Parking Brake randomly engages while driving

[RJones]

Has anyone else experienced their parking brake engaging uncommanded while parked or while driving.

It had happened to me 2-3 times now in the 15 months that I’ve owned my 2023 Wildtrak.

The first time was several months ago when I was home and I couldn’t get it to unengage after starting it up in my garage. (I always engage the parking brake when I park.).

A very short while after that it randomly engaged after a drive and when I put in reverse to back into my garage.

On both of those occasions, I simply shut the vehicle off, I believe I had to wait several minutes with it off, and restarted in to clear the issue.

Last week, i got a notification that the parking brake was suddenly engaged while driving 75mph on the highway. I believe ot was only an indication issue and it wasn’t actually engaged. There didn’t appear to be any brake force occurring. I pulled over and turned the engine on and off a few times, but it wouldn’t clear. Since the brake didn’t appear to be actually engaged and I was close to home, I drove home and it randomly cleared itself before I arrived. The next day I drove to work with no issue.

Any help or experience with this issues would be appreciated. I have a trip planned to Palo Duro canyon in two weeks and don’t want to get stuck in the canyon.

Sponsored

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Has anyone else experienced their parking brake engaging uncommanded while parked or while driving.

It had happened to me 2-3 times now in the 15 months that I’ve owned my 2023 Wildtrak.

The first time was several months ago when I was home and I couldn’t get it to unengage after starting it up in my garage. (I always engage the parking brake when I park.).

A very short while after that it randomly engaged after a drive and when I put in reverse to back into my garage.

On both of those occasions, I simply shut the vehicle off, I believe I had to wait several minutes with it off, and restarted in to clear the issue.

Last week, i got a notification that the parking brake was suddenly engaged while driving 75mph on the highway. I believe ot was only an indication issue and it wasn’t actually engaged. There didn’t appear to be any brake force occurring. I pulled over and turned the engine on and off a few times, but it wouldn’t clear. Since the brake didn’t appear to be actually engaged and I was close to home, I drove home and it randomly cleared itself before I arrived. The next day I drove to work with no issue.

Any help or experience with this issues would be appreciated. I have a trip planned to Palo Duro canyon in two weeks and don’t want to get stuck in the canyon.

Hi there! If you send over a DM with your VIN and Ford dealer info, I can look into your concerns on my end.

 

[adam1991]

I would report this to NHTSA, regardless of what other actions you may take.

 

[Ducati1098]

Has anyone else experienced their parking brake engaging uncommanded while parked or while driving.

It had happened to me 2-3 times now in the 15 months that I’ve owned my 2023 Wildtrak.

The first time was several months ago when I was home and I couldn’t get it to unengage after starting it up in my garage. (I always engage the parking brake when I park.).

A very short while after that it randomly engaged after a drive and when I put in reverse to back into my garage.

On both of those occasions, I simply shut the vehicle off, I believe I had to wait several minutes with it off, and restarted in to clear the issue.

Last week, i got a notification that the parking brake was suddenly engaged while driving 75mph on the highway. I believe ot was only an indication issue and it wasn’t actually engaged. There didn’t appear to be any brake force occurring. I pulled over and turned the engine on and off a few times, but it wouldn’t clear. Since the brake didn’t appear to be actually engaged and I was close to home, I drove home and it randomly cleared itself before I arrived. The next day I drove to work with no issue.

Any help or experience with this issues would be appreciated. I have a trip planned to Palo Duro canyon in two weeks and don’t want to get stuck in the canyon.

Are you sure the parking brake is coming on and it's not just the brake warning light?
A message popped up saying parking brake on?

 

[RJones]

Hi there! If you send over a DM with your VIN and Ford dealer info, I can look into your concerns on my end.

I’ve done that before with another issue on my hard top. All you did was tell me that I had a recall on my vin which my Ford app already tells me every time I log in. I’m gonna pass this time since it doesn’t seem to help my situation and only gives you data for who knows what reason.

 

[RJones]

Are you sure the parking brake is coming on and it's not just the brake warning light?
A message popped up saying parking brake on?

One time in the driveway, the brake did actually engage. The latest issue I had on the highway appeared to be a brake indication issue only and brake didn’t appear to be physically engaged

 

[Ducati1098]

One time in the driveway, the brake did actually engage. The latest issue I had on the highway appeared to be a brake indication issue only and brake didn’t appear to be physically engaged

So the red Brake light on the dash doesn't necessary mean the parking brake is engaging. It can also simply mean there is an issue with your brake system. Which is probably why you didn't feel the parking brake engage at 75 mph.

Unless it pops up with a warning saying something like "parking brake on" along with the brake warning light, it's probably not an issue with the parking brake.
If it's only the red brake warning light, then it's likely something else.

If you send me your VIN I can check VHR for any DTCs

 

[Jabronc]

I just dealt with something similar. If you have a 2.3L there is a known issue with the vacuum brake line. See this thread. https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/2-3-vacuum-brake-boost-failure.51629/

 

[RJones]

I just dealt with something similar. If you have a 2.3L there is a known issue with the vacuum brake line. See this thread. https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/2-3-vacuum-brake-boost-failure.51629/

I have the 2.7 liter. I may just need to let my dealer look into it.

 

[indio22]

One time in the driveway, the brake did actually engage. The latest issue I had on the highway appeared to be a brake indication issue only and brake didn’t appear to be physically engaged

Well that's something at least, I would not want it actually engaging at 75mph. Will be interested to hear the root cause, hope it ends up a painless fix for you.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I just dealt with something similar. If you have a 2.3L there is a known issue with the vacuum brake line. See this thread. https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/2-3-vacuum-brake-boost-failure.51629/

Hi there! Will you send us a message with your VIN and your local Ford dealer? I can look into things on my end.

 

[Gonzo]

Ironically my Lincoln Navigator is in the shop for the EXACT SAME THING. A Ford issue perhaps? The frequency of it happening is so low that they cannot re-create in the shop, so nothing to fix is the answer we keep getting.

Happens to us on declines mostly (We live on a mountain, so happens a lot).

Please post if you find anything!

 

[dgorsett]

Mine engaged off road, while stopped briefly to check trail, in 4L twice, two days in a row about 9 months ago and not since. Shut down for about 10 mins. cleared it. it has not happened since. I was in a bad spot and had to power through the brake to get to a wide spot, not fun.

 

[The Beaz]

I've had the "parking brake on" pop-up warning come on while in motion, and recently, the park pawl engages automatically when I shift into park, I can hear the whine as it engages. Didn't do this in the beginning, and me '21 doesn't do it.

Sponsored