This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Cosumer owns 2009 Ford Fusion. On four different occasions vehicle lost significant braking pressure that was believed to be caused by wheels hitting potholes which resulted in sudden dropping of brake pedal to floor, a decrease in rate of deceleration of vehicle, increase in stopping distance, and loss of ability to control car's deceleration by increasing the foot pressure applied to the brake pedal.
After applying the brakes with much force to stop suddenly, the brake pedal remains soft/spongy. The brake pedal has remained soft/spongy since the event. The brakes still work and there is no warning or indicator light that indicating a problem with the brakes. I changed all four brake pads and the brake pedal remains soft/spongy. I have had to adjust my stopping distances.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. While driving 40 mph, the ABS failed and the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard while attempting to stop the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated prior to the failure. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and no failures were found. It was unknown if a dealer or manufacturer were contacted. The failure mileage was 82,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. While driving 50 mph, traffic came to an abrupt stop. The brake pedal was depressed, but failed to adequately slow down the vehicle. The contact stated that the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard. Additionally, the brake pedal became spongy. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that either the ABS module or the ABS controller failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Blaise alexander Ford located at 2265 old turnpike rd, lewisburg, pa 17837, (570) 524-7267, was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 50,300.
While driving straight on an asphalt street (no unusual road surface conditions that I can recall) I braked hard to avoid a vehicle that ran a stop sign immediately in front of me. Since then any time I press on the brakes they are spongy for the majority of the press down and the stopping distance is increased. The reduced braking of the car is even, it doesn't pull to one side or the other. There don't appear to be any problems with the brakes at the wheels and the problem is evidently symptomatic of a problem with the anti-lock braking system.
- Clovis, CA, USA
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Takata recall I was in a wreak because the brakes in the floor when I was driving in the rain on the highway. The air bag in the steering wheel came out.
For the last few months I have had intermittent problems with my braking system. Many times, when I would apply the brakes as I was going over uneven surfaces or gravel, the ABS system would engage and the brake pedal would lose pressure. During this time I would have to apply a much greater force to the pedal to get the car to stop. Almost every time this would happen, I would not stop where I was intending to, but would go by my intended target. Until today, this has not caused problems. However, today, I was traveling at a speed of approximately 25mph as I was going down a hill and approaching a turn. As I was applying the brakes the ABS system engaged unexpectedly, the pedal lost all pressure and went straight to the floor, and the car was not slowing down at all. I lost control of the vehicle, went over a curb, hit an embankment and finally came to a stop. I had the vehicle looked at, immediately, by my local mechanic. He told me that the general braking system seemed to be in good working order (pads, rotors, calipers, hoses, pressure, master cylinder, etc...) he mentioned that this model of vehicle had some problems with the ABS systems and recommended that I take it to my local Ford dealer. I have an appointment with them this week. In the meantime, I researched the ABS issue he mentioned and found the open investigation into exactly my problem. This is another complaint showing that this problem is very real and quite dangerous. NHTSA action number: PE16017
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. While the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. The contact applied excessive force to the brake pedal. The contact was concerned of a future injury. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the rear passenger side caliper and brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken back to the independent mechanic where the ABS modulator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: Cas13938410. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
The ABS system is faulty, the brakes lock up when on the least amount of ice or snow and now the pedal requires pumping or it will go to the floor. It used to correct itself but now seems to be permanent. While I have been able to stop the car I am concerned about my safety, what if it stops working at all? if can happen from any speed.
Driving 55 mpd, then went to turn and no brake response after pushing pedal after ABS engaged, nearly went off the road, continued to have to push pedal all the way to floor to get any response; went away after car restarted for now; dealer said needs ABS hydraulic control unit replaced
After hitting a rough area on the road, my brake pedal went all the way to the floor. It never corrected itself. That was a few years ago and the pedal still goes to the floor every time I press the brakes. Also, the dash where the air bag is, is severely bubbled.
