13 problems related to brake master cylinder have been reported for the 1997 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I last drove my truck on 06/20/2011. When I woke up to feed my animals I heard a sound like a bird caught under my truck. I looked under the drivers side fender and saw flames. I popped the hood and saw the master cylinder was on fire. I grabbed my fire extinguisher from my barn and put the fire out.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford f150. The contact stated that the unoccupied vehicle, engulfed into flames while parked in a garage. The fire department extinguished the fire and informed that the brake master cylinder was the area where the fire originated. The vehicle was completely destroyed, and towed to an impound lot. The failure mileage and VIN were unavailable.
After sitting for 2 days, the truck starting smoking. The consumer opened the hood and the smoke was coming from the master cylinder. A plug in front of the master cylinder had a short. The consumer had to use a fire extinguisher in order to put out the fire. The wiring is burned. The vehicle was taken to dealer and it was still there.
The vehicle was parked for about a hour when it caught on fire. The consumer extinguished the fire with water hose. The fire started at the master cylinder which was replaced. A couple of weeks later the cruise control stop working.
After the vehicle was parked for 6 hours consumer notices smoke coming from under the hood. Consumer lifted the hood and saw that the smoke was coming from the switch attached to the master brake cylinder which was overheating. The consumer disconnected the battery cables. Dealer and the manufacturer were not notified at this time.
Fire originated in lr quadrant of engine compartment. Owner had parked vehicle in driveway 15-30 minutes prior to fire. Vehicle not running at time of fire. Origin is at or near master brake cylinder.
Vehicle experienced problems with the cruise control deactivation switch. Consumer replaced this switch back in may,2004. Currently, the replaced cruise control switch was beginning to leak again. Consumer saw smoke coming from under the hood and found the master cylinder switch was leaking brake fluid again.
Consumer stated that without warning the brakes leaked fluid. The dealer was notified. The switch on the master cylinder started to leak on the abs wiring and started the fire. . . . . .
I had purchased this truck on Dec 19, 2002. The next day I drove it to tampa FL. While on the way there and while in tampa I had a few brake failures. When I was coming to a stop the pedal seemed to get soft, then they would get really hard and start pulsating and the vehicle would not stop. I would have to let off the brakes, and try again. I was lucky that it was early in the morning and most of the time I was not in a lot of traffic, I was able to stop the vehicle. On Dec 29,02. I took the vehicle to the Ford dealership where I purchased it, they looked at it and said they could not find anything wrong with the brakes. In January it must have happened to me about a 12 times, all with the same effects. In Feb 03, I took it back in and they said they could not find anything wrong. A couple of days later the problem was back again now happening more frequently, now March and the problem has happen to me just about every week at least 4 to 5 times a week. On the morning of Mar 28 03, I was taking my child to day care while coming to a stop at a light. I could not stop the truck, I let off the brakes about 2 more times, then I finally just applied the brakes as hard as I could and got it to stop a few inches from the car that was stopped in front of me at that point I contacted the dealership, they said bring it in. I dropped it off the same day. When I called them the following week on April 1 2003. They could not find anything wrong with it, but they were going to replace the brake booster and master cylinder and a check valve. They told me that with all the information that I had given them and from what other mechanics said it would have to be the three components they replaced. That night my truck was ready. I was very confident that the repairs would fix the problem but I was wrong on Apr 06 03. While out and about and coming home I applied the brakes the truck then seem to slow down, then the brakes got hard again and started pulsating at the bottom.
Driving 55-65mph; started to apply brakes; felt hard as a rock; pedal soft at top. Wheels would not lock or stop. No abs brakes on front. Even w/towing had problems w/brake system. Took to dealer & brake pads rotated; master cylinder been replaced to counteract braking problem.
Brake failure, master cyndier leak, when driving thethe abs emergency parking brake light came on; also, saw a loss of fluid.
Master cylinder failed, causing brake failure.
During the normal routine check up the owner of the vehicle noticed the master cylinder has a leak the leakage is between the master cylinder and brake booster.