NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford Fusion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Vehicle has coolant leaking and temp getting hot just like the Ford coolant recall on my year, make and model of car, yet my VIN doesn't bring up a recall. Took to Ford dealership for a coolant sensor recall and told can't fix it the coolant issue is fixed and that it should be on the recall list. Bao I sit with no car.
Car stopped driving correctly and the transmission now needs replaced
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to turn to the right or the left. The power steering failure message was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.
Steering stopped working during drive home. It is now at my house. Safety was impacted because it became problematic during the drive. I had an independent mechanic evaluate the car today, he stated that this make and model of a vehicle is known to have this problem, and diagnosed it with a need to replace the steering rack. A warning appeared during the drive right before we got home, now car won't turn on for safety reasons.
Engine was leaking oil and it caught fire twice. Emergency activates while driving and yes it's available upon request. My, family members and others around where at Risk because whole car could of caught fire. No one has confirmed it or inspected yet. Brake light stays on. Engine was leaking about a week.
Two recalls for this make year and model car had been recalled previously but not for my VIN specifically and the issues are appearing. The first is “doors may open driving” recall on your website and the second is “engine cylinder head may leaks oil” which is also on ur website. Both were recalled for this make and year of the ford fusion but not for my VIN so ford is stating they cannot fix it and want to charge me even for a diagnostic.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed coolant leaking underneath the vehicle. The low coolant warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 139,753.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while her son was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled with a whining sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was then towed to another independent mechanic for a second opinion and remained with the mechanic. A dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train), which was linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the recall repair had already been performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while reversing, the center display failed to display a rear image. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V598000 (Back Over Prevention), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact safely guided the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. In addition, the contact noticed white smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion to cylinder #3. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that recall repair NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) was performed, however it did not remedy the failure because the head gasket was warped. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Steering wheel pulls to the right even after new alignment caused me to hit a curb
Low coolant light keeps coming on. Overheat light then comes on causing car to go into limp mode and causing me to almost get hit. I have had this happen almost ten times now and all Ford can tell me is my warranty ran out and it will cost more than car is worth, which is true. Ford knew the problem with these cars and they can't help us now. I don't know what to do, everyone with a Ford eco is having same problems,we need help!
Single vehicle accident on 11/01/2024 wet rode came into curve hut brakes it sped up struck guardrail on rt side darted across road into a ditch ripped front bumper cover off the seatbelt didn’t catch or no air bags worked
Car will stahl and lock steering wheel when yielding into traffic or driving. The advance trak light along with auto hill assist will pop up on dashboard stating to repair the issue.
I received a recall notice for my 2013 Ford Fusion. The Recall was 23S12- Multi Vehicle Front Brake Jounce Hose Leaks. I contacted Ford about the repairs for this recall and was told that the repairs would take 1.3 hours because the brake lines needed to be bled as part of the repair. When I contacted my local Ford dealership about getting the repairs, I was told I would have to leave my vehicle for at least 2 days if I wanted the repairs done. No loaner vehicle has been offered. I cannot be without my car for 2 days. How am I to get the repair work done?
Power steering fault.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that an independent mechanic went to the residence and performed a diagnostic test on the vehicle. The diagnostic test received the code for a misfire in cylinder #4. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and a misfire in cylinder #4. The contact was informed that the head gasket and the timing chain needed to be replaced. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,800.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was a strong fuel odor coming from the front and rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V227000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was 162,037.
