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2013 Ford Fusion Wipers & Visibility Problems

20 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data

20
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
Jan 2021Dec 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (20)

highVISIBILITY
Filed: Mar 2026

Your windshield wipers stopped working at 92,000 miles. An independent mechanic was unable to diagnose the problem, and your car wasn't repaired. You've been using a spray bottle to clean your windshield instead. While you believe this matches a known recall, your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in it, though Ford has opened a case to investigate.

NHTSA #: 11723805
highVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jan 2026

Your rear view camera stops working without warning and displays a "camera unavailable" message with a black screen. This happens repeatedly while you're driving, and it has caused close calls when you're trying to back up safely. The issue will likely require diagnosing the camera connection, wiring, or the camera module itself to restore functionality.

NHTSA #: 11710081
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: May 2024

My Car has 136,000 miles on it. The vehicle's rear windshield glue failed. I noticed water in the car's trunk the other day thinking it was a cooler not a big deal. Every time a car door closed I kept hearing a weird thud. Driving down the road I would hear a thump from the rear. I thought the spare tire tightened it and that was not it. I closed my car door, looked back, and saw the rear glass lift significantly. I did it again and then looked back and saw the glass lift. I then went back and realized could lift the rear windshield glass. 90% of the top and bottom of the glass glue had failed or was not there anymore. The whole driver's side was not glued. The only thing holding the glass on was the passenger's side of the glass. This is a huge safety issue as the glass could have just flown out at high speeds if I had rolled my windows down or it could have shattered because of vibrations at speeds. You need to investigate the failure of the adhesive used to put on all Ford Fusions and all sedans to see if there should be a forced recall. It was a fluke I found it before the window blew out or just shattered because of a vibration. It could be catastrophic if a rear windshield shatters at high speeds or flies out at high speeds. I have never heard of an adhesive failure like this on a windshield. I think Ford has a huge issue with this problem that has not been investigated. I should never have to worry about my windshield flying out or shattering because it is no longer glued down. Sorry, I did not take pictures of it. It was such a safety concern I went directly to the nearest place and got the windscreen adhesive and fixed it.

NHTSA #: 11591713
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Oct 2023

Wipers stopped working. Had fused checked. Fuse was not the problem. Ford dealer to complete diagnostic testing as no other auto repair shop will fix the issue. There are 22 reports for faulty wipers, wipers not working, Ford refusal to issue a recall. Meanwhile, they issued a recall for pickup truck wiper recall. Obviously, it is possible Ford Fusion Titanium 2013 and other vehicles could suffer the same issue(s). The cost is hundreds of dollars and Ford says "oh well." Meanwhile vehicles cost $20,000 + no accountability for faulty parts.

NHTSA #: 11552132
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jan 2021

WHILE DRIVING IN A LIGHT SNOW STORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I TRIED TO PUSH DOWN ON THE STALK TO GET THEM TO WORK ONCE AND THEN TRIED TO PUSH IT UP TO GET TO A SET SPEED AND NOTHING WORKED. ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES LATER THEY CAME ON, WIPED 3 TIMES AND THEN STOPPED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ON MY 30 MINUTE DRIVE. THIS INTERMITTENT ISSUE COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THE STORM WAS WORSE. I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH.

NHTSA #: 11389969
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jan 2021

WIPER MOTORS STOPPED WORKING OUT OF NOWHERE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD AND THEY SIMPLY WANT ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THEM. I COULD NOT AFFORD AT THE TIME AND TOLD THEM TO HOLD OFF ON THE REPAIR. THEY DID SOMETHING FOR FREE THAT CAUSED THEM TO WORK FOR ANOTHER MONTH BUT ARE NOT WORKING AGAIN. FORD REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE THIS, AND SEES IT AS MY OWN PERSONAL PROBLEM. I SEE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.

NHTSA #: 11386588
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Sep 2020

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. IT STARTED AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND TURNED INTO THEM NOT WORKING AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED AFTER THE DEALER WARRANTY RAN OUT SO NATURALLY THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE ISSUE. THEY WORK SOMEWHAT NOW AGAIN, BUT ONE WIPER IS HALFWAY UP MY WINDSHIELD AND THE OTHER KEEPS BREAKING OF ASSUMING BECUASE THEY ARE OUT OF SYNC WITH EACH OTHER. SO I HAVE ONE WIPER THAT IS ON THE DRIVER SIDE THAT SORT OF WORKS AND THIS VEHICLE I AM STILL PAYING ON, SO IT SUCKS BECAUSE I CANNOT DRIVE IT AND IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THIS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER ACCOUNTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND FORD SEEMS TO IGNORE IT. I JUST WANT A RELIABLE VEHICLE THAT I'M PAYING FOR AND SO FAR THIS FORD FUSION HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT ISSUES.

