Brakes fail and go to floor randomly despite repairing every known part associated with brake failure. I have been forced to drive onto the road shoulder twice this week.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

This has happened twice now with a month between incidences. I stopped on a downward slope on a city/town street, and then the brakes let go a little and we're soft the rest of my drive. The second time I heard and felt a vibration as the brakes stopped holding and I had to press harder. Both times the brakes have eventually returned to normal, two hours later the first time and 24 hours later the second. My mechanic believes this sounds like the antilock brake system. This is concerning because though it is fine now, I don't know where or when the brakes will stop being effective. I do a lot of driving and I live in a hilly part of the country that gets snow in the winters. I need to be able to trust my car brakes will not give out on me all of a sudden.

- Fiskdale, MA, USA

Problem with brakes, spongie, going to the floor even after I replaced brakes rotors and calipers the whole way around the vehicle. Does not happen all the time only 50,000 miles on the vehicle. Mechanic told us nothing was wrong. But why does it continue to happen. This is unsafe and I have almost been involved in 2 accidents due to brakes failing. How do I get this fixed and how can I have this taken care of. It is worse when it is wet or raining out. All of a sudden brakes go to floor and you are unable to stop even when pumping the brakes.

- Dover, PA, USA

After the anti-lock brake feature has engaged, on subsequent stops the brake pedal will be very soft. I will have to pump the brake pedal in order to stop the car. When the car is turned off and sits for a period of time (hour or more) the pedal usually returns to normal. I have owned the car for 7 years, this has occurred on several occasions, the latest was 10/27/2018.

- Midland Park, NJ, USA

Was stopping at a red light hit a bump and brakes quit working.

- Sistersville, WV, USA

Hydraulic control unit failed on the ABS system. Brake pedal pressure was lost and brakes went to the floor and failed. This seems like a very common problem on this model based on reported issue with this car. Brakes failed on the road while being driven. The car would stop but pedal was almost to the floor. Car has been repaired at our expense.

- Dublin, OH, USA

Herky jerky acceleration. Dealership said it was a sensor. 6 months later, same problem. Dealership said a small oil leak burned through some wires. Stated some sort of issue with a wiring harness. Stated wiring harness needed replaced, but was virtually impossible to locate. Brakes constantly need repairs/replacements. Multiple times per year.

- Hilliard, OH, USA

I was driving and hit a small pothole - my brakes subsequently became extremely soft to the point where I felt like I had no braking power.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Brake pedal very spongy, goes almost to floor, doesn't matter moving or stopped, if pumped will come up but fades away. I notice it is not a random occurrence and is all over the various websites. If it is, why hasn't Ford done anything about it? it is bad enough I can't get the airbag fixed let alone safely stop the car before I would need the airbags! as a john Q. public I don't have $1000 dollars to fix a "safety" concern that has to be known to the manufacturer. If Ford values return customers they need to step up to the plate. I understand the cost of the rectifying these issues but I also as a former Ford dealer employee would like to see the right thing done if they expect repeat car sales.

- Fostoria, OH, USA

Takata recall I have had issues with my brakes ever since I got the brake pads changed about a year ago. I have taken it to several shops that cannot tell what is causing the problem. It is really difficult to get the car to stop. You really have to press all the way down. I find it extremely dangerous. Brakes should work immediately not with a delay. In rain or snow the car has an even more difficult time stopping which has almost resulted in a few accidents. I really believe their needs to be a recall. This is our family's car and I don't even feel safe driving it alone, much less with my children. Please look into this matter. Peoples lives are at stake!

- Alamogordo, NM, USA

West chester, Ohio, between 6:30 am and 7:00 am est on 10/18/2018 while travelling southbound on I-75 coming from the union center boulevard on-ramp heading towards the norwood lateral parkway (562); please reference the attached pdf for google map images of the area. The event that I describe in the following paragraphs has occurred in at least four other incidences involving similar conditions: I was heading from the la fitness on allen road in West chester, oh to hixson architecture engineering interiors in cincinnati, oh. I was approaching a bridge in the road that went over what I believe is an agricultural water runoff. In between the bridge and the contiguous roadway is a small break where you can feel a slight bump because of the partition. As I approached the partition, traffic began to slow due to high volume at that time in the morning. I proceeded to apply pressure to my brake pedal at the same time I was crossing the partition. As soon as I hit the partition, my brake pedal lost the majority of its pressure, requiring me to force the pedal almost all the way to the floor in order to avoid a collision with the vehicle in front of me. Just when I hit the break in the road and my brake pedal lost pressure, I believe I could hear the sounds of my anti-lock braking system engage, like a clicking as if I lost traction and were skidding on ice. There was no ice, rain, sleet, or snow today, and the previous times this same phenomenon has occurred, there were also no conditions caused by inclement weather such as rain, snow, sleet, or ice. This appears to happen if I should encounter some sort of bump or pothole in the road while applying pressure to my brake pedal at the same time, causing my anti-lock braking system to engage, further causing my brakes to exhibit the same aforementioned effects.

