
2011 Ford FUSION
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Ford FUSION has 3649 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 1748. The most common issue is steering problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford fusion. the contact was exiting a parking space when the steering failed and became abnormally tight. the power steering came warning light did not illuminate until after the failure. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer where he was awaiting diagnosis of the . There are 9 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.
3649
Total Complaints
9
Recalls Issued
4/5
Safety Stars
2.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
STEERING
1433 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE STEERING FAILED AND BECAME ABNORMALLY TIGHT. THE POWER STEERING CAME WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE
- • 2011 FUSION, JUST OVER 1000 MILES, DROVE 1 HR IN 100 DEG TEMP. POWER STEERING WARNING CAME ON. PARKED RETURNED TO VEHICLE WHILE LATER, FIX POWER STEERING NOW WAS THE NEW WARNING, STEERING WHEEL DID NOT BUDGE, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. *TR
- • DROVE MY BRAND NEW 2011 FORD FUSION WITH 5,000 MILES ON IT ON VACATION. THE TRIP WAS APPROX 400 MILES. DURING THE TRIP I DROVE THE CAR, AND ONE AFTERNOON THE SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ADVANCE TRACK WARNING CAME ON AS WELL. BY THE TIME I MADE IT BACK TO THE PLACE I WAS STAYING TH
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE STEERING FAILED AND BECAME ABNORMALLY TIGHT. THE POWER STEERING CAME WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2011 Ford FUSION
Based on 2,803 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 66K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.
VISIBILITY
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
SPEED CONTROL
FUEL SYSTEM
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (9)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
Above-average theft risk
The Ford FUSION was the #14 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 7,100 thefts reported to law enforcement.
Notes: Sedan with widespread availability
Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2011 Ford FUSION
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2011 Ford FUSION
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Ford FUSION Service Intervals
IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2011 FUSION, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Videos About the 2011 Ford FUSION
Videos hosted on YouTube — embedded via official playerVideos are hosted on YouTube and embedded here via YouTube's official player. BestCarRank does not host or produce these videos. Watch counts and channel information are pulled from YouTube's public Data API.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 3649 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE STEERING FAILED AND BECAME ABNORMALLY TIGHT. THE POWER STEERING CAME WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PASSENGER WEIGHT WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT WAS ON A STEEP INCLINE AND SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO THE REVERSE; SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD 6-8 FEET. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE REPEATEDLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE CONT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: I BOUGHT A 2011 FORD FUSION ON NOV. 26, 2010. THE DAY I BROUGHT IT HOME, THE PROBLEMS STARTED. IT BANGS SO HARD INTO REVERSE THAT IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO THE CAR WITH A BULLDOZER. IT HAS DEAD SPOTS IN THE ACCELERATION, AND OFTEN GOES ABOVE 5000 RPM WHEN SHIFTING JUST GOING DOWN A NORMAL FLAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 9 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford FUSION — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 3649
- Recalls
- 9
- Fire reports
- 10
- Crash reports
- 99
- Injury reports
- 53
- Segment avg
- 1748
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Ford FUSION