2007 Ford Fusion Problems

What owners report

Most of what owners report for this model year centres on two recurring themes: a brake pedal that can travel to the floor after the ABS engages, and the Takata airbag inflator recalls and their parts availability. Remaining complaints are spread thinly across the transmission, dashboard and belt-drive components, and most appear well past 75,000 miles.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor / soft or extended pedal

   Mentioned in 26 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floorboard, sometimes after the ABS activates on snow, ice or a bump, and staying soft for a period before returning to normal. Several say much greater pedal force and distance were needed to stop, and some report the pedal going down during ordinary braking. Complaints describe dealers flushing the brake fluid, replacing the fluid and cap, or replacing the ABS hydraulic control unit; others say the part was unavailable under the recall. Reported from roughly 45,000 to 200,000 miles, with many between 80,000 and 130,000, and often in wet, snowy or icy conditions.

   Recall 19V9040001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS hydraulic control unit recall (19V904000) has been completed and whether the brake fluid was changed to the specified type. Before buying, test the pedal on a quiet road, including after hard ABS engagement, for a pedal that sinks or stays low.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brakes went soft while approaching a red light and I could not stop. It felt like they 'blew out' and they made a low pitch scratching noise. The light then turned green, preventing an accident. I took the car into the Ford dealership and they told me the hydraulic control unit needed to be replaced. This is a design-flaw on Ford's part, and not a routine maintenance issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11073534, filed 2018-02, 170,000 miles

   “This car was purchased in 2011with 68,000 miles at time of purchase. It was purchased at tom mosanos in berks county, pa . It was paid off at the end of 2017, then now all the recalls 4 or 5 different recalls and serious recalls . I have absolutley no brakes all was to the floor with no pressure at all . To many because and I do believe that since it was paid off at the end of 2017 . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11386137, filed 2021-01, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on / airbag recall not completed

   • 586 complaints (55%)
   • median 88,624 mi at 9.8 yrs old (150 state mileage)
   • 24 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on or flashing, including after an inflator recall repair was performed, and describe waiting months for dealers to receive replacement parts. Some describe the passenger airbag cover lifting or bubbling at the dash seam, or the steering wheel padding becoming visible. A few report airbag deployment in a crash with debris or injury, and some report airbags not deploying. Reported from about 37,000 to 259,000 miles, spread across the model year's life rather than tied to one mileage range.

   Recall 21V158000Recall 17V024000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVE5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against open airbag recalls and ask for written proof the inflator repairs were done, plus whether any warning light came back afterwards. Have a passenger-side airbag light and any lifted dash cover inspected before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2007 Ford Fusion was on recall notice for a year or so but no local dealerships had the new replacement parts and then I got ran off the interstate and hit a tree at around 60mph and the air bags deployed and shrapnel went everywhere and cut my face and neck up good. I was digging little pieces of plastic and metal out of my face & neck for months! - (recall related incident) ts”

   NHTSA complaint #11414370, filed 2021-04, 120,000 miles

   “Takata recall - I called my local Ford dealer (vancouver Ford, vancouver washington) to arrange to have my airbags recalled. They said that they can't do it at this time, as they don't have any air bags for the replacements, but that they would be in contact with me. They gave me no idea of timeline, etc.”

   NHTSA complaint #11048381, filed 2017-11, 124,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Dashboard lifting or bubbling above the passenger airbag

   • 38 complaints (4%)
   • median 76,299 mi at 7.8 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2021

   Owners report the passenger-side dashboard lifting, bubbling or coming unglued above the airbag panel, in one case with a vent coming loose as well. Complaints describe concern about how the airbag would deploy with the cover raised, and dealers quoting dashboard replacement while the vehicle was not repaired. One owner also reports the driver door latch failing to stay latched. Reported from about 36,000 to 89,000 miles, with several cases around 40,000 to 52,000.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the passenger-side dash for lifting, bubbling or gaps at the airbag seam, and check that the door latches click and hold. Ask whether the dash has been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My air bag on the passenger side is lifting up from the dash. I did get the air bag recall fixed. I'm afraid to drive it. I feel this is a huge safety issue. Also the vent up next to windshield came off.”

   NHTSA complaint #11312287, filed 2020-02, 88,249 miles

   “Dashboard on the passenger side of the car has become unglued and is now sticking up above the airbag panel. It appears that this could be safety issue if the airbag were to deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10574763, filed 2014-03, 52,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Loss of power / throttle body and electronic throttle faults

   • 51 complaints (5%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2022

   Owners describe the engine suddenly losing power or failing to respond to the accelerator, sometimes at highway speed or while merging, with the wrench light coming on. Some say restarting the car cleared it and the fault did not recur immediately. Complaints mention diagnostic codes pointing to the throttle actuator or throttle body, with mechanics recommending throttle body replacement, and one report of the condition occurring with cruise control engaged. Reported from roughly 7,000 to 180,000 miles, with several cases under 60,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or its electronic actuator has been replaced and whether any stored codes were cleared rather than repaired. A scan tool check for throttle-related codes before buying is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had just went to the store, dropped my cousin off at home right up the street from my house. I pulled out on the highway and gave it gas and the car wouldn't go over 10 MPH. I notice in my rear view mirror, a car was coming up fast, so I pulled over out the way until the way was clear, then I putted all the way home. The car had no power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10689840, filed 2015-02, 176,500 miles

   “While passing another car my car lost power.I pressed the accelerator to the floor and nothing happen. I was almost hit head on by another on coming car. My certified Ford mechanic said it may be my throttle and I should replace it but he could not guarantee this would solve my problem. He said I was one many to have this problem with the 2007 Ford Fusion.”

   NHTSA complaint #10525912, filed 2013-07, 127,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh or delayed shifts

   • 91 complaints (9%)
   • median 73,750 mi at 6.6 yrs old (69 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,100 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners describe the transmission slipping, engine speed rising before a hard engagement into gear, and delayed or harsh shifting. One complaint links the behaviour to a near rear-end incident in traffic. Complaints also describe the power transfer unit on all-wheel-drive versions failing internally, and a key that would not turn back in the ignition after parking, which owners associate with the shift interlock. Mostly reported between about 52,000 and 200,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, watch for a rise in engine speed before each shift and any clunk going into gear. On all-wheel-drive cars, ask whether the power transfer unit fluid has ever been serviced, and check that the key releases freely from the ignition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have an 07 Ford Fusion, I am the original owner and bought the car with zero miles in 06. Recently my transmission started slipping and I noticed that the RPM's go up so high then you feel like an impact which is when the car changes gears. I almost got rear-ended due to this problem. After doing some research online I have noticed that many Ford owners have the same problem. I have called Ford and they say my car is out of warranty so their is nothing they could do. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10405501, filed 2011-06, 80,000 miles

   “On feb 19 2014 at 8:30 as I parked my 2007 Ford Fusion in my driveway I was unable to remove my key from the ignition. I noticed my steering wheel would not lock. Made sure the vehicle was in park and still the key would not turn all the way back so that the wheel could lock and key could be removed.I looked online to see hundreds of same problem with key getting stuck. And most of them had to do with gear shift silver button not releasing to let key turn all the way. Seeing these many same problem should warrant a recall to this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10564908, filed 2014-02, 71,895 miles

Buying note. Have any open airbag and ABS recalls verified as completed before purchase, and test the brake pedal after ABS engagement as well as the throttle response during a highway-speed drive. Records of brake fluid service and transmission or power transfer unit servicing are worth asking about on higher-mileage examples.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.