Is the 2013 Ford FUSION reliable?

The 2013 Ford FUSION has 2355 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.3x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2013 Ford FUSION?

Top problems: ENGINE (449 complaints, avg repair $500); STEERING (390 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (281 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2013 Ford FUSION?

Yes, there are 19 recall(s): STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, AIR BAGS, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Ford FUSION?

The 2013 Ford FUSION gets 25 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1920. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2013 Ford FUSION?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2013 Ford FUSION is approximately $1,473/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2013 Ford FUSION

Q: Is the 2013 Ford FUSION often stolen?

The Ford FUSION was the #14 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 7,100 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: above-avg.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford FUSION has 2355 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 1748. The most common issue is engine problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: while driving on a city road with my foot on the gas at 35-40mph, the transmission erratically shifted into a lower gear on the transmission, causing the engine rpms to near instantaneously to go from 1750-2000rpms to just over 4000rpms. through the rpm increase the vehicle maintained the previous 3. There are 19 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 138 fire reports filed.

138 fire reports 52 crash reports 51 injuries

2355

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

1.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

449 complaints

19%

• WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS AT 35-40MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ERRATICALLY SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE ENGINE RPMS TO NEAR INSTANTANEOUSLY TO GO FROM 1750-2000RPMS TO JUST OVER 4000RPMS. THROUGH THE RPM INCREASE THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED THE PREVIOUS 3
• WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY 65-MPH THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL STARTS ACTING UP AS IF YOU ARE TURNING ON AND OFF THE KEY. THEY FOUND A LOSE WIRE TO THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER ON THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK SI
• OK, I TRADED IN MY 2009 FUSION 6 CYL FOR THE 2013 1.8 ECCO BOOST. OBVIOUSLY WHEN I TEST DROVE IT I DROVE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. AT ANY RATE, WHEN YOU NEED TO PASS AND STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR HESITATES AND SEEMS TO HAVE NO POWER AT ALL. THE GAS MILIAGE IS AROUND 22 MILE PER GALLON HIGHWAY. NO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 81 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS AT 35-40MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ERRATICALLY SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE ENGINE RPMS TO NEAR INSTANTANEOUSLY TO GO FROM 1750-2000RPMS TO JUST OVER 4000RPMS. THROUGH THE RPM INCREASE THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED THE PREVIOUS 3”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Ford FUSION

Based on 1,726 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 75K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

301

30-60K

356

60-100K

544

100-150K

394

150-200K

105

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Earlier than typicalmedian 55K mi · 115 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Earlier than typicalmedian 33K mi · 61 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

Earlier than typicalmedian 60K mi · 37 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

Earlier than typicalmedian 61K mi · 36 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

Earlier than typicalmedian 36K mi · 24 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

Earlier than typicalmedian 47K mi · 22 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

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 (19)

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM29/08/2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.

Risk: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.

Above-average theft risk

#14 most stolen in 2025

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 2013 Ford FUSION

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,920

Per month

$160

Per mile

16.0¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,182/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,549/yr

Based 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 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Ford FUSION

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,473

Full coverage / month

$123

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-12%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1473

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford FUSION Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

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

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2013 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.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2355 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS AT 35-40MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ERRATICALLY SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE ENGINE RPMS TO NEAR INSTANTANEOUSLY TO GO FROM 1750-2000RPMS TO JUST OVER 4000RPMS. THROUGH THE RPM INCREASE THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED THE PREVIOUS 3
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE MOON ROOF WINDOW OPENED WITH OUT ANY BUTTON BEING PRESSED. STORM RAIN WAS STARTING. THERE WAS A LOT OF AUTO TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING , MY WIFE WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME AND THERE WAS A CAR COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT TO THE LEFT OF ME AND PERPENDICULAR TO MY CAR :WHAT HAPPENED NEXT SIMULTANEOUSLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS AT 35-40MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ERRATICALLY SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE ENGINE RPMS TO NEAR INSTANTANEOUSLY TO GO FROM 1750-2000RPMS TO JUST OVER 4000RPMS. THROUGH THE RPM INCREASE THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED THE PREVIOUS 3
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: PURCHASED CAR ON NOV 2 2013 RETURNED TO DEALER 31 DAYS LATER DUE TO RECALL. HAVE REQUESTED BUY BACK FROM FORD. WHO WOULD PUT THERE GRANDCHILDREN AT RISK IN THIS CAR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE? I FEEL THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN THE PROBLEM EXISTED BUT FAILED TO ADMIT IT UNTIL SOME CARS CAME BACK. JUST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 19 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)