Ford Fusion 2013–2020 problems by year and mileage
2nd generation · CD4 (also written CD4.1 / Ford Global C/D)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20268,553 complaints, 5,121 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 201375kmedian
- 201472kmedian
- 201573k†median
- 201677k†median
- 201770k†median
- 201889k†median
- 201971k†median
- 202067kmedian
The 2013 Ford Fusion
Close- Median failure report
- 75,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,956
- Recalls naming this year
- 20
Most reported on the 2013
- Steering418 reports · median 74,000 mi
- Engine399 reports · median 80,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline315 reports · median 98,000 mi
20 recall campaigns name the 2013: Power train — manual transmission; Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components; Power train — shift linkage/cable/rod. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2014 Ford Fusion
Close- Median failure report
- 72,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,429
- Recalls naming this year
- 20
Most reported on the 2014
- Steering343 reports · median 72,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline253 reports · median 90,000 mi
- Engine215 reports · median 75,000 mi
20 recall campaigns name the 2014: Power train — manual transmission; Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components; Power train — shift linkage/cable/rod. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Ford Fusion
Close- Median failure report
- 73,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,061
- Recalls naming this year
- 14
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2015
- Engine279 reports · median 78,000 mi
- Steering181 reports · median 65,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline155 reports · median 80,000 mi
14 recall campaigns name the 2015: Power train — manual transmission; Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components; Power train — shift linkage/cable/rod. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Ford Fusion
Close- Median failure report
- 77,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,703
- Recalls naming this year
- 13
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Engine462 reports · median 74,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline316 reports · median 81,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise222 reports · median 63,000 mi
13 recall campaigns name the 2016: Power train — manual transmission; Back over prevention — sensing system; Latches/locks/linkages — doors. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Ford Fusion
Close- Median failure report
- 70,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,196
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Engine403 reports · median 76,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline333 reports · median 80,000 mi
- Electrical system146 reports · median 29,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2017: Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components; Steering — steering wheel/handle bar; Power train — automatic transmission. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Ford Fusion
Close- Median failure report
- 89,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 504
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Engine207 reports · median 88,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline118 reports · median 81,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system91 reports · median 101,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2018: Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components; Steering — steering wheel/handle bar. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Ford Fusion
Close- Median failure report
- 71,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 471
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2019 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2019
- Engine171 reports · median 75,000 mi
- Electrical system144 reports
- Transmission and driveline80 reports · median 80,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2019: Equipment — electrical; Back over prevention — software; Electrical system — propulsion system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2020 Ford Fusion
Close- Median failure report
- 67,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 233
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2020
- Electrical system80 reports
- Transmission and driveline67 reports
- Engine56 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2020: Equipment — electrical; Back over prevention — software; Electrical system — propulsion system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2018 reports latest and the 2020 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2018 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2013–2020 Ford Fusion reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 75,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 134,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 5,121
- Recalls
- 35
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Engine25.6% of complaints · median 78,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline19.1% of complaints · median 85,000 mi
- Steering14.5% of complaints · median 69,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine (1.6L Ecoboost)2013–2014
- Engine (1.5L and 2.0L Ecoboost)2013–2019
- Body / Doors2013–2016
- Transmission / Parking System2013–2016
Owners filed 8,553 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2020 Ford Fusion; the engine leads with 25.6% of them, and half of the 5,121 that record an odometer reading came by 75,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 44,000 and 103,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2013–2020 Ford Fusion last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2013–2020 Ford Fusion, half of the 5,121 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 75,000 miles and 90% by 134,000 miles.
311 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 59 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Fusion reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Ford Fusion 2013–2020 · 5,121 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 279 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 59 complaints (1.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 14,475
- 25%
- 44,000
- Median
- 74,967
- 75%
- 102,704
- 90%
- 133,804
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 279 | 5.4% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 122 | 2.4% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 119 | 2.3% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 107 | 2.1% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 116 | 2.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 113 | 2.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 142 | 2.8% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 155 | 3.0% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 152 | 3.0% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 166 | 3.2% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 214 | 4.2% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 177 | 3.5% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 252 | 4.9% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 218 | 4.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 229 | 4.5% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 259 | 5.1% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 239 | 4.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 200 | 3.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 233 | 4.5% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 187 | 3.7% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 215 | 4.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 128 | 2.5% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 140 | 2.7% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 117 | 2.3% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 141 | 2.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 98 | 1.9% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 105 | 2.1% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 60 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 72 | 1.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 55 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 57 | 1.1% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 37 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 46 | 0.9% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 23 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 30 | 0.6% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 19 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 19 | 0.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 6 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 10 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 5 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 59 | 1.2% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Fusion problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Ford Fusion 2013–2020
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Electrical system1,060 reports48,00018,000–80,000Electrical system: 1,060 reports, median 48,000 miles, middle half 18,000 to 80,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system449 reports61,00028,000–90,000Fuel and propulsion system: 449 reports, median 61,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise961 reports62,00031,000–89,000Problems owners could not categorise: 961 reports, median 62,000 miles, middle half 31,000 to 89,000 miles.
