An investigation has been launched for a possible brake system problem in some units of Ford Fusions and Mercury Milans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that they have identified at least 141 complaints of sudden, unexpected increases in stopping distances. The cars affected are Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan models from the years 2007 to 2009, and the NHTSA estimated that there are around 475,000 of those vehicles.

The NHTSA said that it is conducting an ongoing investigation, over complaints since Dec. 20 about the alleged brake issue in both car models. So far, three crashes (but no injuries) have been reported. The apparent brake failures are believed to involve a fault in the anti-lock brake system hydraulic control unit. Some of these reports show that both cars' brake pedal can go "soft" when driving on slippery or uneven surfaces.

The owners described that in some instances the brake pedal is "going to the floor," which renders drivers unable to maintain the brakes' required pressure, and a certain amount of force is required just to stop the car. This puts them in a situation where they are going past the stop signs and red lights before being able to bring the vehicle to stop, car owners reported.

There are many reports associated with the issue, some reports says that the brakes correct themselves after some time. Some reports indicate a recurring problem, while others indicate a need for replacement of the anti-lock brake system hydraulic control unit to fix the said problem.

The Milan is no longer in production, but the Fusion is one of Ford's most popular car models. Both automakers show a willingness to cooperate in the investigation. Ford Motor Co., in a statement last Tuesday, said that "we'll cooperate with the agency on its investigation, as we always do."

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