NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 26 recalls, 1899 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Ford Fusion.
25–41 mpg combined
5.7–9.4 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 7 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering complaints dominate the 2013 Fusion owner reports by a wide margin. The most common pattern involves electric power steering failures, where owners describe a sudden "power steering assist fault" warning appearing on the dash, followed almost immediately by the wheel becoming extremely stiff or nearly impossible to turn, often with no prior warning signs. Some owners describe the steering column effectively locking up while driving. Engine complaints come in second, with owners reporting a range of issues including stalling, rough running, and unexpected shutdowns. The powertrain category follows closely, with owners describing transmission hesitation, shuddering, and rough shifting across various driving conditions. Scattered brake complaints also appear, with some owners reporting a sudden loss of braking ability despite a full fluid reservoir, though these are less frequent than the steering and drivetrain reports. The steering assist failure pattern is by far the most consistently described issue across the complaint set.
1,899
Total Complaints
64
Crash-Related
93
Fire-Related
48
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Ford Fusion has 26 recalls, with the most serious issues including fire risks, complete loss of steering control, and a shifter cable defect that can leave the transmission in a different gear than indicated, allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly.
Several recalls cluster around fire hazards: the 1.6L engine can overheat and crack the cylinder head, leaking oil onto hot exhaust components, and on manual transmission models, a transmission fluid leak can reach ignition sources the same way. On Energi models, the 120V home charging cord can overheat and catch fire. Steering is another major concern, with two separate issues where internal steering gear failures can cause sudden loss of steering control, and a third where the electric power steering motor bolts corrode and break, making the wheel much harder to turn, particularly at low speeds. The shifter cable bushing can degrade and detach, causing the transmission to be in a different gear than the selector shows, leading to unexpected vehicle movement. Front brake hoses can rupture and leak fluid, increasing stopping distance. Door latches appear in multiple recalls: a broken internal component can cause a door to appear closed while remaining unlatched and swing open while driving, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all vehicles. Front seatbelt anchor cables can weaken from heat generated when pretensioners fire in a crash, reducing how well the belt holds the occupant. Low-beam headlamps on certain early-production vehicles can become hazy over time, reducing road illumination at night.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The clutch may fracture in vehicles that were previously repaired under recalls 18V169 and 18V845. A fractured clutch can damage the transmission assembly and cause transmission fluid to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front brake hoses at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The shift cable can detach from the transmission, preventing gear changes when you move the shifter. The transmission may be in a different gear than the shifter shows, causing unexpected vehicle movement if you exit without the parking brake set.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission shifter cable bushing and install a protective service cap. Apply the parking brake whenever you park.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the shifter cable to the transmission can wear down or come loose, potentially affecting shift control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the worn bushing and install a protective cap over the cable bushing at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A door latch component may break, making doors hard to close or allowing doors to appear closed when they're actually unsecured.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect door latches and replace them if needed at no cost. Owners can also check latch date codes online to verify if repair was done correctly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt and contaminants can corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts, potentially causing them to break or loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts, apply wax sealer to protect them, and install a new steering gear if bolts are broken or missing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Bolts that attach the electric power steering motor to the steering gear may corrode and break, causing loss of power steering assist.
What the fix does
Dealer will replace the bolts and apply wax sealer. If bolts are broken or missing, the steering gear will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain 2.5-liter engine vehicles, the shift cable can detach from the transmission. When this happens, moving the shifter may not change gears, and the transmission could be in a different gear than the shifter shows.
What the fix does
A Ford or Lincoln dealer will replace the transmission shifter cable bushing and install a protective service cap to prevent detachment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the transmission shifter cable to the transmission can wear out and come loose, allowing the shift lever to move to Park without the transmission actually being in Park, with no warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 120V charging cord lacks a thermistor. If your home's outlet or wiring has high resistance, the cord can overheat and melt during charging.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace your cord with a new 120V convenience cord that includes a thermistor, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the shift cable to the transmission can wear out and detach, causing the transmission to be in a different gear than what you selected. This may let you remove the key with the transmission not in Park, risking unintended vehicle movement if the parking brake isn't set.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shift cable bushing with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the transmission shifter cable can wear and separate from the transmission. This may let you shift to Park and remove the key while the transmission stays in a different gear, with no warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain vehicles with 1.0L or 1.6L GTDI engines and manual transmissions, the clutch can slip repeatedly and wear prematurely. This can weaken and fracture the pressure plate, potentially breaking the clutch cover and transmission housing, causing transmission fluid to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the clutch for wear and replace it if needed. Updated software will be installed to detect and prevent clutch slip. Fusion models will receive a new clutch assembly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The clutch may fracture, damaging the transmission assembly and potentially causing transmission fluid to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the clutch assembly free of charge. Focus vehicles will also receive software to prevent prolonged clutch slip.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On vehicles with 1.6L GTDI engines, low coolant can cause the cylinder head to overheat locally, risking fire and property damage or injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a coolant level sensor with supporting hardware and software to monitor coolant levels.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The spring tab inside door latches may break, preventing doors from latching properly. Doors that seem closed could pop open while driving.
What the fix does
All four door latches will be replaced with improved, stronger parts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
If the engine starts with too little coolant, the cylinder head can overheat, crack, and leak oil.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a coolant level sensor with supporting hardware and software to monitor coolant levels.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A part inside the door latches can break, making doors hard to close or letting you think a door is shut when it actually isn't.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace all four door latches at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During a crash, heat from the seat belt pretensioner deploying may cause the front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During a crash, the seatbelt pretensioner can generate heat that weakens the seat belt anchor cable, reducing the belt's ability to restrain passengers.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply a protective coating to the pretensioner cables to prevent heat damage.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Snow and water containing road salt may corrode the bolts that attach the electric power steering motor, potentially causing them to break or loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply sealer and replace the steering motor bolts. If bolts are broken or missing, the entire steering gear will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component in the door latches may break, making doors hard to close or causing them to appear securely closed when they are not.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace all four door latches with improved parts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering gear may be missing an internal retaining clip. Without this clip, internal components can shift or come loose inside the steering gear assembly.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering gear may have been assembled incorrectly and could fail suddenly, causing you to lose steering control.
What the fix does
Your dealer will replace the steering gear assembly with a correctly assembled one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low beam headlamp projector coating may not have been properly cured during manufacturing, causing the headlamps to not meet safety standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the headlamp assembly to restore proper lighting function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The coating inside your headlamp projectors may not have cured properly during manufacturing. Over time, this coating becomes hazy, dimming your low beam lights and reducing roadway visibility.
What the fix does
Your dealer will replace both headlamp assemblies with properly cured units.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
