10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,367 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Ford Fusion:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #27

Apr 012011

Fusion

  • 6,000 miles
Vehicle slips/hesitates when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. Transmission clutches were found 'burnt' and needed to be replaced. Problem persists and now I am told this is 'normal' operation. In addition, my wheels are now vibrating/wobbling. I will need additional service.

- Hillsborough, NJ, USA

problem #26

May 052011

Fusion 6-cyl

  • 12,000 miles
Transmission still slipping from 2nd to 3rd gear after rebuild. This car is not safe.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #25

Sep 012011

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
This problem is due to a faulty transmission or transmission components, as outlined by Ford recall 10B15. The car jerks/slips and it feels as if the gears are not catching upon acceleration. I received the 'recall' letter from Ford describing this program, and immediately brought the car to the dealership. They preformed the module recalibration and told me everything was fine. However, 40,000 later, my transmission started exhibiting the problems described above and Ford is now replacing my entire transmission, although not paying for the rental car.

- Iowa Falls, IA, USA

problem #24

Sep 222011

Fusion 6-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
I previously sent a complaint because my car kept stalling, wrench light would come on, but when I turned car off then turned on, it would run, but then they couldn't get the codes. Based on my internet research, looks like 2010 Fusion are having this problem between 30,000 and 50,000 and it is always the throttle body that needs to be replaced. The dealership would not replace the throttle body because the codes were not coming up. I just wanted to give you an update, I purchased my own code reader and after my car died in the middle of the road (very dangerous) three more times, was finally able to get the code myself. I brought it to the dealership and with the code they were finally able to look it up.....and it was the throttle body....just like I told them since every 2010 Ford Fusion between this mileage is have the same problem. Since this is obviously a defect on this car and is dangerous because car stalls in middle of traffic, it needs to be recalled! I don't want anyone to go through what I went through, and I would love to get reimbursed for the money I had to pay on Ford defect. Thank you

- Covington, LA, USA

problem #23

Aug 162011

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 17,000 miles
Just starting off from a traffic light the car started to stall. The car was towed to montrose Ford where they determined a part in the transmission failed. The part was ordered and replaced a few days later. On the 16th of September while driving the brakes failed. The car was taken to ganley Ford on the 19th of Sept. They initially determined it was a transmission problem, exactly the same problem that was repaired in August. On the 21st of Sept. The maintenance people drove the car with a computer connected to analyze what was happening but found nothing wrong. Now they say the problem is hydraulic related but will need to keep the car for at least 30 days to solve the problem. At this time they have no idea what is really wrong. Inside the car is an intermittent noise. It can only be heard when just starting out or at very slow speeds. Ganley Ford has no idea where this noise is coming from.

- Copley, OH, USA

problem #22

Aug 152011

Fusion 6-cyl

  • 29,000 miles
While driving the transmission slipped and made the care downshift and upshift the car hard. I had to apply the brakes hard because the rpms where jumping as I cam to a complete stop. Then when accelerating the car shifted hard.

- Lexington, IL, USA

problem #21

Feb 012010

Fusion

  • 26,000 miles
I purchased a 2010 Ford Fusion with 24,000 miles in January 2011. I began having issues with transmission almost immediately. The transmission will frequently "slip" while taking off and shifts very hard at times. I will also "slip" when driving at higher road speeds causing the RPM's to rev but the car will not accelerate. Recently, I was driving approximately 50 mph on a busy highway when the car stalled and the wrench light came on. The engine was running but the car would not accelerate. Once I got pulled over, the RPM's bounced up and down rapidly. The car has been in the shop approximately 9 times so far. They replicated the issue once and transmission repairs were made but the issue continued. It is still under warranty but Ford will not authorize any additional repairs since they haven't replicated the issue again. I just learned that this is a common issue with the Ford Fusion and that the 10B15 recall was performed on the vehicle just before I purchased it. After additional research, findings indicate that the recall has not corrected the issue in many cases. I do not feel safe when driving this vehicle and it is very disappointing to learn that Ford will not take appropriate actions to provide reliable vehicles to their customers.

