Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2008 Ford Fusion — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2017 to Dec 2021
The most reported issue is air bags problems (559 complaints). 53 complaints involved crashes. 6 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (6)
NHTSA Campaign: 21V158000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V081000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V904000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly.
Risk: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the HCU will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the HCU as necessary. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S54.
NHTSA Campaign: 17V024000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ 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 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan 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." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, 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. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V384000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 14E028000
Component: EQUIPMENT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Risk: The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S07. NOTE: Vehicles built after October 31, 2010, while potentially equipped with the same floor mats, are equipped with a Brake Over Accelerator (BOA) feature that prevents simultaneous accelerator and brake application, allowing the vehicle to be safely stopped by pressing firmly and steadily on the brake pedal.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 1352)
Service Brakes →6 issues
Your 2008 Ford Fusion has a brake issue covered under Ford's customer satisfaction program (campaign #21N11) and recall #19S54, but Ford is refusing to repair it. You've found multiple other complaints about the same problem online. Since this involves your brakes, getting this fixed promptly is important for safety. The repair will likely involve brake system inspection and replacement of affected brake components.
Parts you may need:
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Your brake pedal occasionally sinks all the way to the floor when you try to brake, which mechanics have identified as an ABS module problem. The only temporary workaround is to disable the ABS system entirely, but Ford's customer satisfaction program for this brake issue has expired and they won't repair it under that program. Since braking is critical for safe driving, you're concerned this should be a full recall rather than a limited satisfaction program.
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Your brakes engage on their own without you touching the pedal, happening randomly at all speeds and even when stopped. This has been occurring daily for over 5 years despite multiple repairs including replacing the brake master cylinder, boost pump, pads, calipers, and rotors twice. At highway speeds, the unexpected braking causes noticeable deceleration and has made your tires hop, temporarily losing control of the vehicle. The issue may be related to the ABS module (HCU), which Ford has a recall for, but multiple dealerships have refused to inspect or replace it.
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Your brake pedal went nearly to the floor when you applied the brakes at 55 mph, feeling like the brakes had failed completely. Multiple owners have reported this same issue, which appears to be related to a faulty or corroded HCA (hydraulic control unit) component. Ford issued a recall with an extended warranty and only changed the brake fluid years after the initial problem occurred, but your dealer won't replace the suspect HCA unit because they can't reproduce the issue during testing.
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Your brake pedal requires excessive pressure to slow down or stop your vehicle. You've had a Ford dealership inspect the brakes as part of a recall issue, and they found nothing wrong, but the problem persists.
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You took your car to the dealer for two recalls. The airbag recall was fixed, but the braking issue wasn't repaired because the dealer said there were computer system problems. The dealer didn't give you a timeline for when the brake repair would be completed, and your car was returned to you still unrepaired. Fixing this will likely involve diagnosing and repairing the brake system's electronic control module or related computer components.
Parts you may need:
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Service Brakes, Hydraulic →4 issues
Your brake pedal may become soft and squishy, depressing all the way to the floor without providing proper braking power. This happened to your vehicle after hydroplaning, when the anti-lock brakes engaged and disengaged, and the issue recurred even after dealer repairs. The problem appears to be related to a stuck solenoid in the anti-lock brake system that prevents normal brake operation. The fix will likely involve inspecting and replacing the faulty anti-lock brake solenoid and possibly bleeding the brake system to restore proper hydraulic pressure.
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While driving at 50 mph, your brake pedal suddenly sank all the way to the floor when you pressed it. After pumping the pedal several times, it started working normally again. The dealer ran tests but couldn't find any problems, even though this brake failure happened at 73,000 miles.
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You received a recall notice for your 2008 Ford Fusion's hydraulic brake system, but Ford hasn't been able to supply the necessary repair part even though a significant amount of time has passed. You haven't experienced any brake failure yet, but the manufacturer is aware of the delay in getting the required parts.
