Ford Fusion — the 13 years we've written up
2010–2020, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 11 of the 13 carry a high-severity issue.
What this page is
These are the 13 Ford Fusion model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Ford built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.
Ford Fusion by year
How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.
Year by year
Looking for a particular engine or trim?
Cracked crankshaft flex plate — rattle at idle, worse with the A/C on, transmission has to come out — $1,500–$3,200
Hybrid battery / system health — $0 under warranty / $2,000-$4,000 out
1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion — single-cylinder misfire, disappearing coolant, engine replacement — $4,500–$8,000 for a replacement engine; $1,500–$3,000 for a head gasket caught early
1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion — white smoke, one-cylinder misfire, overheating, then a new engine — $4,500–$8,000 for a replacement engine; $1,500–$3,000 for a head gasket if caught early
1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion — loss of power, overheating, engine replacement — $2,500–$5,000
1.5L EcoBoost lets coolant into the cylinders and cracks the block — $3,500–$7,500 for a long block or replacement engine, which can exceed half what this car is worth
Hybrid battery aging — $2,000-$4,500
1.5L EcoBoost coolant intrusion — overheating, misfires, then a long block — $2,500–$5,000
1.6L EcoBoost coolant intrusion into cylinders — $3,000-$7,000
1.6L EcoBoost coolant intrusion — $3,000-$7,000
Power steering assist drops out while driving — 'Service Power Steering Now' and a locked-feeling wheel — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $1,200–$2,200 for a steering rack outside it
Electric power steering assist fails — 'Power Steering Assist Fault' and a wheel you can barely turn — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $1,200–$2,200 for an EPAS rack outside it
Electric power steering quits without warning — 'Service Power Steering Now', no recall for the 2010 — $600–$1,000 for a torque sensor; $1,200–$2,200 for a replacement steering rack
2 of these 13 have no high-severity issue in our write-up. That means we didn't find an expensive recurring fault — not that one cannot exist on the specific vehicle you're looking at.
Looking at one in particular?
This page covers the Ford Fusion in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.
Known issues are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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