Ford Fusion 2013–2020
2nd generation · CD4 (also written CD4.1 / Ford Global C/D)
NHTSA data through 12 August 202610,081 complaints, 6,011 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 102,405 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 72 complaints (1.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 14,000
- 25%
- 43,000
- Median
- 75,000
- 75%
- 102,405
- 90%
- 134,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 322 | 5.4% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 162 | 2.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 138 | 2.3% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 135 | 2.2% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 132 | 2.2% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 133 | 2.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 174 | 2.9% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 174 | 2.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 180 | 3.0% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 173 | 2.9% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 237 | 3.9% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 205 | 3.4% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 304 | 5.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 257 | 4.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 274 | 4.6% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 302 | 5.0% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 294 | 4.9% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 249 | 4.1% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 256 | 4.3% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 220 | 3.7% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 259 | 4.3% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 149 | 2.5% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 160 | 2.7% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 131 | 2.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 169 | 2.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 113 | 1.9% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 122 | 2.0% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 71 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 86 | 1.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 66 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 66 | 1.1% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 46 | 0.8% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 52 | 0.9% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 27 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 37 | 0.6% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 19 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 25 | 0.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 7 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 9 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 4 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 72 | 1.2% |
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.
Owners filed 10,081 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2020 Ford Fusion, and 6,011 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 102,405 miles. The median is 75,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (20.6% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (15.1% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles), the steering (11.4% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
33 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine80,000median 80,000 miles, middle half 57,000 to 107,000
- Transmission and driveline85,000median 85,000 miles, middle half 61,000 to 114,000
- Steering70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 41,000 to 101,000
- Problems owners could not categorise66,000median 65,550 miles, middle half 32,000 to 90,000
- Electrical system52,000median 52,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 84,000
- Engine and its cooling system100,000median 100,000 miles, middle half 75,000 to 126,000
- Fuel and propulsion system64,000median 64,000 miles, middle half 36,000 to 93,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2,078 | 20.6% | 80,000 | 57,000–107,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 1,521 | 15.1% | 85,000 | 61,000–114,000 |
| Steering | 1,148 | 11.4% | 70,000 | 41,000–101,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 859 | 8.5% | 66,000 | 32,000–90,000 |
| Electrical system | 786 | 7.8% | 52,000 | 20,000–84,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 547 | 5.4% | 100,000 | 75,000–126,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 407 | 4.0% | 64,000 | 36,000–93,000 |
| Brakes | 370 | 3.7% | 64,000 | 35,000–90,000 |
| Body structure | 337 | 3.3% | 60,000 | 39,000–90,000 |
| Airbag system | 272 | 2.7% | 41,000 | 17,000–85,000 |
Which systems, and when
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 20.6% of complaints (2,078 reports, 1,081 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,720 and 106,801 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 15.1% of complaints (1,521 reports, 985 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 61,000 and 114,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 11.4% of complaints (1,148 reports, 792 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 101,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 8.5% of complaints (859 reports, 345 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,550 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,000 and 90,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.8% of complaints (786 reports, 427 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 52,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 83,700 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 5.4% of complaints (547 reports, 484 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 75,380 and 126,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 2,367 complaints — while 2020 drew the fewest at 261. The median year sits at 1,325.
The first year of the generation, 2013, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 33 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). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
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.
Reported severity
Of the 10,081 complaints filed against this generation, 385 reported a crash; 191 reported a fire; 264 reported an injury; 2 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 3.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 102,405 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 80,000, 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.
Documented problems
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 (1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost)
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2,367 | 1,726 |
| 2014 | 1,756 | 1,109 |
| 2015 | 1,269 | 805 |
| 2016 | 2,068 | 1,150 |
| 2017 | 1,381 | 761 |
| 2018 | 572 | 235 |
| 2019 | 407 | 159 |
| 2020 | 261 | 66 |
Recalls (33)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 25V695000 | 2026-01-02 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 25V442000 | 2025-09-04 | Back Over Prevention:software |
| 23V440000 | 2025-05-15 | Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery:management System/Energy Control Module (bms/Becm) |
| 23V775000 | 2023-12-20 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
| 23V162000 | 2023-06-27 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings |
| 22V413000 | 2022-10-27 | Power Train:shift Linkage/Cable/Rod |
| 22V011000 | 2022-06-13 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals and Linkages |
| 20V177000 | 2020-09-21 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
| 20V331000 | 2020-07-27 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
| 19V632000 | 2019-10-18 | Steering:electric Power Assist System |
| 19V362000 | 2019-09-10 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever and Linkage:floor Shift |
| 19V590000 | 2019-09-09 | Seat Belts:front |
| 18V471000 | 2018-09-20 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever and Linkage:floor Shift |
| 18V169000 | 2018-08-03 | Power Train:manual Transmission |
| 18V167000 | 2018-04-30 | Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar |
| 17V209000 | 2018-01-05 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine |
| 17V427000 | 2017-08-25 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter |
| 16V875000 | 2017-05-16 | Seat Belts:front |
| 17V210000 | 2017-05-01 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
| 16V874000 | 2017-01-10 | Seats:mid/Rear Assembly |
| 16V250000 | 2016-05-19 | Seat Belts:front:anchorage |
| 15V246000 | 2015-12-18 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
| 15V618000 | 2015-10-19 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage |
| 15V250000 | 2015-06-24 | Steering:electric Power Assist System |
| 14V597000 | 2015-05-26 | Seat Belts |
What owners reported
I have a recall on my car to replace the transmition cable. I had this same problem back in 2016. I knew back then that this was a big issue and that it was a defective recall issue and i paid $571.25 To fix a tranmission shifter cable. I still have the receipt and all the notes that the dealership wrote and it…
2013 · Brakes
Randomly i will get the service advancetrac, hillstart assist not available, and traction control lights. It will be hard to steer for a few minutes, sometimes it will shake a little, and then the problem will go away and it will run fine. I live in florida so i'm not dealing with any hills or snow, and i don't drive…
2013 · 2 miles · Steering
Lost complete power and control of car no acceleration when pressing gas in the middle of street car slows down without no warning after parking the car a wreck indicator flash. This is the 2nd time it's hit down on me i had it repaid last year and it's happening again my life is at risk with this car shutting off…
2013 · 5 miles · Electronic stability control (esc)
Built from 6,011 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page