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Ford FusionModel year report

2011 Ford Fusion Problems

Compared with other Ford Fusion years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 5.7× 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
2,794filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
72,000miles, 2,083 complaints with mileage
Recalls
72 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
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Ford Fusion (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Ford Fusion most often report a sudden loss of power steering assist — the wheel becomes very hard to turn, usually with a "power steering assist fault" or "service power steering now" message. Many of these complaints cite the electric power steering recall and say their VIN was not covered. Other recurring reports involve the airbag inflators named in multiple recalls, brake pedal travel to the floor, and minor engine, transmission and door-handle problems.

  1. Steering

    Loss of power steering assist / hard steering

    • 1,252 complaints (45%)
    • median 89,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (1005 state mileage)
    • 40 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,963 (median of 151 quotes)
    • filed 2011–2026

    Owners describe the "power steering assist fault" or "service power steering now" message appearing, after which the steering wheel takes great effort to turn. Some say the assist cuts out while driving at speed, while others see it at startup or while parking; many report that switching the ignition off and back on restores assist temporarily. Dealers are described as diagnosing a failed steering gear, steering control module or EPAS pump, and several owners say their VIN was not included in the power steering recall. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 40,000 to over 250,000 miles, at all ages of the vehicle.

    Recall 15V3400002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the seller whether the 15V340000 recall was performed on this VIN, and whether the steering gear or power steering control module has been replaced. During a test drive, watch for the power steering warning message and check that the wheel turns easily at parking speeds and shortly after startup.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On 7/23/20 I started my car and the message appeared power steering assist fault and I couldn't turn the wheel. I turned the car off and when I started it again the message didn't come up again & the steering worked. I saw there had been a recall for this back in 2015 but I never got a recall notice. Without a recall this repair is $1800.”

    NHTSA complaint #11341444, filed 2020-07, 115,000 miles

    “Whenever I try to make a left or right turn my dashboard lights up reading 'power steering assist fault' and my steering wheel locks up and I can not turn or do anything unless I turn off my car and turn it back on. Sometimes I would have to constantly do this till I can drive. I always notice whenever I have my AC on it makes my power steering assist act up.”

    NHTSA complaint #11324082, filed 2020-05, 80,000 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brake pedal goes to the floor / weak braking

    • 214 complaints (8%)
    • median 88,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (167 state mileage)
    • 20 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 13 quotes)
    • filed 2011–2026

    Owners report the brake pedal sinking or traveling to the floor, with the vehicle failing to stop as expected, sometimes shortly after startup or in wet or snowy conditions. Several say the problem was intermittent or could not be reproduced at the dealer, and some mention ABS or hydraulic control unit diagnosis. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 160,000 miles, often on the first stops after starting the car.

    What to check: Ask whether the brake master cylinder, ABS module or hydraulic control unit has been serviced, and test the pedal feel firmly after a cold start and on a low-friction surface.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving on a city street, I was coming to a stop sign. There was snow on the road and the ABS kicked in, and the pedal went to the floor. Since then the pedal goes to the floor every time I use the brakes.”

    NHTSA complaint #11389357, filed 2021-01, 139,500 miles

    “I was driving about 5 MPH on a street when my brakes failed and the control panel started blinking about ABS failure. I was able to stop the car using the hand emergency brake. I turned off the ignition and restarted the car and drove maybe 100 feet when the same problem occurred--brakes failed and control panel started with warning. I was able to stop car again with emergency brake. No damage to anything or anyone. This same problem happened about 4 years ago with this car--I took to a Ford dealer who could not find anything wrong with my brakes or the computer software for the ABS. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11312067, filed 2020-02, 111,000 miles
  3. Steering

    Lug nuts swelling and wheel studs fracturing

    Mentioned in 4 of 80 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe lug nuts that swell and corrode so the factory wrench no longer fits, and wheel studs that break during tire changes or while driving. Some owners connect this to the wheel stud recall for 2010-2011 Fusion and Milan vehicles built with 17-inch steel wheels. Typically reported on older, higher-mileage cars, often discovered during a tire rotation or roadside wheel change.

