Ford Fusion Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2010 draws 26.17 complaints per run and the 2015 6.26, a 4.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 87.1% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Steering, with 5,255 complaints, typically at 7 years.

Ford Fusion years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Ford Fusion — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2020	3.25	179	55	yes
2019	4.35	370	85	yes
2018	5.84	432	74	yes
2017	9.48	1081	114	yes
2016	10.18	1660	163	yes
2015	6.26	1014	162	yes
2014	7.44	1354	182	yes
2013	12.97	1803	139	yes
2012	15.75	2315	147	yes
2011	19.29	2430	126	yes
2010	26.17	4371	167	yes
2009	9.05	932	103	yes
2008	10.81	1232	114	yes
2007	9.44	935	99	yes
2006	5.55	610	110	yes

ROWS 15·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2010 Fusion asks a median $3,995, against $3,350 for a 2011, the next model year: 19% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 9 Ford Fusion years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2010, 2011, 2012; the three worth hunting are 2015, 2014, 2017.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Ford Fusion — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	544	2.6%	covered
1 year	686	6%	covered
2 years	1414	12.9%	covered
3 years	2054	22.9%	you pay
4 years	1669	31%	you pay
5 years	2168	41.5%	you pay
6 years	2175	52.1%	you pay
7 years	2061	62.1%	you pay
8 years	2248	73%	you pay
9 years	1878	82.2%	you pay
10 years	1461	89.3%	you pay
11 years	891	93.6%	you pay
12 years	626	96.7%	you pay
13 years	378	98.5%	you pay
14 years	206	99.5%	you pay
15 years	101	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 12.9% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 87.1% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 29% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Ford Fusion, the early trouble is Vehicle Speed Control — reported at around 3.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Steering at 7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Ford Fusion — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Steering	5255	7 yrs	153	8
Air Bags	3342	7.6 yrs	221	6
Engine	3124	5.2 yrs	21	89
Power Train	2784	4.7 yrs	50	5
Service Brakes	2604	8.6 yrs	222	10
Electrical System	1595	5.4 yrs	30	52
Unknown Or Other	1312	6.2 yrs	49	17
Vehicle Speed Control	1169	3.5 yrs	77	2

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Fusion's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 11.95 for the Fusion. That is the most complaints of the group.

FIG.05·Ford Fusion — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Fusion	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Camry	20,039	161	1983–2026
Honda Accord	24,369	415	1981–2026
Dodge Challenger	1,696	77	1981–2026
Toyota Prius	12,873	109	2001–2026
Hyundai Elantra	9,090	117	1992–2026
Nissan Altima	15,657	148	1993–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Ford Fusion

Recalls131 campaigns Fuel economy42 mpg best Common problems22,985 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space16 cu ft Used prices6,324 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2006–2020

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ford Fusion reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 11.95 against 3.73 for the average car, and more than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.

Which Fusion years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2010, 2011, 2012. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2015, 2014, 2017. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Fusion problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Steering, typically at 7 years, followed by Air Bags.

Will the warranty cover Fusion problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 12.9% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 29% of the complaints here.

Is the Fusion more reliable than the Toyota Camry?

No: 11.95 complaints per production run for the Fusion against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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