Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Ford Fusion body problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Ford Fusion have filed 64 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 80,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
64
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Fusion | 54 |
| 2007 Fusion | 45 |
| 2008 Fusion | 41 |
| 2009 Fusion | 31 |
| 2010 Fusion (this page) | 64 |
| 2011 Fusion | 49 |
| 2012 Fusion | 77 |
| 2013 Fusion | 160 |
| 2014 Fusion | 71 |
2crashes
2injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 64 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
FORD: THE CHROME MAY PEEL OR WRINKLE ON THE CHROME HANDLES. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE CURING PROCESS OF THE FINISH. 2010 FUSION/MILAN/MKS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: 2010 ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SHUDDER/VIBRATION OR A CLUNK NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEEDS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: THERE MAY BE LOOSE MOLDING IN THE BASE OF THE REAR WINDOW GLASS. 2010 FUSION/MILAN/MKZ.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two distinct door-system failures on the 2010 Fusion that create serious safety and security hazards.
Interior door handles are the most common complaint. Owners describe handles that fracture, crack, or detach while the vehicle is parked or during normal exit attempts. The plastic linkage and spring mechanisms break internally, leaving occupants unable to open the door from inside. Many resort to rolling down the window and using the exterior handle. Failures have occurred as low as 25,000 miles and into the 100,000+ range. Repair costs cited run $120–$260 per door. Owners note the handles are made of brittle plastic that deteriorates, particularly in hot climates. Some report chrome peeling from interior handles, causing cuts. One owner had all four interior handles fail within six months of purchase.
Exterior door handles and latches also fail, rendering doors immovable from outside or preventing proper closure. Owners describe handles that are stuck, won't turn, or don't move at all. In one case, the dealership found the external linkage rod had rusted and broken in half. Door latches fail to hold closed—doors open while driving or won't latch after closing. These failures trap occupants and prevent the car from locking, creating theft vulnerability and emergency-egress hazards.
Owners perceive both failures as widespread design defects across model years 2006–2012 Fusions and related Ford platforms. Several note that similar door-latch recalls exist for other Ford models (C-Max, Escape, Focus, Mustang, Lincoln MKC, Transit Connect) but not their Fusion, causing frustration over selective recall coverage.
Same Ford Fusion body reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Interior driver-side door handle fracture/detachment
Plastic interior door handles fracture, crack, or separate from the linkage assembly, preventing the occupant from opening the door from inside. The handle mechanism breaks at the spring attachment point or linkage connection.
When: Failures reported from 25,000 miles to 100,000+ miles; can occur during normal parking or while vehicle is stationary.
Symptoms owners cite: Handle no longer opens door despite normal pulling pressure; Handle detaches completely or cracks visibly; Spring mechanism breaks internally; Door cannot be opened from inside; occupant must roll down window and use exterior handle
Repairs/costs cited: Interior door handle replacement; costs cited $120–$260 per handle plus labor. Some owners report repeated failures after repair, with replacement handles being the same brittle plastic material.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report no recalls specifically covering this failure on 2010 Fusion, despite similar recall campaigns on other Ford models (C-Max, Escape, Focus, Mustang, Lincoln MKC, Transit Connect). Ford TSB referenced by one owner (NHTSA item 10039156 regarding chrome peeling).
Exterior driver-side door handle malfunction (stuck/non-responsive)
Exterior door handle becomes stuck, will not move, or fails to open the door. One owner's dealership found the external linkage rod had rusted and broken in half.
When: One documented case involved rust/corrosion failure; timing not specified for others.
Symptoms owners cite: Exterior handle stuck and will not move; Handle does not respond when pulled; Door cannot be opened from outside
Repairs/costs cited: Exterior linkage rod replacement; one dealer quoted $512.95 total (including $373 for repair after initial $139.95 diagnostic).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls cited. One owner requested Ford reimbursement for safety repair but was denied.
Driver-side door latch failure (won't hold/open)
Door latch mechanisms fail to latch securely or fail to open. Latches move freely without locking, doors open while driving, or doors cannot be closed. One owner's dealership found a broken spring tab in the latch.
