2011 Ford Fusion Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
90/100
#2 most-complained of 11 Fusion years
The 2011 Ford Fusion has a Complaint Index of 90, the second-worst of 11 model years covered. NHTSA logs 2,786 complaints, 7 recalls (2 do-not-drive), and steering issues make up 51% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 89,500.
- Complaints
- 2,786
- Recalls
- 7
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 80 / 10
- Injuries / deaths
- 46 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23.5
- 21 city / 28 hwy
Top 2011 Ford Fusion problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering1,428 (51%)
- Engine451 (16%)
- Airbags330 (12%)
- Brakes286 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain268 (10%)
- Fuel System237 (9%)
- Electrical System214 (8%)
- Other111 (4%)
- Structure & Body88 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires80 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly seizing or locking at speed, causing loss of control and crashes into curbs or poles.
- Some drivers report the vehicle accelerating on its own while parked or stopped, with brakes unable to stop the surge, leading to collisions.
- Several complaints describe the engine revving up and lunging forward unexpectedly, sometimes while parking, causing front-end damage.
- One owner reported the transmission popping out of park and rolling backward on its own after being left running.
- A battery cable assembly burned out on one vehicle, causing multiple fuses to fail and the car to not start.
- One driver noted poor rear visibility through the rear windshield and mirror while reversing, resulting in a crash into a pillar.
2011 Ford Fusion recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V158000Mar 10, 2021Airbags2,602,668 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- NHTSA 21V081000Feb 16, 2021Airbags1,067 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
- NHTSA 19V001000Jan 7, 2019Airbags782,384 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
2011 Ford Fusion fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 23.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,750
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Ford Fusion reliable?
- Compared to other Fusion model years, the 2011 ranks poorly, with a Complaint Index of 90 and the second-worst rank among 11 years tracked, mainly due to steering complaints.
- What is the main problem with the 2011 Ford Fusion?
- Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 51% of the 2,786 complaints logged, with a median failure mileage of 89,500 and 42 crashes linked to it.
- Does the 2011 Ford Fusion have a steering recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 15V340000 covers Power Steering Control Module diagnostic trouble codes on 2011-2012 Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine.
- Are there any do-not-drive recalls for the 2011 Ford Fusion?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 do-not-drive recalls for the 2011 Fusion, both related to airbags (campaigns 19V001000 and 16V384000).
- How does the 2011 Fusion compare to newer years?
- The 2011 Fusion's Complaint Index of 90 is far higher than later years like 2018 (20), 2019 (10), and 2020 (0), which are rated Best.