2025 Ford F-150 Problems and Owner Complaints: Brake & Powertrain Issues
The 2025 Ford F-150 has been the subject of numerous owner complaints about brake failures, powertrain malfunctions, and cruise control glitches. We analyzed our own data, NHTSA reports, consumer statements, and manufacturer data to break down the most common problems and what they mean for drivers.
According to the automaker, the “iconic Ford F-150” offers unparalleled performance, advanced technology, and premium features. It also states that it “is packed with advanced technology and safety features, ensuring a connected and secure driving experience.” But there are a whole lot of owners who are reporting dangerous malfunctions. These include brake failures, “life-threatening” powertrain issues, and incidents leading to random acceleration because of cruise control problems.
The most complaints about the 2025 Ford F-150 to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) relate to the brakes and powertrain, with owners reporting dangerous issues, including total brake failure. There are also problems with the electrical system, cruise control, steering, and the cameras in the vehicle.
Other components and systems mentioned in complaints include forward collision avoidance, vehicle speed control, visibility/wiper, wheels, tires, suspension, and structure.
One notable complaint tells how, after experiencing a flat tire on a busy highway, the factory wheel rim was impossible to remove from the hub because it was corroded to the hub. The F-150 was only two months old!
Another describes how, when the rear glass of the vehicle shattered suddenly, it sounded as if someone had shot at the Ford with a gun. “The four corners of (the) glass were all broken off with a giant hole in (the) middle. The truck engine was not on, and I had (the) front passenger door open. I called Ford and they stated that they have never seen or heard of this, although I Googled it and have seen many forums (talking about the) same thing happening, and that they are not responsible. It is crazy to think about this happening if I had been driving and the potential accidents this could have caused on the road.”
2025 Ford F-150 Complaint Summary
Complaint Category
Number of Complaints
Electrical System
7
7
Power Train
7
7
Service Brakes
7
7
Unknown Or Other
6
6
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
4
4
Steering
4
4
Engine
2
2
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
2
2
Lane Departure: Assist
2
2
Wheels
2
2
Brake Problems
Brake failure is the most common issue reported about the brake system — about which there are more complaints than any other components or systems(30%).
In mid-August, 2025, an owner from California experienced brake failure while driving on the freeway in an F-150 that had only 2,000 miles on the clock. “I almost got off (the) highway but stayed on (the) shoulder after a brake warning, avoided hitting cars, and coasted with very little brakes.” He fears that an incident like this “could cause death.”
An owner from Michigan also experienced brake failure. “While driving at roughly 30-40 mph, there was a complete loss of brakes. Complete soft pedal to the floor with no brake function.” He states that the ABS and brake lights were flashing on the dashboard, and there was a parking brake malfunction warning. “My wife and kids were in the car and (we) were lucky to be on a street where we were able to coast to a stop. Any busy street or highway driving could have been a severe accident/potential loss of life incident.
“The dealer said they have never seen this issue before and said they went through a bunch of control modules, simply reset, and made software updates. I never received a confirmed “root cause”.” Because they didn’t feel safe taking delivery of the car, they tried to have a Ford field service technician or engineer inspect the vehicle “with no luck.” So, they started a buy-back/replacement process with Ford, and were frustrated that no decision had been made.
An owner from Texas also experienced brake failure, which coincided with several ABS and brake system alarms sounding. “I took the truck to my dealer and was told Ford is aware of the problem and does not have a fix.”
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Powertrain Problems
Some of those reporting powertrain problems also highlight dangerous scenarios. For instance, an owner from Texas relates how the shift lever “froze” several times. The first time, he was unable to shift into gear. The second time, when the mileage was 1,600, the lever froze in reverse with the engine running and he was unable to move it. “If this happens on a busy street or highway, something serious could occur, even (something) life threatening. This might be related to the powertrain recall, #2 above.
Another Texas owner states that the “service” light comes on often with a message that there’s a powertrain/loss of power issue. There is no indication of what causes this problem.
An owner from California tells how his new 2025 F-150 Lariat truck was off, in the garage, when a message suddenly appeared on the digital speedometer saying there was a powertrain fault. The truck had only 280 miles at the time. At about 310 miles, the service light came on, indicating a service was due. He checked the FordPass app, and the onboard diagnostic program indicated there was a powertrain fault detected.
“I’ve checked several online forums, and many owners are reporting that there are known Ford Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) regarding this issue, and the issue is due to a faulty starter, alternator, and battery. Ford knows about this issue, and that it is common, yet they have failed to issue a recall to fix all of these.”
Cruise Control Problems
Cruise control problems are reported by owners in several different categories, including forward collision avoidance, lane departure, and vehicle speed control.
An owner from New Jersey reports that he had experienced “unintentional cruise activation” twice. Additionally, “Blue Cruise gets very confused as sudden vehicles entering the lane in front of it cause severe lane drift due to programming.”
An owner from Texas issued a similar complaint. “While driving down the highway with Blue Cruise engaged and in control, the truck quickly veered off to the right. I immediately grabbed the steering wheel to correct the direction of the truck to avoid being driven off the road by the system.” He thought, “While driving down the highway with Blue Cruise engaged and in control, the truck quickly veered off to the right. I immediately grabbed the steering wheel to correct the direction of the truck to avoid being driven off the road by the system.
Camera System Problems
Problems with the camera system are reported as unknown or other issues.
An owner from Michigan leased a Ford F-150 and reports that the rear-view camera wasn’t working. The dealership assured him they would fix the problem, but didn’t.
“Subsequent visits and followup with (the) dealership have been unsuccessful in the fix. During this time, I almost ran over my granddaughter when backing up with no rear-view camera. Very dangerous. Also, any components relying on the rear-view camera are also disabled. I believe Ford has a concern in fixing this problem. It could result in a serious accident with a pedestrian.”
An owner from Texas reported mid-August, 2025, that the rear, side, and front camera system failed completely. There was no obvious cause for the failure. The complaint states that he was unable to use any of the cameras during the driving session until a power cycle was completed. The dealer inspected the system at around 30 miles and power-cycled it, which fixed the problem. At around 650 miles, the owner power-cycled the system and reset it.
So Is Your F-150 a Lemon?
If your 2025 Ford F-150 is experiencing recurring problems or if you’ve been unable to use it for a significant amount of time, you may have a lemon on your hands. In that case, it’s worth speaking to a lemon law attorney. Each year, automakers like Ford are required to buy back, replace, or provide cash settlements for thousands of defective vehicles. And under federal and state lemon laws, Ford — not you — must pay the legal fees.
At Lemberg Law, we’ve helped many vehicle owners resolve claims and get compensation. We offer a free case evaluation and won’t charge you a cent unless you win. If your 2025 F-150 qualifies, we’ll help you fight for the justice you deserve. Call our Helpline or fill out a short contact form now. We’ll review your case and get back to you as quickly as possible.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
