Extremely poor design by Ford on the rear brakes for the new model F150 (2004). Parking brake would not release fully and caused premature excessive wear to left rear brakes. There were also premature leaking seals in the left rear brake area.

After many years of buying Ford trucks, I am very disappointed with this very poor design of the rear brakes. The older design was safer and more dependable. This problem should have been covered by a recall. Why would Ford sell a new vehicle with a major problem like this?

Because of this major problem with a F150 that I bought new and babied, I may never buy another Ford again.

Parking brake randomly self engages at various speeds. The first incident happened while going about 45 mph heard a loud noise that sounded as if a tire had blown and a metal on metal sound. I was getting into the turn lane to pull off when suddenly I felt the truck "release" and the noise stopped and the truck drove normally. Took the truck immediately to the mechanic who was able to find that the parking break on the passenger side rear was engaged and was able to manually disengage. Second time was when driving about 70 mph on the interstate parking break again self engaged. I again pulled off and stopped completely and the break disengaged.

Since then it has probably happened 10 times, with no seeming rhyme or reason to when or where it will happen. Took the truck to mechanic who checked all cabling, manually etc and found nothing. Also took the truck to the Ford dealership who initially told me they "knew nothing of it". However I tech heard the conversation and privately informed me that they had fixed several with the same issue. I then took the truck to another dealership and had basically almost the same scenario. I was finally informed by the tech who spoke with me privately that the repair would be around $700.

Ford needs to do a recall this could be potentially dangerous. If the parking break self engaged while on wet or icy roads it could lock up the tires which could result in injury and/or death.