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.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
The steering wheel is beginning to come loose. It can be moved from side to side, up and down on the column. Each time I drive the car there is more movement.
The backup camera fails to show an image from behind the car over 75% of the time. The display in the car is black upon putting the car in reverse, within about 2 seconds a message displays “rear view camera is unavailable. Please contact your dealership.” The collision sensors (rear cross traffic) also does not work when the camera is not working. Looking at multiple online sites, as well as a friend who has a similar model Fusion as I do, there are many many reports of this issue . My car is low mileage (63,141). Ford also has multiple recalls for this issue on other models and years, this car should be included in the recalls.
I bought my car in 2020 and immediately when I got home my car had died and I had to have it towed back to the dealership. Since then I have had 2 new batteries, 1 new lithium battery, and a new transmission. Issues with my vehicle include but are not limited to: 1. sporadically when I am driving all my dash lights come on and my power steering goes out and my car becomes difficult to steer safely. 2. my car has rolled back twice while I am in park. 3. Passenger airbag randomly will fault when I am driving. 4. My e-brake will randomly fault while I am driving. All of these issues happen very often and are happening more and more often. I have brought my car in a few times but I am told it needs to replicate the issues in order to be diagnosed but these issues happen sporadically and I cannot demonstrate them at will.
Traveling down a major interstate at 70 mph the steering assist light comes on without warning and the vehicle looses power steering. No prior indications of any problems. This could have caused a major traffic accident resulting in great bodily injury and/or death had I not been able to control the vehicle. The problem was confirmed by an auto repair shop. The vehicle was not inspected by anyone other than the repair shop. What is disturbing is that I have since discovered this is an issue with these vehicles as there were THREE prior recalls for this problem, but the recalls did NOT cover this vehicle's VIN. That's on you!
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated that while her mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The steering assist warning light was 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: 19V632000 (Steering) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, he heard an abnormal sound emanating from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission shifter cable bushing. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train) however, 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 200,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the flywheel was cracked. The dealer determined that the flywheel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and an audible chime was heard. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking, and the temperature gauge needle was reading "HOT". The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the audible chime sound was heard, and the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheated. The contact waited for more than 30 minutes and was able to start the vehicle and drove back to the residence. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle the following day, but the vehicle failed to start. 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 failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the check engine, ABS, air bags, PCM, and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The "Engine Coolant Over Temperature" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak, but the contact was unaware of what needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 12V551000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recalls. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.
Transmission had internal mechanical failure. Transmission has been jerky and stalled shifting from 2nd gear to 3rd on the 6 speed auto Transmission since 2014 when taken into the dealer I was told there are no recalls or issues but problem has existed since purchased from Ford.
In March of 2024 I discovered that the passenger side front turn signal was not working. I assumed it was the bulb so I replaced it but the turn signal still failed to work. I took the vehicle to the Ford dealer where the vehicle was purchased new. Upon inspection, it was determined that a control module was the cause of the issue. I was informed that Ford no longer made the control module and the dealer would reach out to a vendor that sells used control modules for my vehicle. After several modules were obtained from a third party vendor, none of the modules would work for my vehicle. It was explained to me by the service advisor at the dealership that none of the modules were a match for my vehicle but with no clear explanation why. The lack of a functioning turn signal is not only a safety violation but it is also a traffic violation. I have contacted Ford Motor Corporation but they are unable or unwilling to address my issue. This vehicle is over ten years old but has less than 50,000 miles on the odometer. It is in excellent condition and has no other mechanical issues with the exception of the non functioning turn signal.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, she observed that the driver's side door failed to securely latch closed. The door-ajar warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the door latch. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages), and the VIN was included, but parts had already been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 122,000.
Safety Recall 23S12/NHTSA Recall 23V162 - Brake Fluid Leak Took my car in for recall fix. Was told they could not perform the fix for the following reasons: 1) First said it was because I had aftermarket winter tires and rims on it. Told them that once I change to my all-season tires and original rims in 2 weeks can I bring it back, they told me no. 2) Then said it was because the car has 133k miles on it, so said it was too old to work on, and up to dealer discretion (Stoneham Ford, Stoneham, MA) 3) Then said the car has rust underneath so can't work on it. It was just a myriad of excuses as to why they couldn't perform. They said to try another dealer.
Power steering assist light appears and you lose power steering which is hard to turn the wheel at all. I’ve had it looked in to and they say it’s a steering problem for years in them models
Steering wheel is loose!
