After front brake pad and both rotor replacement, the vehicle brake pedal had excessive travel to near the floorboard. Braking was degraded with a slight initial pull to the right followed by straight steady stop, but with more pedal pressure and travel than normal... almost like no power brakes. The Ford dealer (see attachment) performed an ABS test after pad and rotor replacement, thus activating the hydraulic control unit, which, if you study the schematic, will place one or more valves in the hcu in bypass mode to allow wheel rotation, thus preventing a skid and wheel lock up. The problem with this is, the valve(s) in the hcu can stay partially open (due to age, debris, old fluid, lack of ABS events) and now you will have degraded brake performance. The dealer will be glad to sell you a new hcu at a cost of $800 to $1000. [xxx]. if the hcu is that finicky, then it should be the subject of a recall and Ford should be responsible for parts and labor. This is a safety issue. I have restored the hcu valve(s) to a seated position by rapidly and forcefully tapping on each valve outlet/inlet with the handle of an adjustable wrench with the engine running. Almost immediately, pedal travel lessened, and what appears to be normal braking with power assist returned. Get on Ford's ass and hold their feet to the fire on this braking issue, lives are at risk here! parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Lantana, TX, USA

The brake pedal some times goes to the floor and doesn't work right until the switch is turned off and restarted. This is very dangerish and will cause an accident and some one will be kil;led

- Hazelwood, MO, USA

While coming to a stop under normal conditions, the pedal drops to the floor as if there is no brake pressure. Braking only occurs when my foot hits the floor. This happens after an ABS event like going around a rough corner while braking. This has happened in the snow, rain, and in dry conditions. It is inconsistent but happens the same way every time. Sometimes normal braking returns but sometimes it can take up to 10 minutes for returning brake pressure. It has caused several near accidents and I no longer trust the vehicle.

- Lockport, NY, USA

When approaching a red light while coming down a hill there was initial response when the brake pedal was pressed. Then there was no braking for the 2/3's of the travel then there was braking again at the bottom of the pedal travel. Braking force was significantly less than normal. Pulled of the road and shut off the car. When started again the brake performance was normal. This has happened twice - about 3-4 months apart. It has been to an independent shop and the dealership and neither were able to replicate the problem or definitively come up with a fix.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

When applying brake pressure and hitting a bump in the road, the brake pedal lost pressure and went to the floor. The brake continued to travel to the floor over the next several attempts to stop. The brakes recovered after the car had sat idle for a few hours.

- Irving, TX, USA

I applied my brakes to make a turn on an uneven street and next thing you know I have soft brakes and have to pump my breaks 2 or 3 times to stop. This has been an ongoing problem 2016. How many more complaints are needed before there is a recall on the hcu unit that every one keeps mentioning also...when will the passenger air bags come in for repairs

- Kyle, TX, USA

Soft brakes. Brake pedal goes all the way to the floor trying to stop the car. Next morning it is okay. This has happened a few times already. Local shop found nothing wrong but indicated it could be possible antilock brake malfunction.

- Twinsburg, OH, USA

Our 2008 Mercury Milan brakes are "soft" and hard to determine the actual stopping distance. The response is slow which requires pumping when trying to anticipate a stop. The fear is needing to make a sudden stop without warning. This appears to be a safety hazard and raise much concern.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

Driving after it rained over night, the car in front of me braked suddenly. I hit the brake hard enough to trigger the ABS system but my car would not stop. I was able to swerve off the road but when I tried applying the brake the pedal went to the floor and softened. I put the car in park and turned it off. When I turned it back on, the pedal was still soft and required I brake a great distance in advance. I had to get the car towed because I could not drive like that in traffic during rush hour.

- Bowie, MD, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Milan. While driving 25 mph, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when depressed. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing the hcu replaced the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000. Updated 06/08/17

- Plymouth, MI, USA

When car is in motion and ABS braking is activated due to braking on gravel or slick roads, the brake pedal goes soft and to the floor. Braking ability is greatly reduced requiring you to rapidly pump brake pedal to regain some hydraulic pressure.

