Ford Fusion Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Ford Fusion across 15 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (30). The words owners use most often: “turn signal” (14% of reports).
- 180exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $440typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Turn signal: mentioned in 26 of 180 complaints (14%)
- Low beam: mentioned in 14 of 180 complaints (8%)
- Smart junction: mentioned in 10 of 180 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Ford Fusion at $440, and half of them between $270 and $860.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 180 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury.
Ford Fusion exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Fusion | 1 | 1% | 53,000 |
| 2019 Fusion | 2 | 1% | 56,475 |
| 2018 Fusion | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2017 Fusion | 9 | 1% | 17,050 |
| 2016 Fusion | 16 | 1% | 43,000 |
| 2015 Fusion | 13 | 1% | 117,176 |
| 2014 Fusion | 18 | 1% | 37,800 |
| 2013 Fusion | 30 | 2% | 36,775 |
| 2012 Fusion | 21 | 1% | 43,000 |
| 2011 Fusion | 18 | 1% | 71,550 |
| 2010 Fusion | 13 | 0% | 56,000 |
| 2009 Fusion | 3 | 0% | 40,000 |
| 2008 Fusion | 4 | 0% | 48,000 |
| 2007 Fusion | 10 | 1% | 74,500 |
| 2006 Fusion | 21 | 3% | 93,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2013
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles, manufactured from February 3, 2012, through October 20, 2012, for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." The affected vehicles may not have had the low beam headlamp projector coating properly cured during its manufacturing process.
Risk: An improperly cured projector coating will become hazy through operation, over time, reducing the brightness of the low-beam lamp. This may decrease driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlamp assembly. The recall began on December 18, 2012. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Year/Make/Model: 2015 Ford Fusion Engine Type: 1.5L EcoBoost 4-Cylinder Description of Safety Flaw and Incident: My vehicle is experiencing severe overheating and internal engine fluid loss due to the widely documented Ford EcoBoost coolant intrusion defect. The vehicle routinely runs hot, losing…
Took car in May to hemborg ford they replaced my brake bumper it was on recall. Took car back on August 3 of 2026 brake lights staying on. Had them recheck the recall again thought it might be that. I was told it was not the issue. I needed to change out brake switch and had to pay diagnostic fee…
I experienced an issue identical to safety recall 22S02. Rear brake light remains on due to a broken Brakelight stop bumper. Dealership did not offer to fix at no charge.
my brakes had went out while i was driving home from work
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera was inoperable…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Fusions have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 180 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Ford Fusion. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Fusion exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Ford Fusion?
Owners report a typical cost of $440 (half paid between $270 and $860), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Ford Fusion?
The most frequent phrase is “turn signal”, in 26 of 180 complaints, followed by “low beam” (14).
Other Ford Fusion problems
- Steering problems (5,775)
- Air Bags problems (3,530)
- Engine problems (3,369)
- Power Train problems (3,138)
- Service Brakes problems (2,191)
- Electrical System problems (1,665)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,414)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,167)
See all Ford Fusion problems.