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After hitting a bump in the road, your brakes didn't respond immediately when you first pressed the pedal—you had to push it all the way to the floor to get the car to stop. No warning lights came on. The dealer couldn't reproduce the problem during testing, so no repair was made. This could indicate air in the brake lines, a failing master cylinder, or brake fluid contamination that may need professional diagnostic work.
Parts you may need:
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Unknown Or Other →2 issues
Your 2008 Ford Fusion has a hydraulic control unit under recall, but Ford is refusing to repair it because your car is over 15 years old — even though it has only 117,000 miles and low mileage usage. Ford customer service told you the car is safe to drive but said you'd have to pay for repairs at a dealer instead of getting the recall work done for free. You believe this is unfair since the recalled part is a potential safety issue regardless of the vehicle's age.
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Your dashboard has warped and the seams around the passenger airbag cover are coming loose, creating a gap that could allow dirt or debris to get into the airbag system. The plastic vent and sensor at the top of the dashboard has also cracked and lifted out of place. These issues could interfere with airbag deployment in a collision and pose safety risks. Repair will likely involve replacing the dashboard panel and reseating or replacing the airbag cover and sensor components.
Parts you may need:
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Engine And Engine Cooling,engine →1 issue
While driving at 55 mph, your check engine light came on and a message indicated the engine was overheating. The dealer found that coolant had leaked into the engine's compression chamber, requiring a complete engine replacement. This happened at 68,000 miles.
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Structure →1 issue
Your car's door handle is stuck or broken, making it impossible to open the door from either inside or outside the vehicle. This traps passengers inside the car until the door is repaired. The fix will likely involve replacing the door handle assembly or internal latch mechanism.
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Steering,suspension,structure →1 issue
Your 2008 Ford Fusion is experiencing severe rust and corrosion on the frame and suspension components, which has caused parts like your transmission pan, stabilizer links, and control arms to deteriorate and fail. This rust has led to steering problems and safety hazards while driving. The original metal components throughout the suspension and frame appear vulnerable to this accelerated corrosion. Addressing this issue will likely require replacing rusted suspension parts, reinforcing or repairing the frame, and applying rust treatment or protective coatings to prevent further deterioration.
Parts you may need:
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Unknown Or Other,service Brakes,forward Collision Avoidance →1 issue
Your brakes don't feel right when you stop, and they're making a popping noise even though you just had new brake pads installed. This could indicate an issue with how the brakes were installed, the brake components themselves, or air in the brake lines. A mechanic should inspect the brake system to diagnose whether the problem is with the pads, rotors, calipers, or brake fluid.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,exterior Lighting →1 issue
Your driver's side brake light bulb melted inside its socket, and the socket itself is burnt black with the tail light housing showing signs of heat damage. This happened without any warning signs like a blown fuse or warning codes. The dealership quoted $250 for repair but couldn't guarantee it won't happen again, and you've found multiple reports of this same issue occurring in other vehicles.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,engine →1 issue
Your car is making a squealing sound from under the dashboard and shifting hard during acceleration or idle, with the check engine light on. The dealer visited 8 times but couldn't identify the problem, and Ford confirmed it's not a known issue covered by their technical service bulletins. Fixing this will likely involve diagnosing the engine control system and transmission shifting issues, possibly requiring computer diagnostics and transmission or engine component repairs.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train →1 issue
Your transmission may slip or lose power connection while driving, meaning the engine revs but your car doesn't accelerate as expected. This can make the vehicle feel like it's not properly engaging gears. The transmission fluid may need to be checked and replaced, or internal transmission components may need repair or replacement.
Parts you may need:
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Latches/locks/linkages →1 issue
Your trunk latch isn't working properly, which caused the trunk to nearly slam on your hand. This happened at around 98,000 miles on your vehicle. The latch mechanism will likely need to be inspected and either repaired or replaced to ensure the trunk operates safely.
Parts you may need:
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Related Vehicles
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