2011 Ford FUSION HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Ford FUSION HYBRID has 166 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: service power steering now and servicetract message displayed, steering wheel was very stiff and i couldn't steer car. my car had to be towed to a ford dealership and they told me problem was due to a pre-existing defect. *tr.

6 crash reports 3 injuries

166

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

43 complaints

26%

• SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW AND SERVICETRACT MESSAGE DISPLAYED, STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY STIFF AND I COULDN'T STEER CAR. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A PRE-EXISTING DEFECT. *TR
• INDICATOR LIGHT "WRENCH" CAME ON TO INFORM ME OF AN ISSUE. THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID "SERVICE ACCUTRAC" (TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO THEN TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL HAD TO BE REPROGR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND NOTICED THAT THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" AND "TRACTION CONTROL" WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW AND SERVICETRACT MESSAGE DISPLAYED, STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY STIFF AND I COULDN'T STEER CAR. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A PRE-EXISTING DEFECT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

34 complaints

20%

• WAITING SINCE RECEIVING RECALL 16V384 (MAY'16) FOR FORD TO ADVISE WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE TO FIX. IN MEANTIME, WE ARE NOT DRIVING VEHICLE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS IS TAKING MUCH TOO LONG TO RESOLVE.
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFA
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO PR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WAITING SINCE RECEIVING RECALL 16V384 (MAY'16) FOR FORD TO ADVISE WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE TO FIX. IN MEANTIME, WE ARE NOT DRIVING VEHICLE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS IS TAKING MUCH TOO LONG TO RESOLVE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

24 complaints

14%

• BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO WEEKS. HAS BEEN TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT THEY FOUND NOTHING, TOLD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY WOULD PUT THE CAR ON AN ELECTRONIC TESTER. THE PROBLEM DID SHOW UP AGAIN ON
• IN A SHOPPING PLAZA WENT TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND BRAKES BECAME SPONGY AND CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP WHERE NORMALLY EXPECTED. WHEN FINALLY STOPPED IT SEEMED TO WANT TO LURCH AHEAD DASHBOARD HAD A RED " BRAKE SERVICE" WARNING LIGHT AND THEN A NUMBER A NUMBER OF YELLOW WARNINGS APPEARED. HAPPEN
• WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKES SEEMED TO FAIL. BRAKE PEDDLE HAD TO BE PUSHED FURTHER DOWN WITH MORE FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS RELATED TO SERVICE AND BRAKES LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE CAR ABOUT 20 MIN LATER, THE BRAKES WERE FINE AND WOR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO WEEKS. HAS BEEN TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT THEY FOUND NOTHING, TOLD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY WOULD PUT THE CAR ON AN ELECTRONIC TESTER. THE PROBLEM DID SHOW UP AGAIN ON ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

12 complaints

• THE WRENCH SYMBOL WAS DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROL PANEL WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. IT FELT LIKE IT STALLED OUT. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES ON IT AND IS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE. *TR
• NORMAL DRIVING IN 55 MPH ZONE CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. NOTICED WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TURNED CAR AROUND AND PROCEEDED TOWARD HOME. ENGINE REVVED AT STOPPING BUT COULD NOT GET OUT OF WAY OF FAST TRAFFIC. ALMOST HIT IN REAR SEVERAL TIMES. FLASHER EMERGENCY LIGHTS NECESSARY.
• WHILE DRIVING FROM LOS ANGELES TO PHOENIX IN THE SUMMER, THE CAR SUDDENLY FLASHED A RED WARNING LIGHT, AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE CAR MOVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE CAR GAVE NO INDICATION THAT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE WRENCH SYMBOL WAS DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROL PANEL WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. IT FELT LIKE IT STALLED OUT. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES ON IT AND IS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

12 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE
• NORMAL DRIVING IN 55 MPH ZONE CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. NOTICED WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TURNED CAR AROUND AND PROCEEDED TOWARD HOME. ENGINE REVVED AT STOPPING BUT COULD NOT GET OUT OF WAY OF FAST TRAFFIC. ALMOST HIT IN REAR SEVERAL TIMES. FLASHER EMERGENCY LIGHTS NECESSARY.
• WHILE DRIVING FROM LOS ANGELES TO PHOENIX IN THE SUMMER, THE CAR SUDDENLY FLASHED A RED WARNING LIGHT, AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE CAR MOVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE CAR GAVE NO INDICATION THAT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 166 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW AND SERVICETRACT MESSAGE DISPLAYED, STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY STIFF AND I COULDN'T STEER CAR. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A PRE-EXISTING DEFECT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: WAITING SINCE RECEIVING RECALL 16V384 (MAY'16) FOR FORD TO ADVISE WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE TO FIX. IN MEANTIME, WE ARE NOT DRIVING VEHICLE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS IS TAKING MUCH TOO LONG TO RESOLVE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO WEEKS. HAS BEEN TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT THEY FOUND NOTHING, TOLD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY WOULD PUT THE CAR ON AN ELECTRONIC TESTER. THE PROBLEM DID SHOW UP AGAIN ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE WRENCH SYMBOL WAS DISPLAYED ON THE CONTROL PANEL WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. IT FELT LIKE IT STALLED OUT. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES ON IT AND IS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)