- Portage Des Sioux, MO, USA

problem #20

Sep 092011

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 23,000 miles
When I go to shift from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, etc, it seems like the car is not registering the change in gears. As soon as I shift and attempt to continue accelerating, the engine will rev up too fast and then drop down and rev up normally. Whenever I attempt to use cruise control, going up a hill cause the engine to rev to quick again, shutting off cruise control. My car is 10 months old with just 23,000 miles (5700 of which were on it before I bought it) and the dealership I took it to is trying to tell me that it's normal wear and tear, and that the clutch and clutch plate need to be replaced. They're also saying it's not covered under warranty and that it will cost me $1300 + tax to repair. I don't drive this car hard, nor do I do any type of racing or mods to it. It's a car I use for work mainly. There is absolutely no reason the clutch should have to be replaced so soon. There are numerous sites with this same issue with similar Fusion. Point is, I'm not paying for this repair.

- Oak Harbor, OH, USA

problem #19

Sep 062011

Fusion

  • 40,052 miles
My car has went out 3 times in week twice on the freeway with oncoming traffic. It slows down then a wrench symbol comes on. I purchased my vehicle 3 weeks ago. Took it back to the dealer and was told by the service dept that I need to have the throttle body repaired, . they ordered the part and said I need to pay $100 deductible. I just purchased this car I shouldn't have to pay anything if it would have been checked out correctly I wouldn't have had this problem. They also told me I need a new battery!! three weeks after I purchased it!! this should have been replaced by them for free, they said I would need to buy a new battery and it would be $109 more plus the deductible. I am very disappointed in this car. I love the way it looks but am so unsatisfied with the performance. If I get into an accident I hold Ford co completely responsible for any damages, as I see they have had many complaints and they are not doing anything about it. I am looking into an attorney because this car should not be sold if it has this defect, it is putting peoples lives in danger!! what are they waiting for to see how many deaths will occur before they let people know not to buy it. I plan on telling everyone not to purchase I Ford. I should have purchased a Honda/like before.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #18

May 172011

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 7,800 miles
When driving along, the rpms shot up to over 4500 with no increase in speed or increase in pressure on the accelerator pedal. The cruise control was also on at the time.

- Bellevue, NE, USA

problem #17

Sep 072011

Fusion

  • 42,000 miles
Car stop responding to accelerator, just coast along wrench symbol came on dash. Picked up car today paid 200,17 for repair got 4 miles away from shop car stopped again.

- Ollivette, MO, USA

problem #16

Apr 012010

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
This is the 4 cylinder version of the 2010 Fusion. Since the car was only a few months old, the transmission has been slipping in low gear. As the mileage has gone up it has occurred more often but mainly in low gears. The problem has been that it does not set off any service lights so they had not been able to find anything to fix. After driving the car for about a year, it finally happened at high speed and turned on the service light. It was bad enough that I had to pull off the road. By this time, the transmission was damaged and they had to rebuild many of the parts. Ford knew this was occurring and had a bulletin all about it. This shows that prior to the rebuild, Ford already knew the transmission has had issues. Prior to the rebuild, the transmission had been through multiple tests, a reprogramming of the transmission, and other changes to the transmission from their technical service bulletins. I did open a case with Ford customer service. They admitted to me that the transmission has had issues in other cars and they are working on how to resolve them. Soon after I was told that, I was assigned to a different customer service representative who denied this fact. After a few months more, I got a call from Ford stating that they have no idea how to fix the problem so they are just closing the case with no resolution. I asked for a replacement transmission and they have said no. If you look in the forums for the 2010 Ford Fusion 4 cylinder, you will see how common the issue is. On top of all this, my gas mileage has dropped since the rebuild of the transmission.

