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Ford FusionModel year report

2010 Ford Fusion Problems

Compared with other Ford Fusion years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 7.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
5,131filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
72,000miles, 4,009 complaints with mileage
Recalls
113 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Ford Fusion (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 Ford Fusion most often write about losing power steering assist and about brake pedals that travel to the floor, both of which typically appear well past 80,000 miles rather than when the car was new. Complaints describe the failures as sudden and often intermittent, clearing after a restart, with dealers frequently quoting a steering gear or ABS hydraulic control unit replacement. Many owners note that later model years received recalls for similar symptoms and ask why this year was not included.

  1. Steering

    Power steering assist fault / loss of steering assist

    • 1,399 complaints (27%)
    • median 100,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (1188 state mileage)
    • 40 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 207 quotes)
    • filed 2010–2026

    Owners describe a chime and a 'Power Steering Assist Fault' or 'Service Power Steering Now' message, often together with a Service AdvanceTrac warning, followed by the steering wheel becoming very hard to turn. Some report the assist returning after the car is shut off and restarted, others find it stays out. Complaints say dealers diagnosed the electronic steering rack or an internal sensor and quoted replacement costs; several owners note that later model years were recalled for a similar symptom while their car was not covered. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 170,000 miles, frequently at start-up, in parking lots, or at low speed, and sometimes intermittently.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: On a test drive, start the car and watch for the power steering and AdvanceTrac messages, and try turning the wheel from a stop. Ask whether the steering gear or EPAS module has ever been replaced and keep the receipts, since a remanufactured gear is available according to a service bulletin.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Lost power steering assist while driving in a parking lot. The message center displayed power steering system fault . Instantaneous loss of power steering while driving is extremely dangerous. I was lucky enough to be traveling at a low speed in a parking lot. I seriously hope Ford will issue a recall and repair our vehicles.”

    NHTSA complaint #11310019, filed 2020-02, 130,000 miles

    “''power steering assist fault'. The power steering in my vehicle was rendered completely useless. Fortunately this occurred when I started my car in the morning instead of mid-drive which could have been catastrophic as the car is essentially impossible to steer effectively without power steering.”

    NHTSA complaint #11407556, filed 2021-04, 140,166 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brake pedal sinks to the floor / ABS hydraulic control unit

    Mentioned in 22 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the brake pedal dropping to the floorboard with little warning, sometimes after an ABS event on ice, snow, or a pothole, and braking returning to normal after the car is shut off and restarted. Several owners say a shop diagnosed a failed ABS hydraulic control unit or a sticking ABS valve, and some had the unit replaced and still saw the problem return. A number of complaints reference the ABS control unit recall and note their vehicle was not included by VIN or build date. Usually reported between about 50,000 and 190,000 miles, often after hard braking, on slippery or uneven surfaces, or on the first stop after a cold start.

    Recall 19V9040001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the ABS hydraulic control unit has been replaced and whether the car was ever checked under the ABS control unit recall. During a test drive, brake firmly on a quiet road and note whether the pedal stays firm or sinks toward the floor.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We were driving and the lights on the dash was flashing and I could not stop the car. The brake pedal went straight to the floor. I had to shut the vehicle off and back on. Drove it home and parked it. My wife drove it a few months later and had the same experience.”

    NHTSA complaint #11362797, filed 2020-10, 130,000 miles

    “My cars back brakes locked up destroying my back calipers pads and rotors. I was able to get the to the shop and the informed me that the ABS module was malfunctioning and caused this damage. With some research I found out that Ford issued a recall for this specific problem for every Ford Fusion up to 07/09 my car was manufactured 10/09 and not included in the recall. This issue is the exact same as what they recalled by my VIN was not included.”

    NHTSA complaint #11326030, filed 2020-05, 174,000 miles

Buying note. These cars are often well past 100,000 miles, so budget for the two most common repairs: the electronic steering gear and the ABS hydraulic control unit. Check steering and braking behavior on a cold start and after a hard stop, smell for fuel after refueling, and ask for service records showing whether the steering gear, ABS unit, and left halfshaft seal have been addressed.

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.

