The Ford Motor Company has recalled hundreds of thousands of its popular F-150 pickup trucks.
The Dearborn-based automaker has issued a recall notice for a total of 343,900 F-150s due to a defect in the brake master cylinder. For the vehicles in question, the cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the brake master cylinder front-wheel circuit into the brake booster.
The trucks are from the model years 2014 through 2017. About 292,300 affected trucks were sold in the U.S., 43,500 in Canada, and the rest in Mexico.
"Depending on the amount of brake fluid loss from the brake master cylinder front-wheel circuit into the brake booster, the driver will receive an audible chime, message-center alert, red brake warning indicator in the instrument cluster, and-or may begin to experience a change in brake pedal travel and feel, including increased pedal effort," read the recall notice. "If a loss of brake fluid is substantial enough to reduce brake function to the front wheels, full braking function will remain in the rear wheel circuit. However, reduced brake function in the front wheels can extend stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash."
Ford said seven low-impact or low-speed collisions resulting from this issue have been reported, with two injuries.
The trucks were built at the Dearborn Truck Plant and the Kansas City Assembly Plant.
Vehicle owners will receive a recall notice. Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder and, if it is leaking, the brake booster as well.
The Ford recall reference number is 20-S-31.
