid pressure, such as a ruptured brake line. That is why a red brake warning light should never be ignored: it can mean exactly the kind of leak that several of the largest recalls fix. A defect that makes a vehicle fail a standard like this, or that creates an unreasonable safety risk, must be recalled and repaired free.

The biggest brake recalls, and the ones still unrepaired

A recall only helps once the repair is done. Weighted by vehicles, about 65% of vehicles in brake recalls are reported repaired, leaving about 9.0 million repairs outstanding. The gap is widest on recent and phased campaigns:

• Ram heavy-duty ABS (24V896): the remedy is a new hydraulic control unit or motor. Interim letters went out in January 2025, but NHTSA’s record says the remaining owner letters were expected in October 2026, which is why so few are repaired so far.
• Hyundai and Kia ABS fires (23V651, 23V652): about 3.4 million vehicles together, each only about a third repaired in the latest data.
• Ford brake hoses (23V162): fewer than half reported repaired.

If your car is in one of these campaigns and you haven’t had the repair, contact a dealer; parts availability can change after the first letters go out.

Warning signs of brake trouble

• a brake pedal that feels soft, spongy or sinks toward the floor;
• a pedal that is suddenly much harder to press, a sign of lost power assist;
• longer stopping distances, or the car pulling to one side;
• grinding, squealing or vibration when braking;
• the red brake warning light, or the amber ABS or stability-control light;
• fluid on the ground near a wheel or under the engine compartment.

Any of these needs a prompt inspection; a red brake warning light or a pedal that sinks means you should stop driving the car until it’s checked. Our phantom braking guide covers the opposite problem, automatic braking when nothing is there.

What to do

1. Check for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls; brake recall repairs are free. Our guide shows where to find the VIN.
2. Get the brakes inspected if you notice any warning sign above, and ask the dealer whether a technical service bulletin or extended warranty covers the problem.
3. Report safety problems to NHTSA, especially a loss of braking while driving. Complaint patterns are how investigations and recalls start; see how to file a complaint.
4. Buying used? Check the model year’s brake complaints and any open brake recall, and include hard stops in your test drive. Our used car inspection checklist covers the rest.

Brake lights are a separate system from the brakes themselves: a failed switch can leave following drivers with no warning even when the brakes work. Subaru and Nissan have recalled about 2.1 million cars for that, covered in our headlight and lighting recalls guide.

For recalls of the parking brake itself, including electric parking brakes that apply or fail to hold, see our parking brake problems guide.

Complaint and recall figures are PlainVIN’s analysis of NHTSA’s files and update when we refresh the data; complaints are owner reports, not verified defects. This guide is general safety information, not mechanical advice.