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New Hybrid Braking Issue: First Prius, Now Ford Fusion Hybrid

 
12,244 views Feb 5, 2010
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2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

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Another day, another hybrid braking problem. Only this time, it's not Toyota. It's Ford.

Late yesterday, Ford announced a "customer satisfaction program" that will ask that owners of 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid models built before October 17 to bring the cars to their dealer for a free software upgrade.

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

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2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

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2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

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2010 Toyota Prius vs 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Detroit News hybrid showdown

2010 Toyota Prius vs 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Detroit News hybrid showdown

Enlarge Photo

The fix is meant to reduce the chance that drivers will experience what feels like a loss of braking; it updates the software that controls the interplay among the cars' anti-lock brakes, regenerative brakes, and conventional friction brakes.

"Different brake feel"

In the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid, the brake control system switches from regenerative braking--to recharge the battery pack--to conventional hydraulic braking if a fail-safe sensor detects electromagnetic signals that might interfere with the electronic brakes.

Ford defines the problem as "a different brake feel," and says, "While the vehicles maintain full braking capability, customers may initially perceive the condition as loss of brakes." The fix will raise the fail-safe system's threshold, to reduce "unnecessary" switching.

The issue was initially brought to light by a Consumer Reports auto writer but, says Ford [NYSE:F] emphatically, "There have been no injuries related to this condition."

Prius: It's the ABS engaging

Ford hybrid braking problem is slightly different than the one involving the 2010 Toyota Prius (and now, by the way, also the 2010 Lexus HS 250h dedicated hybrid sedan, which uses some of the same software as the 2010 Prius).

In the Prius case, customers complained of loss of braking--Toyota calls it "inconsistent brake feel"--on rough or slippery surfaces. The Prius problem involved the transition from regenerative to hydraulic brakes while the anti-lock brake system (ABS) is activated.

Advantage: Ford

Toyota introduced updated software to speed the ABS response time for all new 2010 Prius models built since late January, but is still weighing whether to recall the 270,000 cars it has already sold around the world.

Neither that problem nor Ford's update is related to the two separate recalls of various Toyota and Lexus vehicles that may experience sticking accelerator pedals. To address that problem, Toyota is now recalling more than 8 million cars on five continents.

So while the 2010 Toyota Prius beat the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid in a recent Detroit News showdown,  it seems fair to say that Ford has conclusively stepped ahead of Toyota on public perceptions around hybrid braking issues. Well ... for today, anyhow.

[Ford, Toyota, Automotive News (requires subscription), Detroit News]





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Comments (11)

  1. By Rob Apted Posted: 2/5/2010 1:46pm PST

    ford's recall is a software glitch in which the brakes were never compromised just the FEEL of them. They only need to be reprogrammed whereas Toyota's just don't work at all and the electronics in the car the Toyota's keep the gas pedal to the floor. Ford did not not try to cover it's issue up were as it was proven that Toyota tried to cover the gas and brake issues. They felt the were immune from U.S. recall procedure and did not want to "lose face". Just like December 7th.
     
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  2. By MKat Posted: 2/5/2010 2:46pm PST

    Before you make such a weak argument, you may want to check ALL your sources in regards to December 7th:
    Another "eye witness viewpoint" akin to Beatty's is provided by Roosevelt's administrative assistant at the time of Pearl Harbor, Jonathan Daniels; it is the telling comment about FDR's reaction to the attack - "The blow was heavier than he had hoped it would necessarily be. ... But the risks paid off; even the loss was worth the price. ..."[51]
    "Ten days before the attack on Pearl Harbor", Henry L. Stimson, United States Secretary of War at the time "entered in his diary the famous and much-argued statement - that he had met with President Roosevelt to discuss the evidence of impending hostilities with Japan, and the question was 'how we should maneuver them [the Japanese] into the position of firing the first shot without allowing too much danger to ourselves.'"[52]
     
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  3. By Rob E Posted: 2/6/2010 3:19am PST

    MKat I'm wondering, does "ALL your sources in regards to December 7th" say anything about what Japan was planning or thinking at the time?
     
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  4. By  Zet Cars Posted: 2/7/2010 9:14am PST

    Hybrid cars are the future
     
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  5. By John W Posted: 2/7/2010 3:11pm PST

    The Detroit News Showdown was done several months ago. It isn't relevant now IMHO.
     
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  6. By  hp promotion Posted: 2/8/2010 12:43am PST

    The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid manages class-leading fuel efficiency without making too many performance sacrifices.This Ford Sync technology package is top notch and the Sony premium audio system is a great-sounding system at a great value.Its configurable SmartGauge instrument cluster is a good tool for learning to drive more efficiently.
     
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  7. By Futuretech Posted: 2/8/2010 1:16am PST

    Zet Cars: Hybrids are not the future, IMO - they're a transitional step from the internal combustion engine to fully electric vehicles, while they get the issues of poor range and slow charging sorted out.
     
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  8. By MJA Posted: 2/8/2010 1:08pm PST

    I don't know I think the Big 3 or 2 now have had way more issues to contend with then Toyota. Look how FORD just breezed in during the Toyota break issue yet they knew last fall sometime that is was an issue but didn't do anything until Toyota got crusified.....
    October 13, 2009 Ford recalls 4.5 million vehicles over fire hazard
    January 29., 2010 Ford recalls Chinese cars due to accelerator problem
    Chevy cobalt recall 2010 1,132 complaints power steering in Chevy Cobalt models from 2005-09,yet they waited until now to do the recall, what took them so long??????????
    MAR 06, 2009 2009 GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".
    April 14, 2009 GM Recalls 1.5 million:contain a defect that may cause oil to leak and potentially cause a car fire
     
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  9. By Janet Clark Posted: 2/11/2010 10:23am PST

    My husband was parking our 2010 Fusion Hybrid in a driveway. His foot was on the brake as he was stopping when the car surged ahead. He managed to stop it and we wondered what happened. The very same thing occurred the next day in the same spot but the surge was more serious and he went into a garage door before stopping the car. Since the brake activates the battery, we think the accelerator was affected to cause this problem. We may never know as Ford has installed the latest brake adjustment as per Ford Co. It seems like the same problem as the Prius with the brake/accelerator. We will be watching for any other similar problems.
     
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  10. By Pat Britton Posted: 6/22/2010 5:09pm PDT

    Having almost come to the conclusion I will have to sue Ford Motor Company over my percieved brake failure in small claims court for the $1900. repair bill.Nys attny. general,and NHTSA have been of help but still the Very unhelpful Alma Taylor from Ford still says no problem with brakes in our accident 3 days before the recall on the brakes.My dealership has told me several times Ford will take care of this but 5 months later I got letter back stating how happy Ford is to claim no fusion brake problems.I have had no issues since the brake recall and hope not to but for Ford to be so errogant after making me jump through all the hoops they put in place for me I have bought my last Ford after owning nothing but for 30 years.
     
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  11. By  Thrifty Car Sales Posted: 8/19/2010 11:48am PDT

    270,000 Prius hybrids sold worldwide already! Toyota sure ain't fooling around! It seems that the regenerative braking systems in many hybrids are proving to be a bit problematic insofar as pedal feel is concerned. Surely the average driver learns to adjust? I personally haven't had the opportunity to experience this myself, so I can't tell haw bad it really is. What does everybody else honestly think?
     
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