The Lemon IndexA brake pedal that is hard to push usually means the power assist has stopped helping.
Stop and get help. Get it checked before you drive again. Stopping takes far more force than normal.
A failing brake booster. Then: a vacuum leak or a cracked booster hose; a failing vacuum pump (common on diesels, turbo engines and some hybrids).
Owners describe this in 2,265 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Chevrolet Silverado | 65 | 5% |
| 2014 Chevrolet Silverado | 60 | 4% |
| 2015 GMC Sierra | 45 | 5% |
| 2016 Chevrolet Silverado | 39 | 4% |
| 2013 Ford Edge | 36 | 1% |
| 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe | 31 | 5% |
| 2017 Chevrolet Silverado | 31 | 3% |
| 2015 Chevrolet Suburban | 25 | 6% |
| 2011 Ford Edge | 24 | 1% |
| 2014 GMC Sierra | 23 | 3% |
| 2012 Ford Edge | 21 | 2% |
| 2017 GMC Sierra | 19 | 4% |
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
2019 GMC Terrain · 6% 2012 Mazda CX-9 · 6% 2020 Chevrolet Equinox · 6% 2011 Mazda CX-9 · 6% 2015 Chevrolet Suburban · 6% 2020 GMC Terrain · 6% 2016 Chevrolet Suburban · 5% 2015 GMC Sierra · 5%
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 hard to push
- A failing brake booster
- A vacuum leak or a cracked booster hose
- A failing vacuum pump (common on diesels, turbo engines and some hybrids)
- A sticking pedal or master cylinder
- An electric brake-assist fault on newer cars
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 is hard to push?
Stop and get help. Get it checked before you drive again. Stopping takes far more force than normal.
Get help right away if always: the car may not stop in time.
Of the 2,265 complaints describing it, 11% mention a crash, 5% say the car was towed and 3% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: service brakes (55%), service brakes, hydraulic (36%), engine (6%), electrical system (6%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 60,660 miles.
Most reports by make: Chevrolet (671), Ford (344), Gmc (257), Dodge (150), Toyota (123).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (brakes repairs): the middle half ran $622 to $1,500, typical $850, from 22 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 ABS light on Brake pedal goes to the floor Grinding noise when braking Car shakes when braking Squeaky brakes
Quick answers
What causes brake pedal hard to push?
A brake pedal that is hard to push usually means the power assist has stopped helping. Common causes: a failing brake booster; a vacuum leak or a cracked booster hose; a failing vacuum pump (common on diesels, turbo engines and some hybrids); a sticking pedal or master cylinder; an electric brake-assist fault on newer cars.
Is it safe to drive if the brake pedal is hard to push?
Stop and get help. Get it checked before you drive again. Stopping takes far more force than normal.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ford Edge. 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 22 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $622 to $1,500. 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