10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 27 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 103,015 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
While driving at approx. 15-20 mph approaching a busy intersection began applying brakes and they instantly felt soft and spongy and went nearly to the floor I continued to apply pressure as I approached a busy intersection and eventually stopped. Continued to drive to get someplace safe and at every brake the brakes were very soft and needed a lot of additional space to stop and went almost to the floor. In reviewing all forums this seems a common and sudden issue. Mine occurred with no warning, popping or ABS engaging. Allowing the car to sit as it is Sunday afternoon and will see how it feels tomorrow. I am quite frankly afraid to drive my car and have to get to work somehow...
- Sioux Falls, SD, USA
This problem has happened to me twice already. The first time, the ABS brakes engaged after driving over some water on the highway. The brake pedal got soft, went down almost to the floor, and did not reset itself. I was afraid to drive with the decreased braking power. I called a Ford dealer and they said they had never heard of this problem, although I could hear some snickering in the background. I told them I found forum after forum online of other Fusion owners complaining of the very same thing. They could only offer an appointment in 2.5 weeks to take a look at it. I called an independent garage and a mechanic looked at it the same day, checked a few things and added some brake fluid to the master cylinder (mc). The braking power returned. He said I would need a new mc if it happened again. A few weeks later it happened again. The ABS brakes engaged after I braked to avoid a car making a surprise turn in front of me. The brake pedal went to the floor and became soft. It felt like I had no braking power at all. I had to press the brake pedal extremely hard in order to slow down or stop. I got off the highway and kept pumping the brake pedal repeatedly to get it to reset. After a few attempts, it reset itself to its normal position. I took the car to a Ford dealer a few days later. They could get the ABS to engage, but could not recreate the problem with the brake pedal going to the floor. They did not know what to do, and could only offer a $2000 "fix" they would not guarantee. I did not take them up on their offer, and they did not believe changing the master cylinder would correct the problem. The problem could occur again any time the ABS is activated.
- Somerset, NJ, USA
I was driving in snow and when I hit the brakes the ABS made a loud noise and my brake pedal went to the floor. Since then my brakes go almost to the floor before stopping.
- Bloomington, IL, USA
After braking on ice, the ABS engaged then the brakes became spongy and the brake pedal went to the floor. It was snowing very badly and the sponginess continued until the car sat still for hours and then the brake pedal pressure returned. Eight months later on a hot, dry day, while braking over a raised joint on the pavement, the ABS engaged and the brakes again became spongy and the brake pedal went to the floor again. We came home and bled the brakes thinking the action of the ABS might have agitated the brake fluid causing bubbles, but the fluid was not foamy only small amounts of air came out. But the brakes two days later are still spongy. We looked on the internet and found forum after forum on websites complaining about this same problem, but there are no recalls on this vehicle, but other Ford vehicles have been recalled for ABS issues. I am scared the brakes will fail when I need them the most.
- Moriarty, NM, USA
Once around April 27th or so I was driving on the highway to go to dallas. Traffic was slowing down so I applied my brakes, the car did not stop right away. I began to panic and began to pump them and the car finally stopped about a foot behind the car in front of me. Then on another occasion, on or about July 13th I was driving on a street near where I purchased the 2008 Ford Fusion. As I approached a red light I began to apply my brakes but the vehicle did not stop it began to click and was already past the corner, I looked over my left shoulder and traffic was starting to come my way so I let up off the brakes and accelerated. I am very afraid and have called Ford Motor Company that said there were no recalls on the brakes for my VIN. I hope I don't have to be a statistic before the do something about this dangerous safety issue with this car. I just bought it 11 months ago, so I have a long time to pay for it.
- Arlington, TX, USA
Its the ABS. I have changed the brakes gotten new master cylinder and I still cannot get full brake control. Still pushing pedal almost to the floor. My mechanic checked on this site which showed others with same problem. Which he stated is a factory defect.
- Grand Prairie, TX, USA
After ABS engaged the brake pedal is now very soft and requires that the pedal to be pushed completely to floor. Approx 3months ago new brake pads and at least 2 rotors were replaced as well as the brake fluid was flushed. So I know that the brake system was in good shape at that time.
- Dacula, GA, USA
I was slowing to turn into the driveway of my work, when all of the sudden I felt kind of a popping sensation in the braking and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I had already driven around that morning with no issues, problems or incidents. I called my mechanic and slowly drove the car to the shop, where the brake pedal continued to go all the way to the floor and it was very difficult to get my car to stop. The mechanic inspected and per their report: "there are no visible brake fluid leaks present at this time. A thorough visual inspection was performed on the entire braking system including brake pads, rotors, calipers, brake lines, clips, screws, ABS control module, electronics etc. 2- upon further investigation it was also determined that this complaint is becoming more common with Ford Fusion owners (see safecar.gov) and after reviewing identifix there appears to be a equal amount of failures between the master cylinder and no ABS malfunction error codes and not being able to duplicate the clients complaint during a extended road test." When I picked up my car the afternoon after taking it to the shop, the brakes were very hard at first application and then they went back to normal.
- Arlington, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the brakes failed. The contact was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated that the master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000. Updated 12/04/13
- St Paul , MN, USA
The vehicle would randomly lose its braking efficiency. The brake pedal would go all the way to the floor and would require 3 times more distance to stop. I need to pump the brakes a few times as if im bleeding the system, upon pumping the brakes the system will then feel pressurized and able to apply pressure to the calipers.
- Perris, CA, USA
Was driving and as I went around a corner, the brake pedal (which was slightly depressed) went completely to the floor. Lost all pressure. I pulled into a parking lot. Turned car off and back on. Gradually pressure resumed. Drove another day or so and it happened again while I was going straight. I went to the dealer. Had my master cylinder, brakes, rotors, and brake booster all replaced. That was the beginning of September. Now in December, it is happening again.
- Marlton, NJ, USA
- Santa Teresa, NM, USA