    Recall 11V574000

    What to check: Ask whether the wheel stud recall was completed and whether the lug nuts have been replaced; inspect the studs and nuts for corrosion or rounded edges before a long trip.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I've had to replace all the lug nuts now on this car due to swelling and corrosion. This is ridiculous. I've already had to replace over $3000 of steering gears after only owning it for two days when I bought it.”

    NHTSA complaint #11327744, filed 2020-06, 125,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while changing the driver's side front tire, three of the wheel studs fractured. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V574000 (Wheels). The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #11594988, filed 2024-06, 140,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2011 Fusion you are considering checked against the open steering and airbag recalls by VIN, and confirm the power steering assist works reliably, including at low speed right after startup. Budget for possible steering gear work if the recall was not done or the vehicle is well past 100,000 miles.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 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 2,794 consumer complaints for the 2011 Ford Fusion. 2,083 of the complaints include a mileage, and 29% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,000 miles. Of all complaints, 80 involved a crash, 11 a fire, 46 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 55 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: Body and structure (61), Wheels (49), Suspension (29), Exterior lighting (18), Latches, locks and linkages (18), Engine cooling (14), Seats (14), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (14), Equipment (6), Tires (4), Seat belts (3), Forward collision avoidance (2), Lane departure (2), Hybrid propulsion system (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “When I put my car in reverse from a parked position, the sensor for the power steering electronic steering assist warning light comes on and I struggle to turn the wheel. I have to shut my car off and let it set for about 20 seconds and then I can drive. Sometimes it takes me turning off my car twice. It has only happened when I put my car in reverse.”

NHTSA complaint #11315574, filed 2020-03, 160,000 miles

Air bags: “Takata recall. It has now been more than 18 months since I received the first notification of this recall. I frequently have 5 people who need to travel in this vehicle, so not using the passenger seat is not an option. Ford needs to install the new airbags, buy back all affected vehicles, or pay for car rentals when front passenger seat is required.”

NHTSA complaint #11076251, filed 2018-03, 120,000 miles

Engine: “While driving on the highway to work on january 29, 2016 I turned on my wipers to clean the windshield after I turned the wipers off they stopped in the middle of the windshield, effecting my vision while driving. Once off, they will intermittently turn themselves on and off for a period sometimes stopping in the field of vision.”

NHTSA complaint #10825730, filed 2016-02, 60,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “My car when put into drive would make a clunking noise and lunge forward, also when up shifting and down shifting it would be harsh and clunk. I took it the Ford dealer and they said I needed a rebuilt transmission put in at a price of $5490, because the one in it had to many problems and would cost more to fix then the rebuilt one, so that's what I did the car only had 71438 miles on it.”

NHTSA complaint #11296748, filed 2020-01, 71,438 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

29% of the 2,083 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 44,924 and 111,500 miles.

4%0–104%10–2521%25–5023%50–7516%75–10020%100–15011%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2,083 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.

’11445’14’17’20’23’26
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 2011 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 AWD★★★★☆4 / 3445 · 9.2% risk
Fusion · sedan FWD★★★★☆4 / 3444 · 10.5% risk

Neighbouring years: 2012: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 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 automatic233226$2,600
Fusion FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic222924$2,800
Fusion FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual222824$2,800
Fusion FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182621$3,200
Fusion S FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual223125$2,700
Fusion AWD FFV3.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic182520$3,350
Fusion FWD FFV3.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic202823$2,900

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 7 recalls for the 2011 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. 55 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 55 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford Fusion

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202018471,00035250 · 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
20105,13072,00011—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 2011 Ford Fusion?

Owners of the 2011 Ford Fusion most often report a sudden loss of power steering assist — the wheel becomes very hard to turn, usually with a "power steering assist fault" or "service power steering now" message. The issues reported most often: Loss of power steering assist / hard steering; Brake pedal goes to the floor / weak braking; Lug nuts swelling and wheel studs fracturing.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Ford Fusion have?

NHTSA recorded 2,794 consumer complaints for the 2011 Ford Fusion as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Ford Fusion is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 1,435 complaints (51% of the total), followed by air bags with 330.

Has the 2011 Ford Fusion been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2011 Ford Fusion do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2011 Ford Fusion 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford Fusion get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Ford Fusion (Fusion FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Ford Fusion reported?

Among the 2,083 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,000 miles and the middle half falls between 44,924 and 111,500 miles; 29% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.