2013 Ford FUSION

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford FUSION has 2355 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 29.4x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 138 fire reports filed.

138 fire reports 52 crash reports 51 injuries

2355

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

29.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

STEERING

390 complaints

17%

• 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
• A POPPING CAN BE FELT AND HEARD FROM BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL. *TR
• I TURNED ON MY CAR AND IT GAVE ME THESE WARNINGS: "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULTY" "HILL ASSIST SYSTEM FAULTY" "SERVICE ADVANCETRACK" THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

281 complaints

12%

• 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
• I WAS DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT, AND RAN LATE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. I STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT, AND TRIED TO TAKE OFF, BUT THEN THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE. I HOBBLED THE CAR ACROSS THE INTERSECTION, AND THEN BEGAN TO USE MY OBD II CODE READER THAT I PURCHASED FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE, AND R
• I DRIVE A 2013 FORD FUSION, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP. BY 3772 MILES, THE CAR BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT VIOLENTLY, UPSHIFT AROUND 6 OR 7 THOUSAND RPMS, NOT SHIFT AT ALL, THE HEATED SEAT WOULD COME ON BY THEMSELVES WITH NO INDICATOR LIGHTS, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR LIGH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 11 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

196 complaints

• 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
• IT'S A COMPLAINT I HAVE WITH THE FORD SYNC SYSTEM. I HAVE THIS ISSUE PRETTY MUCH SINCE THE FIRST WEEK I HAD MY CAR. HOWEVER, THINGS JUST GET WORST TODAY. NORMALLY, THE NAVIGATION DELAYS ABOUT COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE WORKING; HOWEVER, THIS TIME MY FORD NAVIGATION SYSTEM JUST DOESN'T WORK FOR MORE THAN
• 1. LANE KEEPING DEPARTURE SYSTEM PRESENTS A DANGER TO CYCLISTS & PEDESTRIANS. NOW THAT I AM AWARE, I TURN THE SYSTEM OFF; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL PUTS UP A GOOD FIGHT WHEN I TRIED TO PROVIDE THE CYCLISTS ROOM--AN UNNECESSARY ISSUE THAT COULD OF CAUSED SERIOUS BODILY HARM OR DEATH. 2. THE VEHICL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 11 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

164 complaints

• THE FRONT BODY PANELS AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LOOSE AND YOU CAN HEAR SOME KIND OF A RATTLE AROUND THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHEN YOU GET OVER 55 MPH. *TR
• WE REALLY LIKE OUR 2013 FORD FUSION - EXCEPT FOR ONE MAJOR SNAFU - VISIBILITY WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE ATTACHED PHOTO, MADE FROM THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER'S EYES, SHOWS THE PROBLEM. ONE MUST MOVE THEIR HEAD FORWARD AND BACKWARD TO VIEW BEYOND THE LARGE BLOCKED-OUT AREA BEHIND THE PILLAR TO MAKE S
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METALLIC TRIM IN THE INTERIOR CAUSED AN EXTREME GLARE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD EVEN WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE EYES AFTER BEING SUBJECTED TO THE BRIGHT REFLECTI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“THE FRONT BODY PANELS AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LOOSE AND YOU CAN HEAR SOME KIND OF A RATTLE AROUND THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHEN YOU GET OVER 55 MPH. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)