Car suddenly would have power but no start. After replacing what was thought needed replacement, the alternator is when it wouldn't steer anymore. Further inspection concluded it was the electrical rack and pinion, leaving no steering and or assist.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling in the driveway, the "Engine Coolant Overtemperature" message was displayed, and the cooling fan made loud sounds. The contact stated that smoke was coming from underneath the hood and the exhaust pipe. The contact turned off the vehicle and opened the hood. The contact discovered that coolant had leaked everywhere underneath the hood and the foam insulator, engine cover, valve cover, high-pressure fuel pump connector and plug, and radiator cap had all melted. The contact added coolant and replaced the radiator cap. The contact then noticed oil leaking from the rear cylinder head. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which was associated with the VIN. The dealer sent pictures of the failure to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer denied the repair and informed the contact that the failure was not related to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 211,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and attempting to turn to the right or left, the steering wheel became stiff, and difficult to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the contact was unaware of what needed to be replaced or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
See attached document for complaint.
The engine makes a very loud ticking and whirring sound, there are also quite a few electrical components that will not communicate with the PCM causing errors on the vehicle code such as a switch component failure U2002-96 Battery voltage circuit below and above threshold U3003-16 and U3003-17, electric park break enable - Deactivated B1111-53. Lost communication with restraints control module U0151-00 Lost communication with pscm U0131-00 invalid data received from pscm - alive/sequence counter incorrect/not updated and right rear tone wheel - mechanical failures C0039-07 even though there have not been any accidents and all maintenance has been done on proper time frame. The car shifts very hard and sometimes hangs on rpm before a shift causing an even harder gear change. The emergency breaking system does not work at all and there is no warning when you come close to any object wall or person. The reverse parking sensors also came loose and recessed into the back bumper by themselves with no tampering or touching.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while making a right or left turn, there was friction and a rubbing sound coming from the steering wheel. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion assembly needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under an unstated recall in 2015. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. The contact has been experiencing a friction type noise when turning the wheel traveling slowly. The noise has gotten a little louder over the past few weeks but the noise isn't noticeable while traveling at faster speeds on the highway.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train), and later contacted the local dealer to schedule a recall repair appointment. The local dealer informed the contact that the recall had already been completed; however, the contact stated that she had not taken the vehicle to a dealer for recall repair. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle recall history indicated that the recall was performed at Feyer Ford of Ahoskie (711 E Memorial Dr, Ahoskie, NC 27910) in October 2022. The contact was advised to contact Feyer Ford of Ahoskie for further assistance. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that they had made a mistake while transferring the VIN for vehicles repaired under completed recalls. The dealer informed the contact that they would contact the manufacturer to have the information corrected; however, the issue remained. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
I was driving my car when suddenly the steering went out which was dangerous for me and other drivers because I could not turn my steering wheel. I thought this was a recall that had been fixed but has not. Since this incident I have not had the car inspected yet. After I was able to get the car back to my garage…the message on my dash read “power steering fault”.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that there was fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact about a recall. The contact called the local dealer, who informed him about scheduling an appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but only received an automated message from the system. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V227000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was a fuel odor entering the vehicle. The vehicle was then driven home where there was a noticeable puddle of fuel coming from the fuel gasket. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a crack in the canister purge valve; however, the part to do the repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
Transmission slips hard shifting loses power wrench light comes on
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and then stalled. The contact was able to pull over and several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but gradually became more frequent. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated during the failures. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the throttle body needed to be serviced or replaced and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The contact called a local dealer and was advised that there was a Customer Satisfaction Program: 13N03 (Engine) associated with the throttle body but the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The fire started in the engine, unsure of exact cause according to the fire report. My wife [XXX] ), I, and my one year old daughter’s safety was compromised bc there was no warning until a minute before us realizing fire and exited the vehicle. Car was investigated by local department. Check engine light flashing crazy less than a minute before car loss power INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the steering wheel failed to turn while driving on an exit ramp. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was in the driveway, the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the failure was due to the rack and pinion. The contact stated that fault codes were reset. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V250000 (Steering). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was loosened. The driver was able to wiggle the steering wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving or while the vehicle was started, a message to an unknown message to “Stop the Vehicle” was displayed and the coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a small radiator hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that coolant was added monthly. The contact believed that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V551000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated that while sitting in the passenger seat as their husband was driving through a fast food drive-through and attempting to make a left turn the power steering suddenly failed. The dashboard was illuminated with several different lights, meanings unknown, however, there were no warning lights before the failure occurred. The driver had used an excessive amount of force to pull to the side where he turned the vehicle off and then restarted it to regain proper function. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electrical power assist system failed. The independent mechanic informed them that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V250000 (Steering) and referred them to Ford. The dealer was contacted and informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V250000 (Steering) but was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V413000 (Power Train) and 20V331000 (Locks, Latches ) . The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V250000 (Steering) then referred them to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
I was driving down the road about to start slowing down at a stop sign, then my steering wheel started to shake and I got a warning on my dash that my power steering system needed assistance and my steering wheel now is very hard to turn. I had to drive it back home and it was very difficult to turn my wheel the whole way home. could have been in serious accident when wheel start to shake or if my wheel completely locked up. fortunately, I was not injured or in no accident.
