YearToAvoid

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 11 Fusion Hybrid years

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid ranks worst among 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 508 NHTSA complaints. Steering (27%) and airbags (27%) are the top problem areas, with a median failure mileage of 85,200 miles. Verdict: Avoid relative to other Fusion Hybrid years.

Complaints
508
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
9 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
39
41 city / 36 hwy

Top 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering138 (27%)
  2. Airbags135 (27%)
  3. Brakes109 (21%)
  4. Engine78 (15%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain48 (9%)
  6. Fuel System40 (8%)
  7. Electrical System30 (6%)
  8. Other16 (3%)
  9. Structure & Body14 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (2%)

What owners report

  • Power steering assist cuts out suddenly with no warning, sometimes preceded by a service power steering or advance trac warning light.
  • Steering wheel has locked up while driving, leading to loss of control and collision.
  • Brakes have failed completely without warning, including one case where warning lights illuminated across the instrument panel before the vehicle failed to stop.
  • Vacuum hose related brake system failure warnings have appeared on the hybrid dash gauge, recurring after initial repair.
  • Airbags have failed to deploy in side-impact and frontal collisions at moderate speeds.
  • Engine has suddenly lost power on the freeway, dropping to very low speed with a dash warning to pull over.
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per quarter552013 Q12014 Q32016 Q12017 Q32019 Q12021 Q32023 Q32025 Q1
623 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2018 Q4 (55).

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
41 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
39 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Fusion Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid100508039
2011Avoid90132038
2012Caution5096038

All Ford Fusion Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 Fusion Hybrid has the worst Complaint Index (100) of the 11 model years tracked, with 508 complaints, making it the year to avoid within this model line.
What are the main problems with the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid?
Steering and airbag issues each account for 27% of complaints, followed by brakes at 21% and engine problems at 15%. Median mileage at failure ranges from about 73,000 to 101,000 miles depending on the component.
Does the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2010 Fusion Hybrid in this data, despite it having the highest complaint volume among the years tracked.
How does the 2010 Fusion Hybrid compare to other years?
It ranks worst (Complaint Index 100), while 2016 and 2020 rank best with Complaint Indexes of 10 and 0. 2015, 2016, and 2020 carry a Best verdict, while 2012, 2017, and 2018 fall in the Caution range.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.