sobayimage Report post Posted February 5, 2010 (edited) I just read in todays LA Times that the Fusion Hybrid is being recalled for a braking problem. I took my car into the dealership this morning and they went online and found out about the recall themselves. They said they would update the computer and have it later today.I experienced only one braking problem 2 months ago and I thought at the time I had missed the brake peddle with my foot . I pushed down and there seemed to be nothing there. I was on the freeway and the car was on cruise control at the time. When I hit the brake peddle nothing happened. I tried again and then the car came off cruise and the brakes engaged. It was a heart stopping 3 seconds. Edited February 5, 2010 by sobayimage Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oman Report post Posted February 5, 2010 This was not the problem that is being addressed. Chances are you did miss the pedal. The cruise interlock is based on the initial activation of the pedal, just like the brake lights. The electronic braking is based off the position sensor for the pedal. There is a completely mechanical (actually hydraulic) system that works as the pedal passes past the 1/2 way point of travel. If you pressed the pedal all the way to the floor and nothing at all happened (cruise did not shut off, no braking at all) then I would guess that you didn't hit the pedal. Otherwise three different systems would have failed at the same time, and then worked again later. I could buy both electronic systems failing under some circumstance (like on the Prius) but I don't see how the hydraulics could fail at the same time and then ever work again. When there is a failure of the system that causes the hydraulics to kick-in by sheer force of the brake pedal the dash lights up red idiot lights and you get at pretty loud "bing" to make you look. Jon I just read in today’s LA Times that the Fusion Hybrid is being recalled for a braking problem. I took my car into the dealership this morning and they went online and found out about the recall themselves. They said they would update the computer and have it later today.I experienced only one braking problem 2 months ago and I thought at the time I had missed the brake peddle with my foot . I pushed down and there seemed to be nothing there. I was on the freeway and the car was on cruise control at the time. When I hit the brake peddle nothing happened. I tried again and then the car came off cruise and the brakes engaged. It was a heart stopping 3 seconds. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rlmalott Report post Posted February 6, 2010 Here's some information about the potential recall for brakes. While not labeling it a recall, Ford Motor Co. said Thursday that it will update the software of the regenerative braking system on some already-delivered 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrids and Mercury Milan Hybrids. An Associated Press report said a total of 17,600 Fusion and Milan hybrids will be updated. Ford calls the update a “customer satisfaction program” and will notify owners by mail. “We have received reports that some drivers have experienced a different brake feel when the hybrid's unique regenerative brakes switch to conventional hydraulic braking,” Ford said in a statement. “While the vehicles maintain full braking capability, customers may initially perceive the condition as loss of brakes.” Ford's announcement came on the same day that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a formal investigation of the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid to determine whether 37,000 of those vehicles suffer momentary loss of braking capabilities. Toyota said its fix involves reprogramming the car's software. Ford said its affected vehicles will have the software reprogrammed by dealers at no charge to the customer. The Fusion Hybrid's regenerative braking system reclaims kinetic energy by having electric motors use braking force to regenerate electricity. Ford says the 2010 Fusion Hybrid returns to the battery 94 percent of energy that otherwise would be lost to heat and friction. Ford sold 15,559 Fusion Hybrids last year. Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100204/CARNEWS/100209951#ixzz0eiA2xSX9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sobayimage Report post Posted February 6, 2010 Many of the forum posts surrounding the FFH brake problem sound like they come directly from the Ford public relations department. I have a sneaking suspicion Ford is using Internet forum sites to control the damage of the recall by coming out with new wording to describe the recall operation. Ford uses “update a customer satisfaction program", instead of calling it a recall. 1 rfruth reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites