The best Fusion years to buy are 2019 and 2020. Avoid the 2012: power steering failures and Takata air bag recalls give it the highest complaint rate of any Fusion.
Best years: 20192020 Years to avoid: 2012
Every Fusion year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Fusion problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 236 | 213 | 3 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2019 | 472 | 284 | 4 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2018 | 511 | 294 | 2 | Engine | Average |
| 2017 | 1,204 | 574 | 4 | Engine | Average |
| 2016 | 1,741 | 655 | 13 | Engine | Watch out |
| 2015 | 1,066 | 355 | 13 | Engine | Average |
| 2014 | 1,435 | 468 | 19 | Steering | Average |
| 2013 | 1,958 | 663 | 20 | Steering | Watch out |
| 2012 | 2,618 | 1,085 | 6 | Steering | Skip this year |
About the Fusion
The Fusion is a comfortable midsize sedan that is cheap used now that Ford has stopped making it. Early cars have serious steering problems, 2013-2016 cars add transmission and engine complaints, and the 1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost engines can suffer coolant leaking into the cylinders. The last two years are the most trouble-free.
- 2012: Last year of the old design. Steering assist failures and Takata air bag inflators.
- 2013-2016: New design. Shifter, steering and engine complaints, plus fires on 2013.
- 2017-2020: Facelift. Complaints fall steadily; watch for coolant intrusion on EcoBoost engines.
Fusion warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Ford files with NHTSA. 575 Fusion bulletins are on file in total.
Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37 Certain 2017-2019 Model Year Fusion and Escape Vehicles Equipped with a 1.5L GTDI Engine - Powertrain Control Module Reprograming
Demonsftration/Delivery Hold - Customer Satisfaction Program 15B32 Certain 2015 Model Year F-150, MKS, and 2016 Explorer, F-Super Duty, and
This document contains an owner letter see document search button.
Advance Notice Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
There is an extended warranty coverage for the loss of abs speed signal related communication that disable obdii system monitors for pcm reprogramming.
See document search button for owner letter.
This tsb contains owners letter.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Fusion
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2012–2020 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Recall query RQ22004 · 2013–2018 · opened Aug 2022, closed Mar 2023 · led to recall 23V162000
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 50 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging front brake jounce hose ruptures on model year (MY) 2013-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2012–2016 · opened Sep 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
Recall query RQ19005 · 2013–2016 · opened Dec 2019, closed Feb 2022 · led to recall 20V177000
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Engineering analysis EA17004 · 2012 · opened Nov 2017, closed Feb 2024
On September 28, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE16-011) to investigate claims of power steering assist loss on model year (MY) 2010 Ford Fusion vehicles.
Preliminary evaluation PE17007 · 2014–2016 · opened Oct 2017, closed Apr 2018 · led to recall 18V167000
On March 12th, 2018, Ford Motor Company submitted a Defect Information Report to NHTSA describing a defect in the steering wheel fastening system of approximately 1,301,986 model year (MY) Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Engineering analysis EA15002 · 2013 · opened Feb 2015, closed Nov 2015 · led to recall 15V246000
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta, MY 2013 Ford Fusion and MY 2013 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
Preliminary evaluation PE14030 · 2012 · opened Oct 2014, closed Sep 2015 · led to recall 15V340000
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate complaints of the loss of power steering while driving.
Preliminary evaluation PE13003 · 2012, 2013 · opened Feb 2013, closed Feb 2014
On February 21, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 to investigate allegations of electronic throttle body (ETB) failures resulting in sudden reduction of engine power in model year (MY) 2009-2013 Ford Escape, Fusion, Mariner and Milan vehicles.
Fusion vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Ford Fusion?
2019 and 2020. The best Fusion years to buy are 2019 and 2020. Avoid the 2012: power steering failures and Takata air bag recalls give it the highest complaint rate of any Fusion.
Which Ford Fusion years should I avoid?
2012. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Ford Fusion average.
What is the coolant intrusion problem on the Ford Fusion?
Some 1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost engines leak coolant into the cylinders, which shows as white smoke, misfires and coolant loss. It usually needs a new engine, about $6,000 to $12,000 out of warranty. Check the coolant level and ask about misfires before buying.
Based on 11,241 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2020, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.