When: Failures occur while parked and while driving at highway speeds.
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not latch after closing; Door opens spontaneously while vehicle is parked; Door opens while driving (one case at 70 mph on interstate); Door cannot be opened from inside; Latch mechanism moves freely without locking
Repairs/costs cited: Door latch assembly replacement; costs vary. One owner faced nearly $400 repair cost. Some owners' vehicles remain unrepaired due to part unavailability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report Ford stated vehicles were not covered under existing recall campaigns (NHTSA 17V210000 and 15V246000, both latches/locks/linkages), despite exhibiting identical failures. One owner was told vehicle was not under warranty and no assistance could be provided.
Interior door handle chrome peeling
Chrome plating separates or peels from the interior door handle surface, creating sharp edges.
When: Timing not specified in narratives.
Symptoms owners cite: Chrome peeling from handle; Sharp edges created by peeling chrome; one owner's son cut his finger on the peeling chrome
Repairs/costs cited: Parts and labor replacement needed; one owner reported Ford declined to pay for parts or labor despite citing known Ford TSB on the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford TSB exists on this issue (referenced NHTSA item 10039156); however, at least one owner reported Ford refused to cover the repair under warranty.
Multiple interior door handles failing on same vehicle
Multiple interior door handles (two, three, or all four) fail or break on the same vehicle within a short timeframe or low mileage.
When: One owner reported 3 of 4 handles within 6 months of ownership; another reported all 4 door handles failing.
Symptoms owners cite: Metallic covering partially came off handles, causing cuts; Springs breaking on multiple handles; Handles fracturing across all doors
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple handle replacements required, each at $120–$260+. One owner reported handles appeared made of 'very cheap using plastic' unsuitable for reliability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls cited. Owners report coworkers with 2010 Fusions experiencing identical failures, suggesting systemic design issue.
Driver-side door won't lock
Driver-side door fails to lock, remaining open to the vehicle. Linked to interior handle fractures or latch failures.
When: Failures occur from early ownership and across the mileage spectrum.
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not lock with key fob or manual lock; Door can be opened at high speed even when locked with key; Car vulnerable to theft
Repairs/costs cited: Related to interior handle and latch repairs; no separate repair cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls covering this failure mode on 2010 Fusion.
Door hood flew open while driving
Hood latch failed, allowing hood to open upward and obscure driver's vision while vehicle was in motion.
When: Failure occurred at approximately 26,500 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Hood suddenly flew upward while driving ~40 mph; Hood obscured driver's field of vision; Driver had to maneuvering vehicle to shoulder to close hood
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; owner manually closed hood.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but offered no assistance.
Rear jacking points severely corroded
Rear jacking points corroded to the point where the vehicle cannot be safely lifted on a car lift for tire rotation or service.
When: Failure discovered at 109,755 miles during routine tire-rotation appointment.
Symptoms owners cite: Severe corrosion of rear jacking points; Unsafe to place vehicle on car lift
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; corrosion prevented service from proceeding.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified and case opened; owner was advised to file NHTSA complaint.
Knee airbag restricts brake-pedal access (design flaw)
On 2010 Fusion Hybrid, the knee airbag housing creates dangerously restricted foot space between the airbag and brake pedal, limiting driver's ability to transition quickly from accelerator to brake in emergency situations.
When: Design issue present from manufacture; became apparent during extended highway driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Foot space between knee airbag housing and brake pedal ~4 inches vertically; Less clearance when approached at an angle; Lifting foot with leg from hip bumps foot against airbag housing; Foot must slide horizontally into narrow space to engage brakes; Delays emergency brake response
Repairs/costs cited: Owner requested physical removal of knee airbag and software reprogramming; no repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reported issue to Ford Motor Company; no response or remedy described.
Synthesized from 64 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2010 Ford Fusion?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2010 Ford Fusion?
It's a meaningful issue. 64 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 57 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 50,000 and 108,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 108,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Ford/Fusion.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.