Power steering Fault lights and no steering. Steering wheel becomes very stiff.
On December 2,2023, I was driving my 2013 ford fusion down the road and all of a sudden a warning came up that Steering Assist fault and required service. I was going about 40mph there was no warning at all. I could have bee. Seriously hurt. Upon research there have been others that have this problem. When check my model is not on the recall list. Why is this?
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence and called an independent mechanic to diagnose the vehicle at the residence. The contact stated that the mechanic determined that the head gasket was leaking coolant and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was slow to accelerate. Additionally, there was a loud knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact discovered an unknown recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The recall was repair was performed; however, the contact was informed that there was another failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle was jerking. The contact stated that the message "Low Coolant" was displayed. The coolant reservoir was topped off; however, a week later the failure recurred, and the vehicle was smoking. The contact was concerned that the vehicle was going to catch on fire. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
My daughter was on the way to work, in the middle of traffic going around another vehicle at the time and without any warning, the power steering just went out. It was as though the steering wheel locked up or there was no power steering capabilities whatsoever and she barely made it off of the roadway. This could have caused an accident and It scared her so bad that she was crying when she called me immediately after it happened. I didn’t know what to do so I told her to crank up, put the car in drive and see what it does. The steering was fully functional then so she drove on to work but was very nervous thinking it may happen again. I did read that there is a recall for this exact issue on particular models of Fusions but it does not include our model; therefore, I am submitting our complaint and requesting that the recall to be updated to include ALL models of 2013 Ford Fusions for the safety of ALL owners. Thank you!
I bought from a dealer in live oak and told there was no recalls I only had car 2 months and the car transmission is acting crazy it smells like burnt oil or brake fluid leaking the radio has a major electrical problem it turns off and resets if I use the Bluetooth to talk through radio. This car all in all has been nothing but huge problems and here I am paying a car note on a car that's barely drivable.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact heard abnormal sounds and the steering wheel wobbled making it difficult to control the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the failure was due to faulty steering wheel bolts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
I am receiving warning lights regarding my electronic parking brakes. I took my car to a Ford dealership in Ankeny for a recall on my front brake lines to be fixed and mentioned this to the maintenance dept. They couldn't do anything without putting my car on a scanner (or whatever they do) because, being a widow I did not have the $100 they charge. Thus I am still driving my car with the warning lights on. I hope it is safe for me to drive it.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the vehicle had stalled and had overheated. The engine overheating warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 192,800.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the engine would misfire before running smoothly. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but became recurring failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 19-2139 Coolant Intrusion into The Cylinders (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
SAFETY RECALL 13S04
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion Energi. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into gear, the vehicle failed to respond. While driving, the brake warning light illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the circuit was open. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving, the brake lights illuminated. While making a left turn and slowing down, the became inoperable. The vehicle failed to move forward or backward. The contact called the towing company, who stated that the parking brake had seized. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 104,150.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle swayed left and right, and the steering wheel had limited maneuverability. The instrument panel displayed the warning message: steering system failure. The electronic power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the electronic power steering. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number 13V232000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle lost significant motive power and struggled to attain speeds of over 30 MPH. The contact also stated that there was an excessive amount of smoke coming from the exhaust that contained the odor of oil. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the Eco-Boost system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 183,000.
Sterling gear rack n pinion got very hard and the vehicle couldn't be controlled . Lost control and caused to crash
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts). Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start on two occasions. The vehicle was towed to the dealer on both occasions, and the dealer determined that rodents had consumed the electrical wiring, causing an electrical failure. The electrical wiring was replaced. The contact also stated that the transmission was slipping while driving. The contact stated that two engine cylinders had misfired, and the ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, messages indicating that the coolant level was low, and that the vehicle was overheating were displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle shuddered and lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where an unknown hose and the thermostat were replaced; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic, who referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking into the engine, causing the engine to overheat. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V551000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
COMPONENT FAILURE (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE). MY STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT, MADE A SCRATCHING NOISE. ALSO WHEN TURNING RIGHT AND LEFT, IT DROPPED AN INCH AND WHEN I TRIED RECOVERING IT WAS HARD TO CORRECT. IT WAS LIKE MANUAL STEERING OVER POWER STEERING. NO WARNING INDICATOR ON DASH EVER CAN ON. THIS ISSUE BEGAN RIGHT AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL ON THE BRAKE HOSES.