2011 Ford Fusion Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Fusion years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 2,792 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Fusion. That ranks 2nd out of 15 Fusion model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (1,434 complaints, 51%), typically at around 89,250 miles. Complaints mention 80 crashes, 10 fires, 46 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 2,792owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 80complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2011 Ford Fusion problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 1,434 | 51% | 89,250 | “power steering assist” (29%) | $2,500 |
| Air Bags problems | 330 | 12% | 90,200 | “takata air bags” (28%) | — |
| Engine problems | 276 | 10% | 45,000 | “throttle body” (31%) | $860 |
| Power Train problems | 268 | 10% | 45,500 | “throttle body” (29%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 256 | 9% | 45,000 | “throttle body” (47%) | $710 |
| Electrical System problems | 202 | 7% | 57,000 | “throttle body” (16%) | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 176 | 6% | 48,000 | “throttle body” (35%) | — |
| Service Brakes problems | 169 | 6% | 101,000 | “abs module” (12%) | $1,300 |
| Unknown or Other | 105 | 4% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 93 | 3% | 72,000 | “assist fault” (19%) | — |
| Structure problems | 61 | 2% | 62,000 | “door handle” (39%) | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 60 | 2% | 57,825 | “throttle body” (37%) | — |
| Wheels | 49 | 2% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 29 | 1% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 25 | 1% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 1% | 71,550 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 18 | 1% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 1% | 31,243 | — | — |
| Seats | 14 | 1% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 10 | 0% | 93,250 | — | — |
| Visibility | 9 | 0% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 0% | 36,779 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 0% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 0% | 300 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 0% | 123,316 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 0% | 20,159 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 0% | 200 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 0% | 85,651 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 234,069 | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 163,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2011 Ford Fusion recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high 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: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module; air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: 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.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle 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. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured July 21, 2008, to March 4, 2011, and 2010-2011 Mercury Milan vehicles manufactured July 23, 2008, to December 10, 2010. The affected vehicles have fuel vapor canisters whose purge valves may not operate properly resulting in abnormal pressure changes in the fuel tank.
Risk: The pressure changes may cause the tank to crack and leak fuel. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle powertrain control modules and inspect the vehicle for any diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) for this issue and perform a leak test on the Canister Purge Valve (CPV). The fuel tank will be inspected for cracks. The CPV and fuel tank will be replaced as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S34.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 ford fusion and mercury milan vehicles equipped with 17 inch steel wheels and built from april 1, 2009, through april 30, 2009, and from december 1, 2009, through november 13, 2010. The wheel studs may fracture, potentially causing a wheel to separate.
Risk: While driving, multiple stud fractures could occur at the wheel location, and the operator may experience vehicle vibration and/or wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear brake disc surface for flatness and replace the discs as necessary. Additionally, the wheel lug nuts will be replaced on all four wheels. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about january 24, 2012. Owners may contact the ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Power Steering Failure (EA17004) — opened Nov 20, 2017, closed Feb 9, 2024.
- Electric power steering failure (PE14030) — opened Oct 2, 2014, closed Sep 10, 2015, led to recall 15V340000.
- Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction (PE13003) — opened Feb 21, 2013, closed Feb 28, 2014.
- Floor mat interference with accelerator (EA12009) — opened Dec 12, 2012, closed Jun 12, 2014, led to recall 14E028000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My momâs 2011 Ford Fusion SEL experienced a loss of electric power steering assistance. I cannot determine the exact moment the failure occurred. When I started the vehicle and attempted to drive away, I noticed that the steering wheel was extremely stiff. The dashboard displayed a âPower…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became stiff and excessive force was needed to make a left or right turn. The power steering assist and Advancetrac warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local…
I am filing an official complaint against Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale regarding Safety Recall 15S18 (NHTSA Campaign 15V340) for my 2011 Ford Fusion. The official recall status is 'Recall Incomplete'. The dealership refused to perform the mandatory safety repair, claiming that the vehicle's…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 35 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle almost crashed into the neighbor's lawn because the steering wheel had seized. The contact's daughter stated that the steering wheel was firm and required extra effort…
My steering got rough out of nowhere I just been driving regular I need help. Because I almost crashed
Other Ford Fusion years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Fusion | 183 | 3 |
| 2019 Fusion | 316 | 3 |
| 2018 Fusion | 442 | 2 |
| 2017 Fusion | 1,112 | 4 |
| 2016 Fusion | 1,641 | 13 |
| 2015 Fusion | 994 | 13 |
| 2014 Fusion | 1,330 | 19 |
| 2013 Fusion | 1,792 | 19 |
| 2012 Fusion | 2,516 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2,792 | 7 |
| 2010 Fusion | 5,130 | 11 |
| 2009 Fusion | 1,023 | 6 |
| 2008 Fusion | 1,353 | 5 |
| 2007 Fusion | 1,064 | 4 |
| 2006 Fusion | 730 | 4 |
See all Ford Fusion problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Fusion?
Owners most often report steering, air bags, engine problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 1,434 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Ford Fusion?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2011 Ford Fusion a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Fusion model years, the 2011 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.