Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan Being Investigated for Toyota-Like Floor Mat Issues

Ford‘s Fusion sedan and Mercury Milan are currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for accessory floor mats that can become stuck.

The investigation involves 249,301 Fusion and Milan models from the 2010 model year where an accessory floor mat may entrap the accelerator pedal – in essence causing a sticking throttle. The problem occurs when the floor mat is placed on top of the existing carpet floor mat – something all automakers warn against.  “We do not recommend stacking floor mats in any vehicle from any automaker,” said Ford spokesman Said Deep.

NHTSA commented in a statement that, “Any Ford ‘all weather’ optional floor mat should be placed in the driver’s side foot well only after first unfastening and removing the standard, carpeted floor mat.”

No accidents or injuries have been reported but NHTSA has said it received three complains – one of which came from Edmunds.com boss Dan Edmunds, who experienced the problem on a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Toyota recently recalled 5.4 million vehicles for what is essentially the very same issue – a hint that Ford could be facing a recall similar in scope. NHTSA has been on the war path recently, issuing a spate of new recalls and investigations based on fewer and fewer complains.

[Source: Detroit News]