Four problems related to brake light on have been reported for the 2006 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Ford F-150 based on all problems reported for the 2006 F-150.
Brake light continuously on due to fault in cluster panel. Safety issue in not knowing when there are braking problems.
After countless hours spent diagnosing a dash brake lite warning. These vehicles factory defect is the electronics board or speedometer cluster. Countless people are driving with a brake light on with nothing possibly wrong. When something does go wrong they may not have a clue until the vehicle has no brakes.
Ford F-150 fx4 140,000. 0 miles. Brake light has been on for several years starting around 2010 with 76,000. 0 miles. The brakes were replaced and flushed multiple times since the problem started. Replaced brake cable e-brake switch etc. . . Everything points to the cluster and there are multiple websites the verify the same exact problem with the brake light beginning from 2004-2010. In some states this is an indpectable item adding additional and mandatory repairs to be made. The cluster repair part cost anywhere from $400. 00-$600. 00 and with labor could run well over $1000. 00 pending on the model of the F-150. My bottom line is that this issue has gone without a recall from Ford or the NHTSA.
On Saturday, March 8, 2008, I was traveling with my 2006 Ford F-150 and stopped for gas. Upon engine restart I heard a backfire and smelled a peculiar odor. I checked under the truck and under the hood and found nothing unusual. I started the truck and didn't notice anything either. There was no check engine light or any other visual reference to indicate there was a problem. I got back on the highway and drove for approximately 2 hours (100 miles) and exited the highway. While on the exit ramp I applied the brakes only to discover that they were extremely hard to depress and were ineffective. I managed to guide the truck off the road while simultaneously applying the emergency brake and gearing down and was able to stop before hitting vehicles stopped at a traffic light at the end of the ramp. I discovered later (after being towed to a dealership) that the vacuum line from the intake manifold had ruptured (occurred when the vehicle backfired) leaving no power assist for the brakes. There was no check engine light. There was no brake warning light. There were no codes from the on board diagnostic computer. I had traveled for 2 hours and 100 miles with no brakes unaware of the existing hazard. The dealer could not explain the absence of any warning. I was fortunate to have been able to stop the truck and avoid an accident.