While Toyota’s recall nightmare steals all the media attention, other automakers have been using the Japanese automaker’s ordeal as a cover to deal with their own reliability issues. For instance, you might not be aware that Honda recently recalled 646,00 of its Fit/Jazz hatchback during Toyota’s recall blitz. Now Ford wants to use this same cover to resolve a long-standing brake issue with its 2010 Fusion/Milan Hybrids. The Dearborn automaker announced yesterday that it will ask those who own these Hybrid to bring their cars into dealers to replace a piece of software responsible for the issue.

Along with standard brakes, which use friction from pads, a hybrid’s electric-motor also help slow down the vehicle, which in the process helps generate electricity to recharge the batteries. According to Ford, “The software threshold to transition from regenerative brakes to conventional brakes can cause the system to transition to conventional brakes unnecessarily. And while both models maintain full braking ability, drivers may occasionally experience a strange feeling in the brakes under certain situations, which sounds very similar to the issue facing Toyota and its Prius hybrid.

Ford has a remedy for the problem and will start notifying all owners by mail starting in early February 2010. Anyone who owns a Fusion or Milan Hybrid made on or before October 17, 2009 can see their dealer regarding Ford’s “Customer Satisfaction Program 10B13.”

Make the jump for the video explaining the issue and for the official statement from Ford regarding the solution.

PRESS RELEASE:

FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM

Ford is proactively announcing a customer satisfaction program to update the software of the regenerative brake system of some 2010-model Ford Fusion Hybrids and Mercury Milan Hybrids.

Dearborn, Mich., Feb. 4, 2010 – Today, we are announcing a customer satisfaction program to update the software of the regenerative brake system of some 2010-model Ford Fusion Hybrids and Mercury Milan Hybrids.

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. While the vehicles maintain full braking capability, customers may initially perceive the condition as loss of brakes.

To be clear, the Fusion and Milan Hybrids’ brake system maintains full conventional brakes and full ABS function even as the customer sees visual indicators and hears a chime. The software threshold to transition from regenerative brakes to conventional brakes can cause the system to transition to conventional brakes unnecessarily.

The software upgrade will reduce unnecessary occurrences of the vehicle switching from regenerative braking to conventional hydraulic brakes.

Customers with affected vehicles will receive a notice in the mail. We are asking owners of affected vehicles to have vehicle software reprogrammed at dealers at no charge.

There have been no injuries related to this condition.

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