2013 Ford Fusion Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe coolant loss and overheating that can progress to engine damage, along with loss of power steering assist and transmission or shifter problems that often appear at higher mileage. Many complaints are filed well past 60,000 miles, and several owners report that their vehicle was not covered by the related recall campaign.

1. 1
   Engine

   Coolant loss and overheating (engine damage)

   • 268 complaints (15%)
   • median 99,993 mi at 6.9 yrs old (212 state mileage)
   • 31 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,460 (median of 21 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners describe low-coolant warnings, coolant overflowing or disappearing with no visible leak, and sudden overheat messages while driving, sometimes followed by stalling or loss of power. Several report being told the head gasket, cylinder head or whole engine needed replacement. Some say the condition continued after an engine-cooling recall repair, or that their vehicle was not included in the campaign. Spread from roughly 42,000 to over 210,000 miles, with many reports above 100,000 miles.

   Recall 17V209000Recall 12V5510001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for residue or stains around the reservoir, hoses and engine cover, and ask whether cooling-system recalls or repairs were completed. Have a mechanic pressure-test the cooling system and check for exhaust gases in the coolant before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car continues to lose coolant and overheat. It has been in and out of the shop for 6 months with no luck on a solution. Two different shops have said the radiator and thermostat is fine. We thought we had it fixed this last time in the shop, the seal in the reservoir tank had an air bubble in it, but 6 days into having it home the coolant level light came in once again. I am at a lost and out of funds to continue to put it in the shop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11375708, filed 2020-11, 97,000 miles

   “I purchased my vehicle in december 2018. Ford completed the 17s09 recall in august 2018, which was related to coolant system issue causing the engine to overheat. The day after I purchased my car in december 2018, the car overheated and broke down. The Ford dealership where I purchased (hennessy Ford in atlanta, ga) towed it back and repaired the issue again. I've continued to receive error messages about the engine coolant for the duration of my time in the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11329351, filed 2020-06, 90,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and shifter problems

   • 203 complaints (11%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (149 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $541 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Complaints describe harsh or delayed shifting, revving without moving, loss of gears, and the vehicle stalling after being shifted. Others report a broken or detached shifter cable bushing so the lever will not move out of park or the vehicle rolls while apparently in park. Dealers reportedly replaced or serviced the transmission in several cases. Commonly reported from around 63,000 to 175,000 miles.

   Recall 18V471000Recall 19V362000Recall 22V413000Recall 26V376000Recall 18V1690004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm whether the shifter-cable bushing recalls were completed, check that the lever moves cleanly through all positions, and ask about transmission fluid service history. Test-drive at low and highway speeds for slipping or delayed engagement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Ford Fusion shifter cable is broke there is a recall on this issue however the Ford dealership is telling me there is no open recall on my specific car im so confused this is not a coincidence please help!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11348548, filed 2020-08, 170,000 miles

   “On november 29th 2020 I was driving on the 40 freeway westbound passing newberry springs I was going 70 miles per hour when I looked at my rearview mirror and noticed smoke so I was pulling over I heard a noise pop and my idle went past 8 before it went into gear I opened the hood and there was transmission fluid everywhere thinking that maybe a hose broke come to find out I had no reverse and no gears I took it to a transmission shop which cost me a fortune to tow my car on the other side of 15 freeway southbound Ford installed the plastic …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389147, filed 2021-01, 95,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist failure

   • 387 complaints (22%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (293 state mileage)
   • 20 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 32 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners report a steering-assist fault message and a sudden heavy or locked steering wheel, occasionally while driving and in some cases while turning. Complaints describe the vehicle swaying or being hard to control, diagnosis of an electric power steering rack or assist failure, and expensive repairs. Several owners note their vehicle was not covered by a steering-assist recall. Mostly reported between about 48,000 and 174,000 miles, at various speeds and sometimes right after starting.

   Recall 19V632000Recall 15V250000Recall 13V232000

   What to check: Ask whether any steering-assist recall applies to the VIN and whether it was performed, and test-drive at low speed with the wheel turned fully to check for assist warnings or binding.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving warning lights came on saying that there was a steering problem. Many other lights came on in turn and I pull off the road with it being extremely difficult to control the vehicle. I had to have the vehicle towed to the garage and was told it would be over $2,000 to repair. I have done some checking and found that there may be a recall in the works 15v250000 because of steering problems with this vehicle. This is a very dangerous situation that could lead to many deaths. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11403212, filed 2021-03, 48,399 miles

   “Loss of power steering on car and power steering assist fault message displayed. Thankfully this happened when we started the car before we left the house with it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11386500, filed 2021-01, 106,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Doors that will not latch or open while driving

   • 253 complaints (14%)
   • median 66,750 mi at 4.8 yrs old (222 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2024

   Owners describe doors popping open while driving or failing to latch shut, sometimes requiring the door to be tied closed. Complaints say a latch recall repair was already performed, that the part was unavailable, or that the repair was not covered afterward. Others report water leaking into the trunk. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 137,000 miles.

   Recall 20V331000Recall 17V210000Recall 15V246000

   What to check: Open and close each door several times and check that every latch engages firmly, then confirm with a dealer whether the door-latch recalls were completed on the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The door is not latching shut it pops open when it feels like it . Driving down the street in the door popped open and it wouldn't shut also seems like the transmission won't stay in park at times it jumps when I'm driving it takes a while for it to go into gear I had it in park one day and the car was still moving”

   NHTSA complaint #11339470, filed 2020-07, 130,101 miles

   “Recall 15s16 was performed on april 24, 2018 to fix a door latch which had not malfunctioned yet. Last week it actually happened in a grocery store parking lot as I was driving. Passenger door opened while in motion and would not latch. Had to tie it shut with a rope. Took it for repair yesterday and was informed it was more than a year so the latch part was no longer under warranty and I was charged $448 to fix the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11321281, filed 2020-04, 55,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine misfire and stalling

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report check-engine lights with misfire codes on individual cylinders, rough running, and the engine shutting off at stops or shortly after starting. Complaints describe injector cleaning, spark plug and coil replacement that did not resolve the problem, and dealers diagnosing fuel pressure sensor or purge valve faults. Reported from around 42,000 to 170,000 miles, often with cold starts or shortly after driving away.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Scan for stored misfire or fuel-pressure codes during a pre-purchase inspection and ask whether the fuel pressure sensor or purge valve has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have had several electrical issues that occur daily with the vehicle. These issues include all windows, AC/heat, gauges, blinkers and locks continuously turning on and off while driving. When this occurs it also stops our ability to shift the vehicle into or out of park. Our mechanic had the vehicle for approx two months replacing several modules, alternator and battery with no impact on the issues. A Ford tech looked at the vehicle and also could not find the problem. This is a daily occurrence.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341369, filed 2020-07, 130,000 miles

   “After not being started for a while, car will start to shudder, then will completely shut off. When you restart the car it works. It only works until you get to your destination and let it sit for 15-20 mins and then you try to start it again and it does the same thing. Car would die when car is staionary and while in motion. I had battery checked and it is good. Had fuel pressure sensor on the rail changed and it is still doing the same thing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11312117, filed 2020-02, 128,000 miles

Buying note. These vehicles are old enough that service history matters more than mileage: ask for records showing the cooling-system, steering-assist, shifter-cable and door-latch recalls or repairs were completed, and have a mechanic check coolant loss, steering assist and transmission behavior before buying.

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.