- Sharonville, OH, USA

Basically, the brakes ABS seems to kick in and sticks. Once it does the brakes go to to the floor and never come back to normal. I took it to the mechanic seemed to be a temporary fix and they happened again 2 weeks later. The brakes go to the floor very soft.

- Omaha, NE, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. While driving various speeds, the ABS failed. The contact stated that the front two wheels seized on several occasions, resulting in a series of skid patterns and near crashes. The contact stated that the failure occurred at least eight times since July of 2018. In addition, the contact stated that there was a loss of brake pressure for a period of approximately 24 to 72 hours after the failures. Encinitas Ford (1424 encinitas blvd, encinitas, ca 92024, (888) 700-8208) was made aware of the failures, but they could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

- Washington, DC, USA

Issue with brake pedal going all the way to the floor - with difficulty coming to a normal stop. There is a need to brake way ahead of the normal distance to avoid potential accident. Master cylinder was replaced, no lose of fluid, checked by multiple mechanics, and there isn't an obvious issue except possible faulty parts. Researching has indicated this has affected many other drivers in the same way. I noticed an investigation was created in April of 2018, but I don't see a resolution. There have been more than 25 accidents to date directly related to this issue. It would seem prudent and responsible to issue a recall to address the large scale issue.

- Abingdon, MD, USA

2009 Ford Fusion brake system failure. While driving 65mph and abruptly applying brakes for a second the pedal went to the floor. I tried to pump the brakes several times and then apply a lot of pressure to the pedal to get the car to brake. The pedal was on the floor and the braking distance was increase dramatically. I avoid an accident by changing lanes since my brakes had failed proper operation. I got off the next exit and in a parking lot had a hard time stopping and the pedal was spongy and on the floor. I jabbed the brakes again repeatedly and it pedal return somewhat and my braking distance had returned to normal. The pedal was still spongy and had increase travel before ingagement. After the repairs the pedal still had travel before engagement but was no longer spongy. The bottom of the pedal can be felt if pressed hard, concerning but the dealership said it was safe...

- Manakin, VA, USA

2009 Ford Fusion brake failure was experienced while driving 30-40mpg on an exit ramp that was in a curve during the rain and during applying the brakes, the ABS engaged unexpectedly and the pedal went to the floor. The braking distance increased roughly twice the normal required distance to come to a stop while requiring significantly increased pedal pressure. Pumping the brakes twice did not help stop the car or to build pressure in the pedal. I was successful in recreating the issue while stopping over grass in the road causing ABS engagement or over gravel on pavement to cause the ABS engagement with the results being roughly 40% of the time the pedal goes to the floor. To get the brake pedal to return to normal I quickly and harshly jab the brakes many times causing the hcu to become unstuck only for the issue to return during the next few tests. This is my 2nd faulty hcu!!! please recall this safety issue.

- Manakin Sabot, VA, USA

After engaging the ABS system on a gravel road, the brake pedal went soft. It now requires significant pumping and increased distance to stop the vehicle. The master cylinder was replaced, but this did not fix the problem. Research uncovered that this is a known problem/defect with this model year Fusion. I am wondering if there is any momentum towards a Ford recall on this ABS issue. It is a significant safety hazard, and well documented.

- Grayling, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. While driving approximately 45 mph, the brake pedal became soft and failed to stop the vehicle. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to friendly Ford (734-243-6000, located at 2800 N telegraph rd, monroe, mi 48162) where it was diagnosed that the calipers needed to be replaced. The calipers were replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, but the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was not remedied. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. The consumer stated the manufacturer was notified and suggested taking the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer could not detect an issue. The consumer requested that the ABS hcu be replaced. The vehicle was replaced.

- Newport, MI, USA

I am also experiencing soft/nearly failing brakes that no shop can find the cause of on my meticulously maintained 2009 Ford Fusion. I refer to your current investigation NHTSA action number: EA18002 first happened in another town when driving from a stop slowly around a corner through a puddle...ABS engaged, brakes went soft. Took to a nearby shop who looked, tinkered with it, could find nothing, but the brakes firmed up again. Again new years day 2017, rolled over a patch of ice, same thing, ABS engaged, brakes went soft, pumping did not help. Took to my local shop, they put it on a rack, couldn't find anything wrong, tinkered with the emergency brake, apparently did the trick. It did it again two days ago when I stopped hard due to a car in front of me stopping quickly without notice. Been soft ever since. I have no records because no one charged me for checking it out. My local Ford dealer where I bought this has done all brake work and fluid exchange as needed and recommended. It just underwent a safety check a week ago while having an oil change and all was well. This is very dangerous. Ford has got to address this and putt the trigger on replacing the hcus like is the suspected culprit. Someone's going to get killed.

- Lexington, KY, USA

The brakes in the car seemed "squishy" or soft requiring that the driver push the brake pedal nearly through the floor to engage the brakes. I have taken it to multiple shops and had multiple repairs including but not limited to, 2 brand new master cylinders. Several near miss incidents have happened but luckily no accidents. I took the car in today to have the takata airbag recall completed and was told I needed a new hcu. It is my understanding that there have been multiple complaints regarding this make and model regarding faulty hcu parts.

- Overland Park, KS, USA