NHTSA #: 11355665
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Dec 2019

ON 02DEC2019 WHILE DRIVING DURING A LIGHT SNOW, WIPERS ON A 2013 FUSION SE AT 43,595 MILES FAILED TO OPERATE, LH WIPER STAYED VERTICAL, RH WIPER RETURNED TO PARK IN HORIZONTAL POSITION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAMES FORD IN WILLIAMSON NY WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS LH WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A COST OF $550.93.

NHTSA #: 11287588
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Mar 2019

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO THE DOCTOR WHEN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP MOVING.

NHTSA #: 11186981
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Feb 2019

I NOTICED WATER DRIPPING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD ONTO MY SHOES WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IT RAINED, WATER WAS IN THE FLOOR BOARD AND SINCE I PARK ON A HILL, IT WAS GOING UP UNDER THE SEAT AND SATURATING THE BACK FLOOR BOARD AS WELL. I HAD RECEIVED A CRACK IN THE SUNROOF FROM A TREE BRANCH SO THOUGHT THE WATER WAS COMING IN FROM THAT PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR THEM TO TELL ME IT WASN'T COMING FROM THE CRACK BUT THE WINDSHIELD IS SEPARATING! I ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T ANY RUBBER SEAL TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE, HAS HAD OVER A DOZEN RECALLS, SEEMS LIKE FORD DOESN'T WANT TO FIX THESE ISSUES. I'VE CALLED AND ASKED ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES, SOMEONE WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME BACK, BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW HOW THAT TURNS OUT. AS SOON AS I GET THESE ISSUES FIXED I'LL GET A NEW CAR AND IT WON'T BE A FORD!

NHTSA #: 11176228
mediumVISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,ENGINE
FireFiled: Nov 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD FUSION. WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER NOTICED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SMOKE EMITTED INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SEE FLAMES FROM THE SIDE MIRROR. THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR JAMMED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. UPON LEAVING THE VEHICLE, IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS), 15V246000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES), 16V875000 (SEAT BELTS), AND 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). SANTA MONICA FORD LINCOLN IN SANTA MONICA, CA PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA #: 11051024
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Nov 2016

THE WINDSHIELD IS SEPARATING " DELAMINATING " CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. I PERSONALLY HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER FUSION OWNERS AND THEY AS WELL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THERE CARS. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION OF THE TWO PIECES OF GLASS FROM THE LAMINATE. I ALSO BELIEVE IF NOT TAKING CARE OF THAT IT WOULD RESULT IN VISION IMPAIRMENT. HERE ARE 2 PHOTOS SHOWING THE SEPARATION OF THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA #: 10926074
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Aug 2016

WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WIPERS ARE WAY TO SLOW. IN THE RAIN IT IS SUPER HARD TO SEE AND YOU HAVE NO VISIBILITY. ALL YOU COULD DO IS PULL OVER, WHICH IS MOST OF THE TIME INCONVENIENT OR HOPE THAT YOU DON'T GET IN A ACCIDENT. EVEN MODERATE RAIN IS HARD SEE. ITS A SHAME THAT OLDER CARS IS SAFER THAN A 2013 FORD FUSION. I WAS GOING DOWN A ROAD THAT HAS A SPEED LIMIT OF 55 IN HARD RAIN, I OBVIOUSLY WAS DOING A SLOWER SPEED LIMIT DUE TO THE DANGER OF THE RAIN AND MY VEHICLE'S SLOW WIPERS. MY VISIBILITY GOT SO BAD THAT I DECIDED THAT I HAD NO CHOICE TO TURN TO THE RIGHT ON A ROAD THAT WOULD GIVE ME ACCESS TO A SUPER WALMART. MY VISIBILITY WAS SO BAD THAT I COULD NOT TURN IN TO THE WALMART PARKING LOT BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ME IN ORDER FOR ME TO CONTINUE ON THE ROAD AND MAKE A SAFE LEFT HAND TURN. I HAD TO PUT MY FLASHING LIGHTS ON AND USE MY LEFT WINDOW TO FIND MY WAY DOWN THE PATH OF THE TURNING LANE AND OUT OF THE STRAIGHT LANES. AT THIS POINT I PUT THE DEFOG BUTTON ON FOR THE WINDOW AND IT HELPED A LITTLE BIT. THE RAIN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN SO I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON THE ROAD WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, IT RAINS A LOT HERE. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME DRIVING AROUND HERE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10899675
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: May 2016

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS AND MOUNTS BECAME LOOSE AFTER ONLY 30,000 MILES AND NOW THE WIPERS SKIP AND DO NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD OFF WHEN IT IS RAINING. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT. I CHANGED WIPERS 4 TIMES UNTIL I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE CAUSE. WHENEVER IT RAINS, I HAVE SEVERELY LIMITED VISIBILITY. I CANNOT GET IT FIXED BECAUSE IT COSTS TOO MUCH.

