10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 40 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 9 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 91,320 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
On 3 occasions my anti-lock brake system seemed to engage and fail causing the entire brake system itself to fail. One occasion was braking over a slick surface in a city street, my anti-lock brakes attempted to engage and the pedal then went straight to the floor and my vehicle hardly slowed down even 5 mph. On two other occasions going over uneven surfaces, one a high way exit ramp, the other a city street under construction. I attempted to brake so my suspension system would take less of an impact, and because of the object I was going over my anti-lock brakes engaged and failed. On both occasions the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor and the vehicle hardly slows at all. Each time this happens the brake pedal will not recover for approximately 2-3 weeks. By this I mean that I must depress the brake pedal about 80% before the brakes will actually engage. After the 2-3 week period the brakes seem to go back to normal on their own. On all three occasions my brake pads were at least 80% and the brake fluid was full.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. While driving at an unknown speed, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (boyd brothers Ford, oxford, nc, 877-658-0824), but the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not call back. Also, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V024000 (air bags). The failure mileage was approximately 72,700. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Jttrell, NC, USA
While traveling at approximately 20 mph on a generally straight, level and dry paved city street., I was applying the brakes to gradually stop the vehicle approaching a stoplight. My right front tire entered a pothole and I felt the ABS activate, I released the brake, and the ABS quickly deactivated. I then pushed the brake pedal to complete the stop, but the pedal went to the floor and I pumped the brake to complete the stop. The issue persisted from that point on (driving two miles before parking). After parking overnight the issue remains, the car will stop but the pedal is soft and needs to be pumped.
- Reston, VA, USA
After the ABS is activated the brake pedal goes to the floor. Has happened multiple times and the only way I can get brake pressure is to get the ABS to activate by slamming on the brakes. I have had to activate the ABS up to 6 times to get pressure back. Very scary the first time it happens.
- Billerica, MA, USA
Loss of braking after ABS event. I was driving down the road and I had to make a sudden stop to avoid hitting another vehicle. The ABS system activated and then the brakes became spongy afterwards. From then on, even the regular brakes were spongy and would not build up pressure after pumping manually. I checked on the internet and there are youtube videos on the subject and there are websites with this complaint. Seems to be widespread. There is also a NHTSA document (ODI resume PE 16-017) on the subject. I talked to a Ford dealer, and he said that to replace the hydraulic control unit (hcu) would cost about $2000. Ford has not issued a technical service bulletin (tsb) or a recall for this problem, so they won't pay for the repair. The regular brakes should work even in the event of an ABS system failure, but this is not happening; thus I cannot rely on my brakes unless the ABS is disabled. Maybe I should pull the ABS fuse.
- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA
Have had 2 incidents of ABS engagement followed by loss of brakes, where pedal went down to the floor. First time was in February of this year. Road conditions were slick and the car slid slightly. ABS was activated and then there was loss of brakes. Had the car towed to a local mechanic and the whole brake system was inspected. All that was found was some air in the lines and brake pressure came back. Rotors, pads, calipers, master cylinder were fine. Second incident happened August 5th while going on vacation. Was about an hour from home when I slowed down to go through a toll booth. Road was wet and I hit a slight bump going through the toll. After I got through the toll, brake pedal sunk to the floor! I then exited the turnpike and headed back home and drove it back an hour with no brake pressure. Fortunately it was early morning and traffic wasn't heavy. I got home, switched all of the luggage into my other car and I called a friend who works on cars and he said I could drop it off and he would look at it while we were on vacation. While he had it, the brake pressure came back. But again entire braking system was inspected and nothing wrong was found. There has to be a glitch in the ABS. The first five years I had the car, nothing like this ever happened. Other on line postings I've read describe similar situations happening when the vehicle has 60,000 or more miles on it. My vehicle is at 60,000. Ford needs to look into this! does someone have to get seriously injured or killed before they take any action?
- Endwell, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. While driving 20 mph, the ABS malfunctioned. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the brake pedal extended approximately 3/4 of the way down. The vehicle lunged forward as if the contact had come to an emergency stop, but only minimal pressure was applied to the brake pedal. The contact stated that the brake malfunction was intermittent. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.