- Phoenixville, PA, USA

problem #15

Aug 282011

Fusion 6-cyl

  • miles
While pulling into traffic, my Ford Fusion lost power, would not allow me to accelerate and started thrusting forward and jerking and the wrench warning light came on. I coasted to safety, put it into park, turned the car off and waited about 30 seconds, turned the car back on and the wrench light was gone and the car seemed fine. Four days later, the same thing happened again. I took my car to a Ford dealership, they told me they couldn't get any codes and had me come and get it. About two miles down the road, in middle of busy traffic, it happened again. I was lucky enough to get to safety, I called the dealership and they told me to drive it back. They still could not get it to duplicate the problem, there were no codes being thrown, so they told me to come and get the car. I told them about the numerous online complaints I found online about this problem and every time, it was a bad throttle body. He said they can't just replace the throttle body until they get the codes. He told me to drive it until it dies again, turn the car off but not back on and get it towed to them, then maybe they can get the codes. I am scared and feel unsafe driving it. Looking at past times it died, it was while driving for a while, then shut off then ran shortly after. It seems to only be an issue with the 2010's, and always happens between 30-40 thousand miles, and it's always a bad throttle body. I can't even tell you how many complaints I read online and I personally know of two owners that had the same exact problem. Obviously it is a design defect that needs to be recalled/repaired. I am scared and feel unsafe driving a car that I am just waiting on dying; I have never been placed in danger with a vehicle like this. No one should be required to drive in middle of busy traffic just waiting for it to die so they can try and get a code.

- Covington, LA, USA

problem #14

Sep 072011

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 23,500 miles
Severe transmission slippage when trying to accelerate. Engine RPM's increased rapidly but vehicle did not speed up. Caused a near collision when trying to cut across several lanes of traffic.

- Riverview, MI, USA

problem #13

Aug 082011

Fusion

  • 13,000 miles
While driving on the highway, my 2010 Ford Fusion suddenly slipped gears on its own. The car started to slow down. I was stepping on the gas pedal, the engine was turning but the car wasn't accelerating. I was nearly rear ended. I managed to coast to the emergency lane. I put it in park and turned the car off. I was afraid to continue but thought I would give it a try. The car started ok and accelerated normally. The next week, my husband had the same experience. My husband took the car to Ford dealership the next day. The dealership called and told us that they can't duplicate the transmission problem and their computer tests did not detect any problems. I told them of the numerous complaints I found online about this problem and that I didn't feel safe driving my car. They said they haven't heard of any complaints nor any tsbs on this car! I sent them a link to this website and told them to read it. Will they still say nothing was wrong because their computers can't duplicate it" or do they think I like being without a vehicle and wasting everyone's time"

- Niles, IL, USA

problem #12

Sep 032011

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 27,000 miles
There was a recall on the 2010 Ford Fusion transmissions. I took the car in on 12/31/10 to automax Ford, killeen, tx. They told me that nothing was wrong with it and it is fine. On 3 August 2011 my car felt like it did a downshift while going down the highway. At this point my accelerator fails to work. The car is not in any gear and even when I give the car gas the engine will not rev. I then have to come to a complete stop and put the car in park. While in park the car idles really heavy like and stuttters to keep going so I have to turn the car off. When I turn the car back on it will turn over about 6 or 7 times before it starts. I have to do this process every time the car does this which has been about 6 times in the past two days. The incident happens on the highway and in regular city driving. I believe automax Ford has failed to do the inspection right and now the recall letter is expired as of April 2011. I was also deployed overseas during that time period of expiration.