- Steering1,243 reports69,00041,000–100,000Steering: 1,243 reports, median 69,000 miles, middle half 41,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Engine2,192 reports78,00053,000–106,000Engine: 2,192 reports, median 78,000 miles, middle half 53,000 to 106,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline1,637 reports85,00060,000–114,000Transmission and driveline: 1,637 reports, median 85,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 114,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system553 reports100,00075,000–126,000Engine and its cooling system: 553 reports, median 100,000 miles, middle half 75,000 to 126,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,192 | 25.6% | 78,000 | 53,000–106,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 1,637 | 19.1% | 85,000 | 60,000–114,000 |
| Steering | 1,243 | 14.5% | 69,000 | 41,000–100,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,060 | 12.4% | 48,000 | 18,000–80,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 961 | 11.2% | 62,000 | 31,000–89,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 553 | 6.5% | 100,000 | 75,000–126,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 449 | 5.2% | 61,000 | 28,000–90,000 |
| Brakes | 439 | 5.1% | 55,000 | 26,000–86,000 |
| Body structure | 362 | 4.2% | 60,000 | 39,000–90,000 |
| Airbag system | 312 | 3.6% | 41,000 | 17,000–81,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 75,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 25.6% of complaints (2,192 reports, 1,141 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,000 and 106,000 miles.
A single system taking 25.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 19.1% of complaints (1,637 reports, 1,069 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 114,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 14.5% of complaints (1,243 reports, 860 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 100,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 12.4% of complaints (1,060 reports, 534 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 48,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 18,000 and 80,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 11.2% of complaints (961 reports, 385 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 62,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 31,000 and 89,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 6.5% of complaints (553 reports, 489 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 75,000 and 126,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2013–2020 Fusion
Engine (1.6L Ecoboost) 2013–2014
Localized cylinder-head overheating and cracking under low-coolant conditions; cracked head vents oil onto the hot exhaust manifold, causing under-hood and while-driving fires. Ford recall 17S09 added a coolant level sensor, PCM/cluster software and a low-coolant 'overheat strategy' that cuts power rather than fixing the head design.
Engine (1.5L and 2.0L Ecoboost) 2013–2019
Coolant intrusion into the combustion chambers through the cylinder head / block interface. Symptoms are unexplained coolant loss, white exhaust smoke, misfires and eventual bearing or cylinder damage; the field remedy is short-block replacement.
Body / Doors 2013–2016
Door latch pawl spring tab fractures, allowing a door to appear closed but open while driving. Recall lineage 15V-246, 16V-643, 17V-210, with 20S30 issued as a re-repair after the first fixes failed; all four latches replaced.
Transmission / Parking System 2013–2016
Shift cable bushing degrades and detaches from the transmission, so the shifter can read Park and the key can be removed while the transmission is not actually in Park — vehicle rolls away. Ford recall 18S20; remedy is a new bushing plus a protective cap.
Steering 2014–2018
Steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen and allow the steering wheel to detach from the column. NHTSA recall 18V-155.
