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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchAmong the gasoline Ford Fusion model years in one sales-weighted comparison of NHTSA failure reports, 2009 ranks strongest and 2010 weakest. That result does not predict the condition of an individual car, and it should not be applied automatically to Fusion Hybrid or plug-in models. The Fusion spans two generations: 2006–2012 and 2013–2020.
How the Ford Fusion generations rank
The available evidence does not support a simple verdict that one entire generation is reliably better than the other. The strongest and weakest years identified in the reviewed comparison both belong to the first generation, while the second generation has mixed results by model year.
| Generation | Model years | Reliability evidence |
|---|---|---|
| First generation | 2006–2012 | 2009 is the strongest Fusion year and 2010 the weakest among the years scored in VehicleReliability.com’s sales-weighted comparison of gasoline models. Its same-year rankings were #33 of 52 midsize cars for 2009 and #43 of 46 for 2010. These are the publisher’s comparative results, not official NHTSA reliability ratings. VehicleReliability.com |
| Second generation | 2013–2020 | Results vary by year in the same analysis. It identifies weaker relative standings for 2013–2014 and 2016–2017, and better comparisons for 2018 and 2020. The 2020 Fusion ranks #28 of 38 midsize cars in that dataset. VehicleReliability.com |
The second generation began with model year 2013. The Fusion continued through model year 2020. Edmunds
What the year rankings actually measure
VehicleReliability.com says its gasoline Fusion scores use NHTSA failure reports weighted against U.S. sales volumes, then benchmarked against midsize cars from the same model year. This adjustment is more informative than simply counting complaints, but it remains a comparison of filed reports—not a controlled durability test or an official government rating. VehicleReliability.com
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Other complaint totals are useful as context, not as failure rates. In a database snapshot accessed October 8, 2026, RoadVitals listed 22,370 NHTSA owner-reported complaints across 2006–2020 Fusion model years and 48 recall campaigns spanning at least one Fusion year. Its table showed 5,127 complaints and 13 recalls for 2010, compared with 180 complaints and three recalls for 2020. Counts cannot account for differences in sales volume or time in service; RoadVitals also cautions that complaints are unverified and do not by themselves establish a defect. RoadVitals
Consumer Reports describes its reliability history as based on subscriber survey information covering about 380,000 vehicles and 20 potential trouble spots. Its available search-result material characterizes the 2010 and 2020 Fusion as less reliable than other cars of their respective model years, but does not establish a complete ranking across every Fusion year. Consumer Reports
Rank #2
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How to use the ranking when shopping
Treat model year as a screening clue, then evaluate the particular car. A low-ranked year does not prove a specific vehicle is unreliable, and a stronger-ranked year does not guarantee a trouble-free purchase. Check the vehicle’s configuration as well: the cited year comparison separates gasoline Fusion and Fusion Hybrid analysis, so its gasoline ranking should not be assumed to cover hybrid or plug-in versions.
- Review maintenance and repair records, mileage, and the car’s engine and hybrid configuration.
- During a test drive, pay attention to transmission behavior and warning lights; have an independent mechanic inspect the car before purchase.
- Check the VIN for open safety recalls and confirm that any applicable repair was completed. A model-year ranking cannot establish whether a particular car received recall work.
Documented issues to check by VIN
Front brake hoses on certain 2013–2018 vehicles
A NHTSA-hosted Ford investigation document discusses projected front brake hose ruptures on certain 2013–2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The described field action excluded vehicles with the 2.0L DOHC Hybrid engine. The document characterized the assessed 10-year projected rate as low overall, although some engine groups had relatively higher projections. This is a reason to check applicability and repair history by VIN—not evidence that every Fusion from those years has a hose problem. NHTSA-hosted investigation document
Power-assisted steering investigations and recalls
In February 2024, the Associated Press reported that NHTSA closed its seven-year probe into power-assisted steering complaints without seeking an additional recall, finding no safety-related defect trend. The report also notes that Ford recalled certain 2011–2013 vehicles for a steering motor sensor fault. Check the VIN for applicable and completed recall work rather than inferring safety from the overall model-year ranking. Associated Press
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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