- Fort Hood, TX, USA

problem #11

Apr 142011

Fusion

  • 20,923 miles
We had a problem with a transmission leak early on due to a bad seal in the trans axle. It was replaced and all seemed well fro awhile. Then we started to experience problems with the transmission "slipping" between 2nd and 3rd gears. Took it to the dealership and they said it was a "computer problem" that need an update and that it should be ok now. It happened again at a later date. Technician took it for a drive and then told my wife that there was nothing wrong, that is the way it's supposed to shift. At times it jerks really bad when shifting. Not sure if the transmission problem can affect my fuel in-efficiency but, the car is far from the mileage advertised for this make. Transmission problem is intermittent at this point. I'm afraid we are going to get pushed right through our warranty period, then that is when they will find the problem! we have insisted on a new transmission from the start, just to be stopped dead in our tracks with a flat refusal. Hoping I can unload this car before something big happens. Seems a shame that Ford is the only automaker to keep it's head above water and not have to be bailed out. The sooner they admit they have a problem here and rectify it the better for everyone. If not, Ford will join the others as a modern american failure! if you have any problem like this please post it right away! in the meantime, we are shopping for a nice solid Japanese model.

- Logansport, IN, USA

problem #10

Aug 272011

Fusion 6-cyl

  • 37,700 miles
While driving down a very busy road at 45 mph, my accelerator cut out, reducing engine power to idle and causing me to almost be hit by 3 different vehicles while trying to find a place to stop. I had my wife and my infant son in the car. This was unacceptable for a vehicle this new! the maintenance light (wrench) came on..but went off after I shut the vehicle down and restarted, to which the car then ran normal. I then had it accelerate uncommanded, at that point a shut it down and had it towed to the dealership. I am waiting to hear what they say about it. 37,000 miles seems terribly low to be having these types of "issues" it is a 2010 Ford Fusion SE 3.0L, and I am not happy!

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #9

Jul 022010

Fusion

  • miles
To begin with I was only having problems when shifting from reverse to forward. I took my car in for the recall and I am still having problems: My car will jerk violently and then slow down to 0. the wrench light comes on and sometimes the transmission light. It has happened going slow as in making a turn, going fast, and going slow in a straight pattern. I have documented the gas because the service tech said it might not be the transmission but something with the fuel. It happens on full, 3/4, half and a quarter of a tank, early morning, after I have driven it for a while. Yesterday it happened 4 times in 4 miles each time I have to shut the engine off, which apparently resets it, because the lights will go off, but then come on when it happens again. This car is dangerous to drive, someone is going to be killed. I have advised my family that if I am rear-ended and death occurs to seek legal council. The service people say they can not do anything unless they can get the car to mimic the problem, or something shows up on the computer. Meanwhile this is my only means of transportation, I also use my car everyday for business. They have not provided me with an alternate means of transportation yet want to keep my car for 4 days. Please do something, there are complaints all over the internet, I am sure you would have more complaints if people knew about you. Can you pull Ford's service records to get a more accurate record of the magnitude of problems. Do something before someone dies.

- Semmes, , AL, USA

problem #8

Jul 032011

Fusion

  • 24,000 miles
Own a 2010 Ford Fusion SE with 24V 3.0 V6 with 6 speed select shift transmission. When car was new, had hard shifts, and in mid 2010 Ford issues a recall to reprogram these issues. After this repair, dealership stated they ran a load test and the transmission was fine. In late 2010, the hard shifts returned and the dealership "reprogrammed" the transmission. In late June 2011 while on a road trip, received a transmission/drive train code (the wrench symbol) but no noticeable issues. Approximately one week later, started getting hard shifts. The next day, as I was pulling on a major road way, the transmission dropped out of gear, engine acted it was in neutral, and the car came to a complete stop. When I was able to get the car moving, it was revving poorly, shifting extremely hard, and had a terrible vibration. Had the car at the dealership for two days, they had a very hard diagnosing the issue (even though the system sent codes). They reprogrammed the transmission, and said the issue was fixed. Today, five days later, the issues returned, but worse. Every time the vehicle was at a stop, as you would begin to accelerate, the car would shudder and rev to 7000 RPM. You have to completely let off the throttle, and once it would drop to about 1500 RPM, and the transmission would reengage. In gear 5 or 6 at speed, it would try and down shift and would kick out of gear and rev to close to red line. I was almost rear ended on several occasions today as I was trying to get the vehicle home. As I've researched the issue, this seems to be a common issue with several near accidents.

- Myerstown, PA, USA

Read the next 7 complaints »