- Fort Scott, KS, USA
When I drive in the rain or when I hit a pot hole, my ABS will kick in and I lose any type of breaking on my car. The break pedal goes all the way down to the floor. It does not matter if im on the highway or the street, as soon as the ABS kicks in I lose the break pedal. This is very dangerous for me and my son.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
There is a malfunction with the hydrolic control unit anti brake system. The brakes only work if you press the pedal completely to the floor. The brakes do not work when pressed regularly, they must be pressed down to the floor. This causes the car to not stop when you need it to, resulting in instances where one might get injured if not fixed.
- Sneads Ferry, NC, USA
Vehicle brakes get spongy and lose power while having foot on brake and going over minor bumps in the road..many times brake pedal will go to the floor after hitting bumps..this has happened more than once and has occurred at various speeds...seems to have started at about 85,000 miles and above..I feel they are waiting for someone to get seriously injured before they look into it.
- Lakewood, OH, USA
Brake pedal drops to floor after hitting a pothole while vehicle is in motion. No brake warning illuminated. This occurred while attempting to brake at an intersection.
- Greer, SC, USA
Brake pedal went soft after ABS was engaged. Now they go soft and almost doesn't stop and takes twice the distance to stop especially after the ABS engages because of braking on wet surface or bumpy/rough surface. This is scary and I would like to get this fixed but if there is a recall I would like to wait until the recall is initiated. Started happening a few years ago but I've just managed with it since.
- Silvis, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving over a bump at 40 mph, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard and the vehicle delayed in responding. The vehicle was taken to rodeo Ford 13680 w test dr, Goodyear, AZ 85338 where the contact could not remember the diagnosis or repairs. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to rodeo Ford where it was diagnosed that ECU and hydraulic control unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, advised the contact to continue to work with the dealer, and transferred the contact directly to NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
- Goodyear, AZ, USA
Brakes go soft after breaking over irregular surface. Paid Ford dealership 1400 dollars to repair. Brakes continue to go soft over irregular surfaces.
- Goodyear, AZ, USA
ABS system bypass sticks when engauged which causes brake pedal to go to floor after use. Happens alot in winter on ice.
- Grafton, OH, USA
After ABS engaged, loss of brake feel and an increase in stopping distance. The top inch of pedal travel felt normal followed by several inches of no brake "feel" until near the bottom of pedal travel where braking resumed. This occurs only after the ABS engages and lasts for several minutes to several days after. Brake loss resulted in a near collision. ABS engaging after event is not as effective as initial ABS event resulting in increased stopping distance while ABS is engaging. This has occured multiple times with the most recent event happening on 7/13/2017. Issue usually resolves a day or two after occurimg but will reoccur if ABS is engaged again.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
When driving on wet or slippery surface and need to brake the brakes lock up and don't unlock until car comes to a complete stop. My speed is not really a factor it has scared the sh out of me and I won't let my wife or kids drive my car when these conditions are present. I've had a mechanic look at it and he can't figure it out.
- Marengo, IL, USA
During routine braking event from approx. 25 mph, the ABS system unexpectedly and unnecessarily engaged. Upon ABS activation the brake pedal lost all pressure and sank to the floor and all braking power was lost. Braking power was eventually regained after repeated pumping of the brake pedal but stopping distance extended well beyond normal even with brake pedal pushed to the floor. I believe this to be related to NHTSA # PE16017
- West Hartford, CT, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. When the contact attempted to apply the brakes while driving 60 mph or more, the brakes malfunctioned. The contact would have to allow for a significant decrease in speed due to the excessive distance needed before the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. The failure also occurred whenever the road conditions were uneven or unstable. The contact took the vehicle to the briarwood Ford dealer where it was determined that the failure was related to NHTSA action number: PE16017 (service brakes, hydraulics); however, there was no recall. The dealer replaced the rear and front brakes, but the failure recurred. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the hcu failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated there was no recall on the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
- Willis, MI, USA
- Broomfield, CO, USA