Before you buy a 2013–2020 Fusion: the 3-minute check
Generated from 5,121 mileage-tagged complaints, 35 recall campaigns, 5 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 35 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine (1.6L ecoboost) on 2013–2014 cars. Localized cylinder-head overheating and cracking under low-coolant conditions; cracked head vents oil onto the hot exhaust manifold, causing under-hood and while-driving fires. Ford recall 17S09 added a coolant level…
- Check engine (1.5L and 2.0L ecoboost) on 2013–2019 (1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost) cars. Coolant intrusion into the combustion chambers through the cylinder head / block interface. Symptoms are unexplained coolant loss, white exhaust smoke, misfires and eventual bearing or cylinder damage; the field remedy…
- Check body / doors on 2013–2016 cars. Door latch pawl spring tab fractures, allowing a door to appear closed but open while driving. Recall lineage 15V-246, 16V-643, 17V-210, with 20S30 issued as a re-repair after the first fixes failed; all four latches…
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 44,000 and 103,000 miles, with a median of 75,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 78,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Fusion problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi36% below | At 90k mi64% below | At 120k mi84% below | At 150k mi94% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 53,000–106,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 60,000–114,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 41,000–100,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 18,000–80,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 31,000–89,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 75,000–126,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 28,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Ford Fusion 2013–2020 · 5,121 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 36% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 64% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 84% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 94% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.2% of reports (59) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2013–2020 Ford Fusion recalls (35)
NHTSA records 35 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (7), latches and locks (5), the steering (4). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Jun 2026 · 2013–2016 · Power TrainA transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a…
What can happen. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of…
Oct 2025 · 2016 · Back Over PreventionA rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a…
What can happen. A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model…
Oct 2025 · 2019–2020 · EquipmentAn electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack…
What can happen. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine…
Jun 2025 · 2019–2020 · Back Over PreventionA rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023…
What can happen. A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract…
The free fix. Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
Nov 2023 · 2016 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesVehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon…
What can happen. Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford…
Jun 2023 · 2019–2020 · Electrical SystemA damaged BECM can result in a loss of drive power or fire, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Fusion PHEV vehicles. The battery energy control module (BECM) may become damaged due to excessive voltage and current flow.
What can happen. A damaged BECM can result in a loss of drive power or fire, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will replace the battery and update the BECM software for free, or Ford will repurchase the vehicle. If your…
Mar 2023 · 2013–2018 · Service Brakes, HydraulicA brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
What can happen. A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Jun 2022 · 2013–2016 · Power TrainA damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
What can happen. A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were…
Jan 2022 · 2014–2015 · Service Brakes, HydraulicA separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously, causing confusion to…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 Mustang vehicles originally sold or ever registered, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Hawaii.…
What can happen. A separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously, causing confusion to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash. On automatic transmission vehicles, a…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the brake pedal bumpers and clutch pedal bumpers, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owner…
Jun 2020 · 2013–2014 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesA door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and…
What can happen. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also…
Mar 2020 · 2014–2016 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesA door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma…
What can happen. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Aug 2019 · 2013–2016 · SteeringIf the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa…
What can happen. If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and…
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear…
Aug 2019 · 2015 · Seat BeltsA failed seat belt anchor cable cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, increasing their risk of…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
What can happen. A failed seat belt anchor cable cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, increasing their risk of injury.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
May 2019 · 2013–2016 · Power TrainIf the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter engines. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.…
What can happen. If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
Feb 2019 · 2019 · Hybrid Propulsion SystemPotential contact with high voltage sources increases the risk of injury.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Fusion Energi Hybrid models. The affected vehicles may not adequately protect against direct and indirect contact of high voltage sources during normal operation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with…
What can happen. Potential contact with high voltage sources increases the risk of injury.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a Bus Electrical Center (BEC) cover over the high voltage fuses, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Sep 2018 · 2013–2015 · EquipmentAn overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 120V Convenience charge cords that were supplied with and sold for use with 2013-2015 Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi vehicles and 2012-2015 Ford Focus Electric vehicles. Cords with part numbers…
What can happen. An overheated cord can increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current cord with a new 120V convenience cord with a thermistor, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
Jul 2018 · 2013–2016 · Power TrainIf the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and…
What can happen. If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
Mar 2018 · 2013–2014 · Power TrainA transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Fusion vehicles equipped with a 1.6L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission and 2015-2016 Ford Focus vehicles equipped with a 1.0L GTDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Also included…
What can happen. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Focus vehicles with software that detects and prevents prolonged clutch slip, and will replace the clutch, as necessary, free of charge. Owners of…
Mar 2018 · 2014–2018 · SteeringA steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
What can happen. A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
Jul 2017 · 2017 · Power TrainIf the torque converter weld studs fail, the torque converter will not be connected to the engine flexplate…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Edge and Fusion vehicles. On vehicles with 2.0L gas engines and six-speed automatic transmissions, the torque converter weld studs may have been inadequately welded.
What can happen. If the torque converter weld studs fail, the torque converter will not be connected to the engine flexplate and the vehicle will lose the ability to move, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford or Lincoln will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque converters, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
Mar 2017 · 2013–2014 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesA door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Fiesta, 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a…
What can happen. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began May 1, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
Mar 2017 · 2013–2014 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the…
What can happen. If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed…
Dec 2016 · 2013–2016 · Seat BeltsIf the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from…
What can happen. If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began May 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
Dec 2016 · 2017 · SeatsDuring a crash, the improper welds may fail, allowing any stowed luggage to move into the passenger…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 27, 2016, to September 28, 2016. The left rear seat backs pivot pins may have been improperly welded.
