Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2011 Ford Fusion — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2015 to Dec 2020
The most reported issue is steering problems (1182 complaints). 80 complaints involved crashes. 10 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (9)
NHTSA Campaign: 19V001000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
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: 15V340000
Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V793000
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK
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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 11V574000
Component: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
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.
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: 21E013000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2011 Ford Ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the specific part numbers. These parts 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 dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 2768)
Steering →9 issues
Your steering wheel suddenly became very heavy and difficult to turn, with the wheels not responding properly when you turn the steering wheel. This makes your car hard to control, especially at low speeds or when turning. The problem appears to be related to a worn or failing rack and pinion steering system, which is a critical safety issue. A mechanic will need to inspect and likely replace the steering rack and pinion assembly.
Parts you may need:
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Your steering wheel suddenly became very difficult to turn and felt like it seized up, with several warning lights appearing on your dashboard. A dealer diagnosed this as a failed power steering module that needed to be replaced. The issue occurred around 65,000 miles.
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Your power steering suddenly failed while you were driving on the highway. Although Ford performed a recall repair (15S18/15V340) in January 2017 that involved electrical reprogramming, the mechanical components of the power steering system later failed anyway. Ford denied coverage under the recall and declined to escalate your complaint through their customer service and recall departments.
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Your car displayed a "service power steering now" warning message on the dashboard while driving at highway speeds, then completely lost power steering assistance about a mile later. The steering became stiff and difficult to control, though you were able to limp home. Your mechanic found that the electric power steering rack had failed and needed replacement, costing $1,900 to repair. A recall exists for this issue on 2010-2012 Ford Fusions, but your vehicle's VIN was not included in the recall coverage.
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Your power steering suddenly failed while you were driving on the highway, which nearly caused a crash. You brought the car to a Ford dealership, but they refused to replace the power steering box under recall code 15S18, saying the warranty had expired. You believe that safety recalls shouldn't have expiration dates and are asking for help getting this fixed.
Parts you may need:
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Your power steering has stopped working, making the steering wheel much harder to turn. This significantly affects your ability to control the vehicle safely, especially at low speeds or when parking. The repair will likely involve diagnosing and replacing the power steering pump, hoses, or related components.
Parts you may need:
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Your electric power steering suddenly stopped working while you were driving, forcing you to quickly take action to avoid an accident. Your 2011 Fusion was built at the same Hermosillo facility as vehicles covered by a 2015 recall for this exact problem, but Ford's records show your vehicle doesn't qualify for the recall coverage. Due to your vehicle's age (over 10 years) and mileage (over 150,000 miles), you're currently ineligible for Ford's customer assistance program. Repairing this issue will likely require diagnosis and replacement of the electric power steering motor or control module.
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While turning left into a driveway at low speed, your steering wheel suddenly became very hard to turn. After stopping and restarting the car, you were able to drive home. A dealer diagnosed a failed power steering assist system that needs replacement. Although this issue is linked to a known recall, your vehicle's VIN was no longer covered under the recall warranty, so the repair was not completed.
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While turning into a parking lot, your power steering suddenly stopped working and a warning message appeared saying "Power Steering Assist Fault." A diagnostic scan revealed a steering angle sensor signal failure (code C1277-20). Although Ford has issued recalls (15S18 and 15N01) to address this exact problem, Ford is telling you your vehicle isn't covered, and you're unable to get a clear answer about whether your car is actually part of the recall.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,electrical System →2 issues
Your power steering suddenly stopped working with no warning, making it difficult to steer your car. You discovered there was a recall issued in 2015 (Ford recall 15S18) specifically for loss of electric power steering assist on your model, but Ford customer service told you the recall is no longer open and refused to help. The issue likely requires diagnosis and repair of the electric power steering system or its related electrical components.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2011 Ford Fusion's electric power steering assist intermittently fails while driving, making the steering wheel extremely heavy or causing it to lock up completely. When this happens, a "Power Steering Assist Fault" warning appears on your dashboard, and restarting the car temporarily fixes it—but the problem returns. This creates a serious safety risk, especially at highway speeds where sudden heavy steering could cause you to lose control. The issue may require diagnosis and repair of the electric power steering motor or control module.
Parts you may need:
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Fuel/propulsion System →2 issues
Your car is leaking gasoline when the tank is filled to near capacity. This appears to be a known issue affecting this model year. You should have the fuel system inspected to locate and repair the leak, as fuel leaks can pose safety risks and should be addressed promptly.
Parts you may need:
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Your fuel tank has cracked, possibly due to a faulty purge valve. Additionally, your power steering assist occasionally stops working. Both issues need attention — the cracked tank is a fuel leak concern, and the steering problem affects your ability to control the vehicle safely.
Parts you may need:
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Vehicle Speed Control,service Brakes,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your car continues to accelerate even after you press the brake pedal, and this has happened multiple times, usually at low speeds. This is a serious safety issue that requires immediate attention. The problem likely involves the fuel system, speed control, or brake system and needs professional diagnostic testing to identify and repair the root cause.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,wheels →1 issue
Your power steering suddenly stopped working while you were driving, and warning lights appeared on your dashboard telling you to service the power steering and advance trac systems. This is a known issue that Ford has acknowledged. You'll likely need to have the power steering system inspected and repaired, which may involve replacing the power steering pump or electrical components.
Parts you may need:
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Service Brakes,engine →1 issue
Your 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid may not stop reliably when you apply the brakes — the problem happens intermittently. Your dealership diagnosed a faulty ABS module as the cause, but original parts have been on back order since the pandemic. Even after you purchased two used ABS modules, the dealership couldn't program them to work in your vehicle. Fixing this will require obtaining a compatible ABS module and having it properly programmed and installed.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,vehicle Speed Control,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your powertrain warning light turned on with error code P1450, causing your car to enter limp mode where it stalls at stops and won't accelerate over 40 mph. You replaced the canister purge valve and the light temporarily turned off, but it came back immediately when you tried to go faster than 40 mph and the car went back into limp mode. Based on diagnostic information, the electronic throttle body appears to be the likely cause, and there's a known recall for this issue on your model and year, though it may not apply to your specific VIN.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,suspension,service Brakes →1 issue
Your 2011 Ford Fusion has a steering, suspension, or brake system issue that was supposed to be covered by a recall. However, your extended warranty has been denied, and the dealership has had your vehicle for two months without repair. Your financing options are limited, and you're seeking help to get the repairs approved and completed so you can use your car again.
Parts you may need:
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Unknown Or Other →1 issue
You purchased a 2011 Ford Fusion that has outstanding recalls that you weren't informed about before buying it. Ford's service department is refusing to perform the recall repairs, and you're unable to afford or finance the fixes yourself. You're seeking help to get these safety issues addressed.
Parts you may need:
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Service Brakes →1 issue
Your ABS (anti-lock brake) module may be faulty and not functioning properly. This could affect your car's ability to prevent wheel lockup during hard braking. The repair will likely involve diagnosing and replacing the ABS module.
Parts you may need:
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