The steering wheel of this 2013 Ford Fusion SE, until now tightly connected to the rest of the steering system, has started wobbling. This problem has gradually been worsening over the past few days (as of today's date: 10/4/2025). If this problem is not addressed at some point by a mechanic, it appears that the steering wheel might eventually come loose and separate entirely from the steering column. This very same problem appears to have resulted in a recall and associated repairs by Ford Motor Company of many Ford Fusion sedans of model year 2014-2017. It may be that Ford Fusion sedans of the 2013 model year have the same or a similar problem that gave rise to the noted recall for 2014-2017 Ford Fusion sedans. If so, owners of 2013 Ford Fusion sedans could potentially benefit from a similar recall/repair.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while entering the vehicle to start the vehicle, the contact smelled the odor of gasoline. The contact checked the vehicle underneath the gas tank and observed that the tank was soaked by gasoline. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V227000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the steering wheel seized. In addition, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with power steering rack assembly failure. The contact was informed that the power steering rack assembly needed to be replaced and reprogrammed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The contact stated that in July 2023 the first failure occurred, and the relays in the steering box were replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recently reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V232000 (Steering); however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,510.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the engine coolant warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the head gasket had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low coolant level warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
The steering wheel seems to have a sensor that makes the car goes side by side and it is really unsafe. I see there is a lot of recalls for Fusions on steering wheel problems but my car is not on this list. Really unsafe to drive. Is not a one time incident. The failure is every day
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power train warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. In addition, the contact stated that in October 2023, the power steering failed while driving on the highway. The contact stated that the failure occurred without warning. The rack and pinion were replaced by the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,500.
The engine malfunctioned and faulty rear seat belt, it is not available for inspection because it started a fire that destroyed by car. The remains of the car is at a savage yard. We were put at risk because we were driving/riding in the car at the time it starting burning. We were able to pull the car over and park it in a gas station parking lot before it became fully engulfed in flames. I am reaching out to Ford. Since it was not an accident involved, the fire department inspected the vehicle and determine the fire started in the engine. Insurance representative has determined it is a total loss. There were no warning lamps or messages from the car. However, what caused us to detect something was wrong was the thick smoke started filling the car's cabin at which time we immediately pulled over. When we stopped the car, actual flames came from under the hoods towards the windshield of the car and we proceed to exit the car. My granddaughter in the back seat was having a hard time releasing herself from her seat belt.
Engine coolant leaking into cylinder 2. This is a known common issue on eco boost engines. Engine repair was quoted as replacement needed for 8000$. This is dangerous because the car will stop and potentially leave you stranded in the middle of the road with traffic. Additionally, this may result in fires due to water pump running dry and water being burned off in the cylinder which results in blue smoke on cold starts. Ford has been knowing of the engine defect and continued to place the engines in their cars as late as 2019.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The dealer scheduled an appointment, but the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Coolant leaks and never fills the reservoir.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and making a left turn, the steering wheel became very firm. The contact stated that the power steering failure message displayed. The vehicle was taken to the residence and inspected. The contact’s friend used a hand-held diagnostic tool to diagnose the vehicle. where it was revealed that the power steering and the left and right speed sensors had failed and that one of the gear motor bolts was missing and the other was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believed that the failure was linked NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,912.
Been getting a low coolant warning, coolant is not low ,is actually over limit. Car then says overheating service now,goes into limp mode. Engine light comes on. I cannot drive car until it shuts off, sit awhile and then go. Engine light on get a p1299 reading,have had that reading for years,they replaced motor while under warranty ,now four years later the exact same thing is happening and I have no warranty,I cannot pay for this . This is an Ecoboost 1.6 motor and needs recalling,I read where thousands of people are having the exact same problems,this is not new...Please help us people trying to help ourselves with the exact problems over and over again. The 2013 Ecoboost 1.6 has given me problems for years and it just now started again big time on Aug 12 2024.
The transmission started smoking and I had it towed to a mechanic. They found a huge hole in the transmission and the bearing was gone .
Steering wheel has bolt recall issue that neglects this vehicle but offers recall repair on more more modern vehicles made on 2014-2017
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The traction control and power steering assist warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the electronic power steering gear motor. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 112,000.