What can happen. During a crash, the improper welds may fail, allowing any stowed luggage to move into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left hand, second row seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began January 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Apr 2016 · 2016 · SeatsAn improperly welded driver seat riser may fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured from March 10, 2016, through March 16, 2016. The front driver seat track assembly's rear riser may have been improperly welded to the seat track rail, and as a…
What can happen. An improperly welded driver seat riser may fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Ford quarantined the affected vehicles at dealerships prior to their sale. Dealers will replace the front driver seat track rail, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2016. Ford's number for…
Oct 2015 · 2016 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 13, 2015, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a fuel…
What can happen. A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
Apr 2015 · 2013–2015 · SteeringIf the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to March 20, 2015, and 2015 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured February 26, 2015, to February 28, 2015, and originally sold…
What can happen. If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort…
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealer and replace the steering gear motor bolts as required. If one or more of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new…
Apr 2015 · 2013–2014 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesA door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta vehicles manufactured February 1, 2012…
What can happen. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on June 5, 2015. The recall began on…
Nov 2014 · 2014–2015 · Power TrainIf the key can be removed despite that the transmission is not in Park, a driver may think the vehicle is…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured July 27, 2013, to October 31, 2014, 2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to October 31, 2014, and 2015 Ford Fusion Energi…
What can happen. If the key can be removed despite that the transmission is not in Park, a driver may think the vehicle is safety parked, when it is not, increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway that could cause the…
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
Sep 2014 · 2013–2014 · Seat BeltsThe short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5…
What can happen. The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event…
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Apr 2014 · 2013–2014 · SeatsThe back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014…
What can happen. The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.
May 2013 · 2013 · SteeringThis could result in impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles manufactured April 19, 2013, through April 23, 2013. The steering gears may be missing an internal retaining clip. If the clip is missing, components inside the steering gear may become dislodged…
What can happen. This could result in impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S06. Owners may contact the Ford customer…
May 2013 · 2013 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The defect. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at…
Dec 2012 · 2013 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf flammable engine fluids come in contact with the vehicle’s hot exhaust system, a vehicle fire could occur.
The defect. This is an update to a recently announced recall. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Escape vehicles manufactured from October 5, 2011, through November 26, 2012, equipped with 1.6L engines, as well as certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles…
What can happen. If flammable engine fluids come in contact with the vehicle’s hot exhaust system, a vehicle fire could occur.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine for coolant system leaks and reprogram the vehicle’s powertrain control module and instrument cluster with an updated calibration and…
Nov 2012 · 2013 · Exterior LightingAn improperly cured projector coating will become hazy through operation, over time, reducing the brightness…
The defect. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles, manufactured from February 3, 2012, through October 20, 2012, for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and…
What can happen. An improperly cured projector coating will become hazy through operation, over time, reducing the brightness of the low-beam lamp. This may decrease driver visibility and increase the risk of a…
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlamp assembly. The recall began on December 18, 2012. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 8,553 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 304 (3.6%)
- Fires
- 138
- Injury reports
- 175
- Fatality reports
- 4
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Fusion problems by model year
The 2013 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,956, most of them about the steering, and the 2020 the fewest, 233. A typical year drew about 1,128.
The first year of the generation, 2013, drew more complaints than a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1,956 | 1,463 | 75,000 | Steering (418) | 20 |
| 2014 | 1,429 | 917 | 72,000 | Steering (343) | 20 |
| 2015 | 1,061 | 681 | 73,000† | Engine (279) | 14 |
| 2016 | 1,703 | 950 | 77,000† | Engine (462) | 13 |
| 2017 | 1,196 | 662 | 70,000† | Engine (403) | 4 |
| 2018 | 504 | 219 | 89,000† | Engine (207) | 2 |
| 2019 | 471 | 164 | 71,000† | Engine (171) | 4 |
| 2020 | 233 | 65 | 67,000 | Electrical system (80) | 3 |
What Fusion owners reported
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the rear-view camera had been inoperable for several months. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The…
2016 · 210,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that…
2016 · 99,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rear-view camera image failed to operate intermittently. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however…
2016 · 170,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle entered limp mode and failed to accelerate as intended. The transmission ran poorly, making it difficult to merge, and the contact expressed concern regarding a potential crash. Following the failure, the hill brake assist…
2014 · 106,000 miles · Brakes
Built from 5,121 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Fusion generations
- Fusion 2006–2012 10,711 reports with mileage, most about the steering