Brake pedal went to the floor while braking. This happened three (3) times while the wife was driving the car; had a hard time stopping. Twice in 2017 and once in 2018. The events happened while trying to stop for a stop sign on city streets.
Takata recall. The brakes seem to not be fixable. I have replace brake pads, master cynlinder, flushed out break fluid, bled brake. Brake are still not working properly. If I hit a bump at a pretty good speed, the brakes get worse and then I have to push the pedal all the way to the floor and still doesn't really slow down. I have spent a lot of money on getting these brakes repaired and still not working properly. I hit on brakes to pull over and I hit a bump on the side of the road and brakes stopped working properly again. I don't know what else to do. I have had Ford dealership inspect brakes and they said I need to replace master cylinder. I replaced it and no change.
Brake pedal is soft after ABS activated resulting in unexpectedly increased stopping distance. I recently had the mast cylinder replaced to fix this, but the problem persists. After several hard pumps of the pedal, it's firmness is restored.
Hit patch of ice and had ABS system engage. Immediately afterwards the brakes became soft and wouldn't engage until the pedal was almost to the floor. Car has 70K miles on it.
Issue happened 4 times in last year and a half. Slight skid twice on wet pavement, once on stone driveway, and once on wet metal sensor plate leading into toll booth. All 4 times were at low speed. Two times I was turning. Two times I was just slowing to a stop. Brake pedal went soft and braking distance increased. Soft pedal gradually improved over a period of weeks, but still felt softer than it should be and I questioned the reliability. The first time it happened, I took to a mechanic who couldn't find anything wrong. The last time I took to a Ford dealership, told them the symptoms, and asked them to check the hcu for the ABS. They told me the master cylinder was shot and had to be replaced and they could only check the hcu afterwards, which turned out to be faulty. So they ended up replacing both the master cylinder and the hcu. The bill was $2000 but the brakes now feel like they are supposed to.
Driving in light snow approx. 20 mph, stopping at a stop sign pedal went to floor and remained soft, pumping pedal brought it up again slightly but stopping is very slow. After not moving it for a day, pedal came back up and seemed fine. Second time this has happened in 6 months. It is now in the repair shop as I feel it is unsafe to drive. Mechanics have said it is mechanical either master cylinder or ABS valve but there is no test to determine what the problem is according to Ford mechanics. There are only 73000 miles on the car. Seems this happens when it is wet or snowing and it is random when it happens, however once the pedal goes to the floor it does not come back up to normal until after the car sits for a day. This is a very expensive repair and if it turns out to be the valve there is a 3 day wait to get the part, in the meantime I am forced to rent a car also. I have heard that Ford is well aware of this issue but is not addressing the situation or taking responsibility for poor design and engineering. In the meantime the consumer is forced to either pay for the repair or get rid of an unsafe car.
During a braking event on a snowy, slippery surface, my ABS was activated. I was slowing down from ~50mph to 0mph in order to make a turn. After my ABS activated during the initial application of the brake, my pedal became soft and I can now press it all the way to the floor. Due to this increased brake pedal travel, it takes me a significantly longer distance/time to slow my car down. If I were to apply the brakes normally, I would not be able to stop in time and could end up in an intersection or in an accident. This has happened once before and my brakes were bled to 'address' the issue. The issue now has reoccurred after another ABS event. These incidents are similar to what is described in the open NHTSA investigation PE16-017.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that when she had to abruptly apply pressure to the brake pedal, the vehicle did not stop. There were no warning indicators illuminated before or after the failure. Ford Lincoln of columbia (115 S james campbell blvd in columbia, tn) diagnosed the failure, but the results were not available. The vehicle was not repaired in the past; reported problem but Ford couldn't duplicate issue. But the failure recurred. Seems to be a failure with the ABS sensor. Slowing down, hit bumper press suddenly harder on brakes ABS pedal goes down to floor, car speeds up! currently contact is not driving the car. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Inglewood, CA, USA