2011 Ford Fusion: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
2,783 NHTSA owner complaints · 9 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Fusion's record has two separate problems in it. The 2010–2012 first generation carries complaints about the power steering (an electric-assist failure that was recalled) and the throttle body. Read the full note on the model page. 2011 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 2,783 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Ford Fusion (and Fusion Hybrid): the years to avoid and the years to buy, including 2011 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 2,783 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 185.53
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated while the brake pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The failure reoccurred on several occasions. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was app…
The vehicle experienced a sudden, complete failure of the electronic power steering assist while operating, resulting in a dangerous increase in steering effort and an immediate safety hazard. A professional OBD-II diagnostic scan retrieved active trouble codes C1277-20 (Steering Wheel Angle Sensor Signal Failure) and C1963-20 (Stability Control Inhibit Warning). This internal sensor failure matches the exact physica…
Yesterday evening, my power steering went out (EPAS), it did that when the car had been parked for the night and not in motion thankfully so nobodies safety was at risk, but I don’t know if and when it’ll happen again. According to Ford, it has been a recurring problem with ford fusion modules similar to mine, that the EPAS has been defective, and therefore making it dangerous to drive. My exact car has been inspect…
Recalls: 9 campaigns (7 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 15V340000 | Steering:Electric Power Assist System | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles… |
| 19V001000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling… |
| 11V574000 | Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 FORD FUSION AND MERCURY MILAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH STEEL WHEELS AND BUILT FROM APRIL 1, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2009, AND FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009, THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, 2010. THE WHEEL STUDS MAY FRACTURE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A WHEEL TO SEPARATE. |
| 21V158000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high… |
| 21V081000 | Air Bags:Frontal | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to… |
| 21E013000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. |
| 15V793000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured July 21, 2008, to March 4, 2011, and 2010-2011 Mercury Milan vehicles manufactured July 23, 2008, to December 10, 2010. The affected vehicles have fuel vapor canisters whose purge valves may not operate properly resulting in abnormal pressure changes in the… |
| 14E028000 | Equipment | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,250
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Steering1,426 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Air Bags330 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Engine276 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train268 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Vehicle Speed Control256 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Electrical System201 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
Other Ford Fusion years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Ford Fusion?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Steering (1426 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2011 Ford Fusion a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 47/100, computed from 2,783 NHTSA complaints and 9 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2011 Ford Fusion's most common problem?
1,426 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2011 Ford Fusion sit in the Steering group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement: about 5.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,020–$2,500 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2011 Ford Fusion cost to run per year?
About $9,264 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $46,322 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2011 Ford Fusion have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for the 2011 Ford Fusion, 7 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/06/2015. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2011 Ford Fusion really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 2,783 complaints, 9 recalls on record
- 2783 NHTSA complaints on record (185.5/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (120.8/yr)
- 9 recall campaigns, 7 touching safety-critical systems