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All Symptoms

Soft or spongy brake pedal

Serious - act right away

brake pedal sinks to the floor · mushy brakes

Symptom description

The brake pedal feels soft, spongy or sinks further toward the floor than usual before the brakes actually engage.

Common causes

  • Air trapped in the brake lines (needs bleeding)
  • Low or leaking brake fluid
  • A failing master cylinder
  • A brake fluid leak at a caliper, hose or line

What to check

Check the brake fluid reservoir level under the hood - if it is low, that alone is a red flag pointing to a leak somewhere in the system.

Can you keep driving?

Not recommended. A soft pedal is one of the more serious brake warning signs and can progress to pedal-to-the-floor brake failure. Have it inspected before driving further.

Ask AI for more specific detail

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Find a repair shop

Run a shop? The OBD decoder, fuse box diagrams and parts catalog are built into the Motoro dashboard. See Motoro for workshops

Descriptions are for guidance only and do not replace a workshop inspection. If you are ever unsure whether it is safe to keep driving, pull over in a safe spot.

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