Ford Fusion 1st generation (2002–2012)
Generation-specific owner insights from 160+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy a 2002–2012 Fusion?
20,921
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2002–2012
51
recall campaigns
steering
most-complained area
What owners say about this generation
Our take, from owner reports
Owners of the 2002-2012 Fusion generally describe it as a reliable, comfortable, and good-value car, with many reporting 200,000 miles or more on routine maintenance alone.
14 problems reported (1 very frequent, 5 recurrent, 8 isolated) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequentAutomatic transmission rough or hesitant shifting, especially the 6F35 in 2010-2012 cars
- RecurrentTransmission failure or need for rebuild/replacement
- RecurrentTransmission fluid leaks
+ 11 more issuesShow fewer
- RecurrentThrottle body faults causing shaking, stalling, or transmission-like symptoms
- RecurrentWater pump failure on the 3.5L V6, driven by the timing chain and risking engine damage
- RecurrentSync system freezing or failing to read USB drives
- IsolatedHeated seat failure
- IsolatedLight bulbs burning out frequently
- IsolatedDoor handle breakage
- IsolatedFront vent airflow failure traced to a mode door actuator
- IsolatedSteering rack failure on 2010-2011 cars
- IsolatedRear parking aid speaker failure triggering a warning message
- IsolatedRust on the hood edge and trunk lid handle
- IsolatedEngine damage from oil burning and low oil level
The version owners recommend
The 2010-2012 Sport with the 3.5L V6 draws the strongest consensus as the most reliable and best-driving version, praised for its powertrain, its conventional hydraulic steering, and what owners call the best automatic transmission of the era. The 3.0L V6 is also repeatedly praised as a solid, long-lived engine. The 2.5L four-cylinder is considered reliable as an engine but is frequently paired with the least-liked transmission behavior.
Competitors to consider
Owners compare it most often with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Mazda 3, Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback.
Is a 2002–2012 Fusion right for you?
Get an answer for your year, mileage and budget.
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Overall sentiment
Owners of the 2002-2012 Fusion generally describe it as a reliable, comfortable, and good-value car, with many reporting 200,000 miles or more on routine maintenance alone. Praise centers on comfort on long trips, strong highway fuel economy, and the 3.0L and 3.5L V6 engines, while criticism focuses heavily on automatic transmission behavior and failures, particularly the 6F35 unit used from 2010 onward. Owners repeatedly note the car's European-style road manners and quiet ride. Early cars (roughly 2006-2009) are often described as having a more durable Aisin-built automatic, while later 2010-2012 cars draw more transmission complaints but also more praise for the Sport model and the hybrid.
Positioning vs competitors
Owners position the Fusion as roughly equal to the Camry of the same era in reliability, with one owner noting it was rated literally equal to the Camry for certain model years. Against the Accord, owners describe the Fusion as more relaxed in mountainous terrain, holding gears where a four-cylinder Accord constantly downshifts and revs. Several owners cross-shopped Mazda, Subaru, and Toyota models when deciding whether to replace a high-mileage Fusion, generally concluding that keeping the Fusion running was cheaper than taking on a payment. Some owners note that the Fusion's styling and interior were preferred over the Acura TSX even when the Acura was considered the more reliable option.
Recommended configurations
Owners recommend the 3.5L V6 Sport for the best combination of power and reliability, and the 3.0L V6 for durable, low-drama ownership. The 2.5L four-cylinder is recommended for fuel economy but owners advise caution about its automatic transmission, with some suggesting the manual-transmission cars as the safer choice. For hybrids, owners report the CVT as smooth and trouble-free. Owners advise budgeting for a water pump service on the 3.5L V6 and checking transmission fluid condition on any automatic car before purchase.
General recommendations
This generation suits buyers who want an inexpensive, comfortable daily driver or road-trip car and who are willing to keep up with maintenance; multiple owners say it is cheaper to keep one running than to take on a car payment. Owners suggest preferring the V6 cars, especially the Sport, and treating any automatic car as a gamble that should be test-driven thoroughly through all gears, including reverse, with attention to lurching, rough shifts, and delayed engagement. Buyers are advised to get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted independent mechanic, check for rust underneath and around the hood and trunk, verify transmission fluid condition, and confirm whether throttle body extended coverage or other service campaigns apply. Owners also warn that low-mileage examples may need belts, fluids, and rubber components refreshed due to age.
Remarks
Owners repeatedly stress that the Fusion's problems are not unique to Ford and that any car can break down regardless of brand. Several owners note that the hybrid models use a CVT that owners describe as smooth and trouble-free, and that hybrid brakes last longer but should still be used firmly occasionally. Owners also note that the 2009 model year used an Aisin-built automatic rather than the later Ford unit, which some consider an advantage. Maintenance advice includes regular transmission fluid changes every 30,000-50,000 miles, monthly oil and tire pressure checks, and watching coolant level on V6 cars for signs of water pump seepage. Analysis based on approximately 160 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 5,174 | 6 | steering |
| 2011 | 5,655 | 9 | steering |
| 2010 | 5,923 | 13 | steering |
| 2009 | 1,022 | 7 | service brakes |
| 2008 | 1,353 | 6 | air bags |
| 2007 | 1,064 | 5 | air bags |
| 2006 | 730 | 5 | air bags |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices for this generation
2012 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V001000
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 certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2012 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 17V024000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2012 · steering:electric power assist systemcampaign 15V340000
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 equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
2012 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 21V158000
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 temperature cycling.
2012 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21E013000
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. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2011 Ford Ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the specific part numbers. These parts may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2012 · air bags:frontalcampaign 21V081000
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 propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2011 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V001000
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 certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2011 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 16V384000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2011 · steering:electric power assist systemcampaign 15V340000
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 equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
2011 · fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tankcampaign 15V793000
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 fuel tank.
2011 · equipmentcampaign 14E028000
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.
2011 · wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studscampaign 11V574000
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.
5 more recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.