My vehicle has a coolant intrusion from a known defective head gasket. The gasket has failed and there is coolant on the pistons. This is a known issue for Ford ecoboost engines from 2013-2018 and I request NHTSA's assistance with compelling Ford to remedy the problem.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-over prevention camera displayed a black screen, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet been determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
The purge valve is likely malfunctioning, which affects the fuel system. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. The malfunction caused the vehicle not to start after pumping gas, potentially leaving me stranded in unsafe locations, which could be hazardous, especially in high-traffic areas or remote locations. The issue has not yet been officially reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. No, the vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps or messages before the failure. The issue first appeared when the vehicle failed to start immediately after refueling.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the engine temperature indicated that the engine was "HOT" and the message "Low Engine Coolant" was displayed before the vehicle stalled. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 214,934.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel seized and became difficult to steer. The contact slowed down and the vehicle was parked in a parking lot. The contact stated that the "Driver Assist Failure" message was displayed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
I was driving my 2013 ford fusion and the power steering stopped working. There was no warning prior. The power steering assist warning appeared and I am not unable to drive the vehicle. There currently an active recall for 2013 ford fusions but my vehicle does not qualified and I believe it should. I have replaced the engine and transmission and there were active recalls on those issues and my car did not qualify the recall. I believe my car should qualify for the current power steering recall.
Coolant system Failure Abruptly. Available for inspect ASAP. The car shut off immediately while operating in the middle of oncoming traffic rendering me unable to steer off the roadway. Unknown- confirmed by independent center or dealer. Yes mechanic. No warnings prior simply out of nowhere dash lights up with engine light with a message turn off engine car over temperature. Car shut Off immediately.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH and exiting a ramp, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. Additionally, while shifting gears the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent who was unable to assist. The vehicle was towed to a transmission specialist, where it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the transmission was serviced prior to the failure. The contact called the same local dealer and was informed that there was no recall coverage for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 142,200.
My Car has 136,000 miles on it. The vehicle's rear windshield glue failed. I noticed water in the car's trunk the other day thinking it was a cooler not a big deal. Every time a car door closed I kept hearing a weird thud. Driving down the road I would hear a thump from the rear. I thought the spare tire tightened it and that was not it. I closed my car door, looked back, and saw the rear glass lift significantly. I did it again and then looked back and saw the glass lift. I then went back and realized could lift the rear windshield glass. 90% of the top and bottom of the glass glue had failed or was not there anymore. The whole driver's side was not glued. The only thing holding the glass on was the passenger's side of the glass. This is a huge safety issue as the glass could have just flown out at high speeds if I had rolled my windows down or it could have shattered because of vibrations at speeds. You need to investigate the failure of the adhesive used to put on all Ford Fusions and all sedans to see if there should be a forced recall. It was a fluke I found it before the window blew out or just shattered because of a vibration. It could be catastrophic if a rear windshield shatters at high speeds or flies out at high speeds. I have never heard of an adhesive failure like this on a windshield. I think Ford has a huge issue with this problem that has not been investigated. I should never have to worry about my windshield flying out or shattering because it is no longer glued down. Sorry, I did not take pictures of it. It was such a safety concern I went directly to the nearest place and got the windscreen adhesive and fixed it.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her grandson was driving approximately 65 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The cause of the engine failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that one of the passengers was unable to properly engage their seat belt. The contact stated the seat belt remained locked and could not be removed from the base. The contact became aware of a failure with the hardware body of the seat belt after inspecting the vehicle. The contact was concerned that the middle seat belt section of the vehicle posed a safety hazard for his children. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact to call the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NSHTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 136,179.
My car has been flashing a “Power Steering Assist Fault” message since I bought it. Lately, it’s been flashing the warning more frequently. I purchased the vehicle new
Automatic transmission issues. When putting car into reverse, the car pauses and then jumps into gear very hard. When driving down the road above 2k rpm, the car will drop into first gear, pegging the rpm gauge and throwing you forward. Only way to resolve is to pull over and cycle power. This happened multiple times with cars almost hitting me.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine was overheating. A message indicating that the coolant level was low was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that there was a coolant leak. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in the engine and spark plugs. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the driver's assist warning light illuminated. The contact stated that moments later, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle became undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic became aware that the error code was related to a malfunction with the driver assist and the electrical module, which included all the driving features and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle could only be operated manually. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.
Complete computer system is not working, won’t show me how many miles i have, won’t blow out any air. My windows won’t roll down. This happens at least 10 times a year. I put it in drive and it went BACKWARDS as i pressed on the gas pedal and the brake locked up. So i turned it on and off and SAME thing happened.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026