YearToAvoid

2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

90/100

#2 most-complained of 11 Fusion Hybrid years

The 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid ranks 2nd worst out of 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 90 and 132 complaints, most tied to steering (33%) and airbags (26%). NHTSA lists no recalls for this year, and the verdict is Avoid relative to other Fusion Hybrid years.

Complaints
132
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 2
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
38
41 city / 35 hwy

Top 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid problems

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

  1. Steering43 (33%)
  2. Airbags34 (26%)
  3. Brakes32 (24%)
  4. Engine15 (11%)
  5. Electrical System12 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain12 (9%)
  7. Structure & Body7 (5%)
  8. Fuel System4 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (2%)
  10. Other1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Power steering assist fails suddenly at highway speed, sometimes with the steering wheel becoming very hard or impossible to turn.
  • Warning lights for "service power steering" and "service accutrac" appear together with a stiff or frozen steering wheel.
  • Driver's door interior handle stops opening the door from inside, forcing occupants to exit through the window.
  • Engine loses power or feels like it stalls while a wrench warning symbol displays on the dash, even at low mileage.
  • Drive-by-wire throttle body failure causes sudden loss of power while driving in heavy traffic.
  • Brake warning lights come on along with a reported total loss of braking, recurring within weeks.
2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per quarter232014 Q22015 Q22016 Q32017 Q32018 Q32019 Q32022 Q32024 Q3
163 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q2 to 2024 Q4; peak 2017 Q4 (23).

2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
41 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
38 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,700
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.

2011 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
2013Avoid80126141

All Ford Fusion Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Fusion Hybrid ranks 2nd worst of 11 model years with a Complaint Index of 90 and 132 complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 43 complaints (33% of the total) with a median failure mileage of 80,500 miles and 2 related crashes.
Does the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2011 Fusion Hybrid, though it still has one of the higher complaint counts among the model years.
How does the 2011 Fusion Hybrid compare to other years?
Its Complaint Index of 90 is far higher than later years like 2015 and 2016, which score 20 and 10 with Best verdicts, and even the 2010 model scores 100 with an Avoid verdict.
What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2011 Fusion Hybrid?
The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 73,220 miles, with steering complaints centering around 80,500 miles.

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.