The Lemon IndexA pedal that sinks or goes to the floor means the brake system is losing pressure. This is a safety problem.
Stop and get help. Don’t drive it. Have it towed or checked where it sits.
A brake fluid leak (lines, hoses, calipers or wheel cylinders). Then: a failing master cylinder; air in the brake lines.
Owners describe this in 13,417 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Chevrolet Silverado.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Chevrolet Silverado | 282 | 14% |
| 2004 Chevrolet Silverado | 225 | 12% |
| 2008 Ford Fusion | 221 | 16% |
| 2009 Ford Fusion | 194 | 19% |
| 2013 Ford Edge | 188 | 8% |
| 2000 Chevrolet Silverado | 165 | 8% |
| 2010 Ford Fusion | 164 | 3% |
| 2002 Chevrolet Silverado | 160 | 10% |
| 2016 Ford F-Series | 114 | 4% |
| 2015 Ford F-Series | 112 | 5% |
| 2001 Chevrolet Silverado | 108 | 6% |
| 2009 Nissan Murano | 107 | 17% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2009 Hyundai Genesis · 28% 2009 Ford Fusion · 19% 2009 Nissan Murano · 17% 2008 Ford Fusion · 16% 2003 Chevrolet Silverado · 14% 2013 Lincoln MKX · 13% 2012 Hyundai Genesis · 13% 2004 Chevrolet Silverado · 12%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of brake pedal goes to the floor
- A brake fluid leak (lines, hoses, calipers or wheel cylinders)
- A failing master cylinder
- Air in the brake lines
- Low brake fluid from worn pads or a leak
- An ABS unit fault
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if the brake pedal goes to the floor?
Stop and get help. Don’t drive it. Have it towed or checked where it sits.
Get help right away if always: a sinking pedal can mean no brakes.
Of the 13,417 complaints describing it, 14% mention a crash, 4% say the car was towed, 0.6% mention a fire and 4% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: service brakes, hydraulic (52%), service brakes (44%), vehicle speed control (3%), electrical system (3%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 77,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Chevrolet (3,471), Ford (3,041), Gmc (1,171), Toyota (777), Nissan (539).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (brakes repairs): the middle half ran $800 to $2,000, typical $1,300, from 289 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Brakes not working Grinding noise when braking Brake pedal hard to push ABS light on Car shakes when braking Squeaky brakes
Quick answers
What causes brake pedal goes to the floor?
A pedal that sinks or goes to the floor means the brake system is losing pressure. This is a safety problem. Common causes: a brake fluid leak (lines, hoses, calipers or wheel cylinders); a failing master cylinder; air in the brake lines; low brake fluid from worn pads or a leak; an ABS unit fault.
Is it safe to drive if the brake pedal goes to the floor?
Stop and get help. Don’t drive it. Have it towed or checked where it sits.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Fusion and Ford F-Series. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 289 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $800 to $2,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup