NHTSA Probes 2007-2009 Ford Fusions for Brake Issues

U.S. regulators are investigating certain 2007-2009 Ford Fusions and Mercury Milans due to complaints of poor braking behavior.

A total of 141 complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. After braking on a slippery or uneven surface where ABS is needed, the brake pedals may go soft, and drivers may have to use more force than usual to stop the vehicle. Drivers have reported unexpected increases in stopping distances, and some say they haven’t been able to stop in time for red lights or stop signs. There have been reports of three crashes related to the braking problem, but no injuries or fatalities so far.

NHTSA blames the antilock braking system hydraulic control unit for the sudden loss in brake pedal pressure. “It is believed that the ABS HCU experiences an internal malfunction which causes an inability to maintain required braking pressure,” NHTSA documents say.

Some reports claim the issue corrects itself, but will reoccur if the vehicle encounters another ABS type braking situation. Others say replacing the ABS HCU has fixed the problem.

For now, NHTSA is examining the problem, but the probe could eventually lead to a recall. An estimated 474,862 vehicles are affected by the Ford investigation.

Source: NHTSA

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