NHTSA recorded 5,131 consumer complaints for the 2010 Ford Fusion. 4,009 of the complaints include a mileage, and 28% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,000 miles. Of all complaints, 122 involved a crash, 9 a fire, 74 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns (3 marked do-not-drive) and 56 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 12 Ford Fusion model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Wheels (143), Engine cooling (93), Body and structure (87), Seats (34), Suspension (34), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (25), Latches, locks and linkages (19), Tires (18), Equipment (17), Exterior lighting (13), Seat belts (9), Forward collision avoidance (8), Lane departure (3), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (2).

Example complaints

Steering: “Electronic power steering failed while driving and without warning. Almost crashed, as the steering failed just as I was taking a turn. 1800 repair. I have had the car for a year, it has 86000 miles on it and it is junk. I am more concerned with the fact that I nearly crashed than the money (although I don't have the money to repair it)”

NHTSA complaint #11404321, filed 2021-03, 86,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Advancetrac came on and also service power steering now came up steering is now hard I check the recalls on this site yesterday went to a Ford dealer the said their where no recalls I came home and refreshed the page an now it says that theirs 0 recalls.. I am unaware of what's going on... Please get back to me this is my only vehicle I have to get to work....steering is hard n it's a hassle drive it”

NHTSA complaint #11399079, filed 2021-03, 195,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Takata recall- my car stalls and doesnt turn all the way. If I slow down or stop the car will give out I got a diagnostic done three times and three different things came up and I got all the fix but it still do the same thing I see other people that have the same car have the same problem I was on the expressway when this did this this is very dangerous”

NHTSA complaint #10909862, filed 2016-09, 12,222 miles

Fuel system: “Filled car with gas a couple of weeks after replacing canister purge valve began to smell fuel. I took the car into the dealer on 14 december 2018 for the air bag recall and asked to have the fuel smell checked. The technician told the tank was cracked and needs replacing. He showed me with the car on the rack that fuel was leaking from the top of the tank.”

NHTSA complaint #11161475, filed 2018-12, 150,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

28% of the 4,009 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 47,000 and 110,000 miles.

4%0–105%10–2519%25–5024%50–7518%75–10022%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4,009 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 72,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’111,169’14’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Ford Fusion. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Fusion · sedan FWD/AWDnot rated5 / 5——5 · 9.2% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Ford Fusion version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Fusion AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172419$3,550
Fusion FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic223125$2,700
Fusion FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual222924$2,800
Fusion FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182721$3,200
Fusion S FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic233427$2,500
Fusion S FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual223125$2,700
Fusion AWD FFV3.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic182521$3,200
Fusion FWD FFV3.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic192722$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 11 recalls for the 2010 Ford Fusion → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 56 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 56 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford Fusion

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202018571,00035250 · FewerRising
201931678,50035250 · FewerRising
201844390,00025250 · FewerRising
20171,11571,532452547 · TypicalRising
20161,65078,0001352874 · MoreStable
201599774,4001352850 · TypicalStable
20141,33375,0001952759 · TypicalStable
20131,79276,1141952775 · MoreFalling
20122,51774,4505424100 · MoreFalling
20112,79472,0007424100 · MoreFalling
20105,13172,00011—25100 · MoreFalling
20091,02397,0006—2344 · TypicalFalling
20081,35398,0005—2320 · FewerFalling
20071,06485,0004—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200673076,0004—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Ford Fusion model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Fusion?

Owners of the 2010 Ford Fusion most often write about losing power steering assist and about brake pedals that travel to the floor, both of which typically appear well past 80,000 miles rather than when the car was new. The issues reported most often: Power steering assist fault / loss of steering assist; Brake pedal sinks to the floor / ABS hydraulic control unit.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Ford Fusion have?

NHTSA recorded 5,131 consumer complaints for the 2010 Ford Fusion as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Ford Fusion is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 1,662 complaints (32% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 894.

Has the 2010 Ford Fusion been recalled?

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Ford Fusion get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Ford Fusion (Fusion FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 22 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Ford Fusion reported?

Among the 4,009 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,000 miles and the middle half falls between 47,000 and 110,000 miles; 28% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.