2011 Ford FUSION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,783 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 2,085 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,403 of 2,783 complaints (50.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1,420 | 51.0% |
| Braking behavior | 259 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 215 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 99 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 98 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 36 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 1403 |
| Air Bags | 329 |
| Engine | 276 |
| Power Train | 261 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 255 |
| Electrical System | 198 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 176 |
| Service Brakes | 169 |
Steering: 1,403; Air Bags: 329; Engine: 276; Power Train: 261; Vehicle Speed Control: 255; Electrical System: 198; Fuel/Propulsion System: 176; Service Brakes: 169
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 172 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 439 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 478 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 343 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 422 |
| 150,000 and above | 231 |
Under 25,000: 172; 25,000 to 49,999: 439; 50,000 to 74,999: 478; 75,000 to 99,999: 343; 100,000 to 149,999: 422; 150,000 and above: 231
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (478). 698 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2012 | 76 |
| 2013 | 445 |
| 2014 | 286 |
| 2015 | 247 |
| 2016 | 183 |
| 2017 | 288 |
| 2018 | 268 |
| 2019 | 250 |
| 2020 | 154 |
| 2021 | 152 |
| 2022 | 129 |
| 2023 | 105 |
| 2024 | 73 |
| 2025 | 61 |
| 2026 | 30 |
2010: 1; 2011: 35; 2012: 76; 2013: 445; 2014: 286; 2015: 247; 2016: 183; 2017: 288; 2018: 268; 2019: 250; 2020: 154; 2021: 152; 2022: 129; 2023: 105; 2024: 73; 2025: 61; 2026: 30
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1,420 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 259 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 215 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10395866 · 2011-04-14 (April 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE STEERING FAILED AND BECAME ABNORMALLY TIGHT. THE POWER STEERING CAME WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10402935 · 2011-05-27 (May 27, 2011)
AFTER OWNING MY 2011 FORD FUSION FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THE 'SERVICE ADVANCETRAC SOON' LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER RAN A DIAGNOSIS ON THE CAR AND IT WAS SHOWING A STEERING ANGLE SENSOR BAD. WHEN THEY ORDERED THE PART AND TRIED TO INSTALL, THIS MODEL DID NOT HAVE ONE. AFTER THREE DAYS IN SERVICE AND NUMEROUS CALLS TO FORD, THE DEALER WAS TOLD TO RESET SYSTEM AND SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. IF IT DOES, THEY WILL TRY TO RESEARCH FURTHER.. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,016 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392614 · 2011-03-23 (March 23, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO LIFT HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM. HE NOTICED THE FAILURE MORE OFTEN WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE AN ABRUPT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10401504 · 2011-05-18 (May 18, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT WAS ON A STEEP INCLINE AND SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO THE REVERSE; SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD 6-8 FEET. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE REPEATEDLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369908 · 2010-12-10 (December 10, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10382853 · 2011-02-15 (February 15, 2011)
I BOUGHT A 2011 FORD FUSION ON NOV. 26, 2010. THE DAY I BROUGHT IT HOME, THE PROBLEMS STARTED. IT BANGS SO HARD INTO REVERSE THAT IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO THE CAR WITH A BULLDOZER. IT HAS DEAD SPOTS IN THE ACCELERATION, AND OFTEN GOES ABOVE 5000 RPM WHEN SHIFTING JUST GOING DOWN A NORMAL FLAT HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT AND ARE COMPLETELY RANDOM. IT HAPPENS WITH A WARM ENGINE, COLD ENGINE, IN RAIN, SNOW, SUN, AND EVEN AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 4 HOURS STRAIGHT. I NOW HAVE OVER 6000MILES ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10382853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392292 · 2011-03-20 (March 20, 2011)
2011 FORD FUSION SEL I DIDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS WHEN I STARTED VEHICLE I PULLED OUT IN TRAFFIC I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR REVVED TO OVER 5000 RPM'S, AND DIDN'T ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED SO BADLY THAT I ALMOST GOT REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS 1400 MILES ON IT, AND IT DID THIS ONE OTHER TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU ARE MERGING OR PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THE FIRST INCIDENT I THOUGHT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ADJUSTING TO DRIVING STYLE, AND IT WASN'T AS SEV…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,415 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407721 · 2011-06-21 (June 21, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO TOW THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE BATTERY GOING DEAD. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONNECT A BATTERY DISCONNECT HOWEVER, WHEN THE BATTERY DISCONNECT WAS ADDED, THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED HAD NO AUXILIARY BRAKES. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DISCONNECT SOME FUSES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE BUT DUE TO THE CONTACT'S PHYSICAL CONDITION IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,006. UPDATED 07/2…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,006 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466086 · 2012-07-12 (July 12, 2012)
2011 FORD FUSION. CONSUMER STATES SAFETY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE RELATED TO DRIVER CONTROLS AND DISTRACTIONS, BATTERY FAILURE AND LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CAPABILITY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE STEERING WAS ABOUT TO FREEZE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO READ THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL WAS LOCATED IN AN INCONVENIENT PLACE, THE OBSTRUCTION OF THE LEFT SIDE PLASTIC MOLDING INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL PREVENTED A CLEAR VIEW OF OBJECT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10466086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10544481 · 2013-09-19 (September 19, 2013)
FILLED TANK UP WITH FUEL. FEW HOURS LATER NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS. FOUND FUEL TANK TO HAVE A STEADY DRIP OF GAS. LEAK IS COMING FROM TOP SIDE OF TANK ON PASSENGER SIDE. DUE TO THE AREA I CANNOT IDENTIFY WHERE LEAK IS ORIGINATING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,557 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553476 · 2013-11-22 (November 22, 2013)
VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AROUND 83,000 MILES. MY DAUGHTER WOULD JUST BE DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WOULD JUST STOP ACCELERATING AND GO TO IDLE. SHE WOULD HAVE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN AND CLEAR THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD GO A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL ALL OF THE SUDDEN WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. ON MOST OCCASIONS, THE YELLOW "WRENCH" LIGHT WOULD COME ON AS WELL. WE FIRST ASSUMED IT WAS BAD GAS OR THE FUEL PUMP, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING DISCOVERED A …
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553476 at NHTSA ↗