- Davidson, NC, USA

Everytime I hit a bump the ABS kicks on and my brakes will not work. Brake pedal goes all the way down. My car has been to the dealership many times for this problem. I have spent about 1500 dollars and still have this issue. They have even told me that there is nothing wrong. My car is unsafe! now they are trying to charge me 1000 dollars to replace the hcu. After looking this up it turns out this is a very common issues with 08 milians. I am at my wits end with this. Ford needs to recall these cars. It gives the driver no warning that the brakes are going to fail.

- Mckeesport, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercury Milan. When the brake pedal was depressed and the ABS was activated at various speeds over gravel or bumpy roads, the pedal would lose pressure and travel to the floor without warning. As a result, the vehicle hesitated to stop. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that an unknown module and pump related to the braking system failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Montvale, NJ, USA

While operating vehicle at 35mph in wet & cold weather conditions I approached a stop sign at a left curve in the road on a city street and began breaking. I believe the ABS activated and I felt my break pedal pulsing and suddenly without warning my break pedal became soft and I depressed my break pedal to the floor in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle did not come to a stop until 3 car lengths past the sign. After this my pedal never recovered and I had to pulse my break pedal to stop the vehicle. I took the vehicle to the dealer for service and was informed my ABS module failed. I had no warning or prior indication and at no time did any lights appear on the dash display. I had no leaks of break fluid and recently had all 4 rotors and pads replaced on the vehicle.

- Mt. Gilead, OH, USA

Today, 2/7/2017, I was driving at about 30 mph on a very wet and bumpy city street. I hit the brakes and the peddle went to the floor without stopping the vehicle. I had to use the hand brake to assist with stopping. I took it to the Lincoln dealer who reported there are no recalls or service bulletins despite the ongoing NHTSA investigations, making it clear that even when confronted with an investigation, Ford is unwilling to voluntarily notify customers or repair documented recurring problems. This same problem occurred in July of 2016 when braking hard and starting to turn from high speed to make an expressway exit on dry smooth pavement, 400 miles away from home. In that instance, my mechanic, not affiliated with Ford, had to bleed the brakes multiple times to get the pedal to respond. Prior to that in December of 2015 I hit the brakes over a pothole at about 35 mph on a city strett on a clear dry piece of pavement and the pedal went to the floor. That first time however the brakes reset after I parked the car for an hour and came back to it. So in all three instances the problem was consistent with the NHTSA investigation opened at the end of last year. No accident, no injury in any of the three instances. Just a dilemma of how to get the vehicle home and repaired.

- Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, USA

During several ABS incidents, the brake pedal goes to the floor; does not return to normal driving, appears to be an issue with the hcu unit or the ABS brake control module.

- Trenton, MI, USA

After ABS activates on slippery patches, brakes depress nearly to the floor and continue to require excessive pressure/force to begin stopping some time after initial ABS activated, despite being on perfectly dry road. Problem eventually dissipates (usually after car is turned off/on) but will return the moment ABS is reactivated. Had entire brake system including master cylinder inspected by Ford dealer and no visible problems found. Referenced specific incident on patch of black ice on highway but has happened numerous times from speeds between 20 mph to 65 mph most recently on freeway.

- Holland, MI, USA

After effectively deploying the ABS, the brake pedal went soft requiring significant additional pressure on the brake pedal to stop. This happened twice. In each instance I was driving on a village street or local highway at a speed between 30-40 miles per hour. After the first incident, the brakes eventually returned to normal, within about a week. After the second incident, the brake pedal remained soft and I needed to take the vehicle in for a very expensive repair including a new hydraulic control unit assembly.

- Grayslake, IL, USA

There have been multiple occasions where my brakes have gone "soft" while driving and I am trying to come to a stop. It has occurred on wet, icy and uneven pavement. I have to press extra hard on the brakes to be able to come to a complete stop. It is very scary and I am always afraid that is going to happen when I am faced with pavement that is not completely even or dry.

- Keego Harbor, MI, USA

When ABS activates the brake pedal goes soft and does not recover. Pedal travels to the floor, causing delayed braking and more force to apply brakes. This has happened when braking on ice and over rough road surfaces. This has occurred 5 different times since 2013. Four of those times required dealership repair. Can no longer be repaired without costly replacement of hydraulic control unit.

- Waynesboro, PA, USA