FORD: CERTAIN 2013-2015 FORD FUSION AND TAURUS, 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORER, 2013-2014 FORD EDGE AND FLEX, 2013-2015 LINCOLN MKS, MKX, AND 2013-2014 LINCOLN MKT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED THAT DOESN'T MATCH THE SPEEDOMETER SPEED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Fusion cruise control problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Ford Fusion have filed 28 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 47,687 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Fusion | 20 |
| 2010 Fusion | 494 |
| 2011 Fusion | 159 |
| 2012 Fusion | 52 |
| 2013 Fusion (this page) | 28 |
| 2014 Fusion | 14 |
| 2015 Fusion | 9 |
| 2016 Fusion | 25 |
| 2017 Fusion | 3 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 28 cruise control complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Fusion, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 cruise control 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.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report multiple distinct failure modes affecting acceleration, braking, and engine control. The most common complaint is unwanted acceleration — the vehicle surges forward without driver input, sometimes when braking on bumps, sometimes at highway speeds, and sometimes in reverse. Brake response is inconsistent; in several cases owners had to pump or press hard on the brake pedal to slow the car.
Engine stalling is frequent, occurring at various speeds (15–70 mph) or while stationary. Some owners report the car stalling when releasing the accelerator; others experience stalls that require restart to restore function. The check engine light, orange wrench light, and "stop safely now" messages appear in conjunction with these events.
Throttle response is sluggish or absent in several reports — the accelerator pedal does not respond when pressed, forcing a vehicle restart. One owner reports the accelerator pedal itself fractured. Transmission issues include hard shifts, surging when downshifting, and delayed engagement in reverse.
A smaller number of complaints involve cruise-control malfunction: one owner's car braked hard for a plastic bag, another experienced sudden deceleration while cruise was engaged. One narrative mentions a wastegate malfunction causing unintended acceleration. Ford's recalls and software updates (TSB 17V209000 for engine/cooling) have not fully resolved the issues for some owners, and several report Ford was unable to duplicate the problem or declined further diagnosis.
The common thread: loss of driver control over acceleration and deceleration, with inconsistent throttle response and unexplained stalling.
Same Ford Fusion cruise control reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Unwanted acceleration / sudden surge
Vehicle accelerates without driver input, ranging from low-speed surges in reverse or during braking to full highway-speed acceleration that is difficult to stop.
When: Various speeds (15 mph to 70 mph); some triggered by bumps/potholes during braking; some spontaneous; some during backing or pulling into garage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without pedal depression; Surging forward when braking or on bumps; Cannot stop acceleration with brake pressure alone; Pedal described as 'pulling itself down' (complaint #26)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple attempts at repair in complaint #4 failed; complaint #26 mentions wastegate malfunction but not confirmed repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #1: Ford claimed 'unable to recreate' despite owner demonstrating the issue; complaint #4: Ford replaced multiple parts but unable to identify root cause; complaint #6: Ford advised not enough complaints for recall
Engine stalling at various speeds
Engine cuts out without warning while driving, sometimes at idle, sometimes at highway speeds. Vehicle requires restart to continue operation.
When: Mileage 22k–98k; complaint #2 started at 22k and persisted; complaint #3 at 6850 miles; complaint #10 at 26,757 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at 15–20 mph, 40 mph, 50 mph, 60+ mph, or while stationary; Vehicle unresponsive after stall until restarted; Accelerator hesitation prior to or following stall; Rough idle at engine start; Longer-than-normal cranking time before restart
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Wrench warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #2: recalls performed but stalls continued less frequently; complaint #3: software updates, gateway module, high-voltage cable, battery controller replaced; complaint #10: computer software updated but failure recurred; complaint #14: throttle body suspected faulty by independent mechanic but not confirmed by dealer; complaint #18: electronic throttle body diagnosed as failed (not repaired)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #2: repairs covered under recalls but additional issues not covered; complaint #3: software and module updates performed; complaint #10: software update performed, no further action after recurrence; complaint #15: recall repair (17V209000) performed but failure persisted
Throttle / accelerator pedal unresponsiveness
Accelerator pedal depressed but vehicle does not respond; pedal is slack or unresponsive. Distinct from stalling — electrical/mechanical loss of throttle input recognition.
When: Complaint #7 at unknown mileage; complaint #22 at 39,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal depressed but no engine response; Pedal feels slack or dead; Requires vehicle restart to restore throttle function; May be accompanied by 'stop safely now' message or airbag light flicker
Codes mentioned: Wrench warning light, Airbag light (transient)
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #7: not repaired; complaint #22: not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #7: no action; complaint #22: manufacturer made aware but no further information provided
Accelerator pedal assembly fracture
Physical fracture of the accelerator pedal assembly, likely causing mechanical failure of throttle input.
When: Complaint #19 at 26,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal fractured without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis: accelerator assembly failed and required replacement; not repaired
Brake response delay or loss
Brake pedal requires multiple pumps or hard pressure to slow vehicle; brakes do not respond to initial pressure.
When: Complaint #4 at unknown mileage; complaint #8 at unknown mileage; complaint #16 at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive or requires multiple presses; Vehicle continues to coast despite brake application; Sudden brake engagement causing jerking
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs cited in complaints
Transmission hard shifts and surging on downshift
Transmission shifts roughly or with excessive force, and vehicle surges forward when downshifting, especially from overdrive.
When: Complaint #5 at unknown mileage; incidents 200 miles apart
Symptoms owners cite: Hard, abnormal transmission shifts when accelerating; Wrench light illuminates with hard shifts; Vehicle surges forward when downshifting to a stop; Transmission thumps during downshift
Codes mentioned: Wrench warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Temporary relief via restart but issue recurs
Transmission delayed engagement or park failure
Transmission slow to engage into gear; vehicle does not stay in park and may roll or move unexpectedly.
When: Complaint #8 at unknown mileage; complaint #23 at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Delay when shifting into reverse before vehicle moves; Vehicle rolls or moves when in park; Transmission jumps out of gear while driving
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs cited
Cruise control malfunction
Cruise control behaves unexpectedly — either braking hard for non-threats or losing control of vehicle speed.
When: Complaint #9 at 65 mph cruise; complaint #20 at 70 mph cruise
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control brakes hard for plastic bag (triggered ABS); Engine powers down when releasing cruise control; Vehicle unable to maintain or reduce speed under cruise
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Wrench warning light
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs cited for complaint #9; complaint #20: vehicle would not start after stalling, towed for service
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #9: two dealerships stated they never heard of the issue and did not follow up
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford fusion. While driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact would have to restart the vehicle in order for it to resume normal operation. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2013 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 cruise control problem on the 2013 Ford Fusion?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 26,500 and 88,000 miles, with the median around 47,687. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,500; a quarter make it past 88,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2013/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.