NHTSA #: 10863104
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jan 2016

I TOOK MY 2013 FORD FUSION (THEN STILL UNDER WARRANTY) TO THE DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2014 BECAUSE MY WIPERS WERE SOMETIMES BOUNCING/ VIBRATING (AT TIMES VIOLENTLY) WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, AND WOULD HESITATE INTERMITTENTLY AS THEY MOVED ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DISMISSED IT. THEY CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I VIDEOTAPED THE PROBLEM SHORTLY AFTER I PICKED-UP THE CAR AND SHARED THE YOUTUBE LINK WITH THE DEALER. VIDEO LINK: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/EJR8DM_FZ2C I LIVED WITH IT UNTIL A YEAR LATER (NOVEMBER, 2015) WHEN THE WIPERS CEASED WORKING IN HEAVY RAIN AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. I LOST VISIBILITY IMMEDIATELY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THE RAIN SLOWED, I MADE MY WAY TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND REMINDED THEM OF THE PROBLEM A YEAR EARLIER. THEY DIAGNOSED A WIPER MOTOR FAILURE AND--IN SPITE OF MY EARLIER VISIT UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE WIPER PROBLEM--DECLINED TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAID FOR THE REPAIR AS THE CAR WAS NOW NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT THE REPAIR, THUS I WAS AT THE MERCY OF THE DEALER FOR A $533 BILL, WHICH I PAID. I BELIEVE THE FAILURE OF THE WIPERS ON THE HIGHWAY WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE WHEN I BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THEIR ATTENTION IN 2014. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT FAILURE DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THE DEALER FAILED TO MAKE THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE COST. THE FAILURE OF THE WIPER MOTORS WAS GRADUAL AND PROVIDED AMPLE WARNING FOR THE DEALER, BUT THEY FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IN A TIMELY WAY. IN THE FUTURE, PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE VIBRATION AND HESITATION THAT TELEGRAPH POTENTIAL WIPER FAILURE SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY WHEN BROUGHT TO A DEALER'S ATTENTION.

NHTSA #: 10818897
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Feb 2015

THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING AT 37900 MILES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10681140
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Dec 2014

THE DESIGN OF THESE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IS A CONCERN TO ME. IN MODERATE RAINS, AT MODERATE SPEEDS (45-50 MPH) VISIBILITY IS POOR DUE TO THE WAY THE WIPERS MOVE FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE, LEAVING A LARGE PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD "UNWIPED" FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. HOWEVER, TODAY AT FREEWAY SPEED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN DOWNPOUR. MY WIFE HAD THE WIPERS ON HIGH, AND THERE WAS NEARLY ZERO CLEAR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE WIPERS WERE WIPING. SHE WAS FORTUNATE THAT AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR. I DID A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO NOTICE THIS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10663630
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Nov 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT STARTED TO RAIN HEAVILY. THE WIPERS AT HIGH SPEED WERE NOT CLEARING THE RAIN EFFECTIVELY AND IT WAS HARD TO SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH A CAR MERGING FROM A RAMP ON THE HIGHWAY AND I COULDN'T TELL THAT THERE WAS ONE CAR COMING IN SINCE I COULDN'T SEE A THING. I HAVE HAD A 1999 CENTURY BUICK BEFORE THIS AND NEVER HAD SUCH A PROBLEM. AND IT HAS SEEN WAY HEAVIER RAINS THAN THIS ONE. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WIPERS. THIS CAR HAS A VERY INEFFECTIVE WIPER SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT CLEAR THE RAIN AND INFACT IS HAZARDOUS IN POURING RAIN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10550816
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Aug 2013

IT BEGAN RAINING HARD AND THE WIPERS WERE ON HIGH SPEED, BUT WHEN THEY MOVED OUTWARD I COULD NOT SEE BECAUSE WATER WAS BLINDING ME, HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 40MPH JUST TO AVOID RUNNING OFF ROAD OR INTO A CAR. COULD NOT SEE OUT WINDSHIELD AT ALL. I HAVE NEVER HAD WIPERS LIKE THESE, AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR IN RAIN. GOING TO SEE IF FORD CAN CHANGE INTERMITTENT WIPERS OUT TO WHAT MOST CARS HAVE. IF NOT THEN WE MAY HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR. DRIVING BLIND IS WHAT IT'S LIKE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10535447
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
CrashFiled: Jan 2013

PLEASE NOTE, THIS FORM WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SELECT WIPERS AS THE AFFECTED PART. THE ONLY OPTION THAT APPEARED WAS WHEELS. PLEASE CORRECT IF POSSIBLE. WHILE DRIVING, SNOW THAT HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR SLID ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE MOTION OF THE WIPERS PUSHED THE SNOW DOWN AND TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE SNOW PROHIBITED THE WIPERS TO MOVE IN EITHER DIRECTION CAUSING ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THE DESIGN OF THE WIPERS APPEARS TO ALLOW EXCESS SNOW TO BE FORCED IN THE LOWER MIDDLE PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE WIPERS TO NOT BE ABLE TO REVERSE DIRECTION IF WHEN THE CONTROL LEVER IS TOGGLED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10495228

Other 2013 Ford Fusion Issues