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 ↗2014 Ford Fusion body problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 Ford Fusion have filed 71 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 68,000 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
71
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Fusion | 64 |
| 2011 Fusion | 49 |
| 2012 Fusion | 77 |
| 2013 Fusion | 160 |
| 2014 Fusion (this page) | 71 |
| 2015 Fusion | 24 |
| 2016 Fusion | 39 |
| 2017 Fusion | 4 |
2crashes
What stands out
Owners have filed 71 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.
Among the 12 model years of Ford Fusion in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are followed when diagnosing the condition prior to all module replacements and only order modules using
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Escape/Fusion/MKZ, 2015-2018 Focus,2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2020 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2020 F-Super Duty, 2018-2020 EcoSport/Expedition, 2019-2020 Ranger/Nautilus vehicles may experience seat pan looseness, lateral movement, or a clunk/thump noise on turns. This may be due to the seat pan track. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to install a reinforcement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Door latch failures dominate these 71 complaints. The broken pawl spring tab inside the latch mechanism prevents doors from latching or causes them to swing open mid-drive — front driver, front passenger, rear driver, and rear passenger doors all affected. Owners describe holding doors shut with rope or their arm, doors flying open during turns, and warning lights that don't always trigger. Multiple owners report their VINs fall outside existing recalls (15S16, 16S30, 17V210, 20V331) despite experiencing identical symptoms to recalled vehicles, leaving them to pay $300–$600 per door out of pocket. One owner's latches failed again post-recall, two years later. Headliner sagging blocks rear visibility on at least two vehicles; Ford is aware but has not issued a fix, and dealerships cite unavailable parts and recurring failure. One trunk opens repeatedly while driving; another sway bar was found loose. A carpet smell causes migraines. One tire failed completely at 800 miles. Most owners report dealer refusal to help without a matching recall, and Ford customer care cases either go unanswered or are denied outright.
Same Ford Fusion body reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Door latch pawl spring failure
The pawl spring tab inside door latch mechanisms breaks, preventing doors from latching or causing latches to release while driving. Affects all four doors and can occur multiple times on the same vehicle. Some vehicles fail post-recall.
When: Failure occurs at varying mileages: 14,000 (narrative #11), 25,300 (narrative #1), 29,000 (narrative #19), 38,000 (narrative #8), 44,800 (narrative #13), 60,000 (narrative #16), 69,858 (narrative #15), 72,000 (narrative #26), 77,800 (narrative #14), 80,000 (narrative #12), 95,000 (narrative #21), 102,000 (narrative #37), 130,129 (narrative #36). Two years post-recall reported (narrative #6).
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not latch or stay closed when shut; Door swings open while driving, especially during turns; Door ajar warning light illuminates intermittently or not at all; Door must be held shut by driver or secured with rope; Latches fail to engage despite repeated attempts to close door; Door flies open unexpectedly at low and highway speeds; Multiple doors on same vehicle fail in succession
Repairs/costs cited: Door latch assembly replacement cited at $300–$600 per door. Part AE8Z-5421813-E (door lock actuator) reported as discontinued. Owners report parts shortages at dealers nationwide; some parts unavailable with no ETA. Recall parts 15S16 (May 2017) and subsequent recalls 16S30 and 20V331 only cover subset of VINs. Narrative #6 shows $100 deductible charged for post-recall latch replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford recalls 15S16 (May 2017, NHTSA 17V210), 16S30, and 20V331 issued for broken pawl spring tabs. Majority of owners report VINs excluded from all recalls despite identical failure. Ford customer care closes cases without explanation or assistance. One owner told 'if it happens to another car in same area, they may issue another recall' and refund repair costs (narrative #9). Dealerships universally refuse coverage, citing VIN mismatch. Ford acknowledged the sagging headliner issue (narrative #1) but has not corrected it. Recall 20V331 delayed—dealer stated 'parts are not available yet' with no timeline (narrative #29).
Headliner sagging
Headliner material detaches and sags inside the vehicle, blocking driver's rear window view and hanging down on driver's side. Ford is aware of this defect in 2014–2015 Fusions but has not issued a recall or permanent fix.
When: Reported at 25,300 miles (narrative #1). One vehicle had three repair attempts including 'robust' engineer repair, still failed (narrative #24).
Symptoms owners cite: Headliner sags and blocks rear window visibility; Material hangs down on driver's side front door; Safety concern due to obstructed view
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership offered glue-up repair but it does not hold. Narrative #24: Ford unwilling to replace headliner due to unavailable parts and acknowledgment that it will fail again.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford is aware the issue occurs at Flat Rock, AZ manufacturing plant. No recall issued. Dealership tells owners Ford will not replace headliner and acknowledges this is a recurring problem in other Fusion vehicles (narrative #24).
Trunk opening while driving
Trunk unlatches and opens while vehicle is in motion or while parked, allowing cargo to fall out and striking other vehicles. Trunk open warning light illuminates but does not prevent opening.
When: Reported twice in one week (narrative #31); ongoing issue (narrative #38).
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk pops open while driving or parked; Contents fall out and hit other vehicles; Trunk open warning light clicks and illuminates, says 'trunk ajar'; No accidental button contact; owner cannot reach trunk button with knee
Repairs/costs cited: Professional mechanics have inspected but could not fix (narrative #38).
Motor mount damage
All three motor mounts deteriorated and require replacement, causing thumping noise during acceleration.
When: Reported at 72,000 miles (narrative #26, Fusion Hybrid).
Symptoms owners cite: Thumping noise when accelerating from a stop
Repairs/costs cited: All three motor mounts required replacement. Vehicle not repaired.
Front hood rusting
Hood exhibits rust despite relatively low mileage.
When: Reported at 95,000 miles (narrative #21).
Symptoms owners cite: Visible rust on front hood
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA.
Sway bar not properly bolted
Sway bar mounting bolts found loose during vehicle inspection.
When: Discovered during inspection at 130,129 miles (narrative #36).
Symptoms owners cite: Sway bar not properly secured to vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired.
Toxic interior carpet odor
Carpet emits strong odor causing migraines in occupants. Odor persists or worsens after steam cleaning.
When: Reported without specific mileage (narrative #28).
Symptoms owners cite: Strong toxic smell from carpet; Migraines caused by odor; Odor worse in cold weather when windows must remain closed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership steam cleaned carpet; odor same or worse. Dealership reports no solution available.
Tire failure
Rear tire completely failed, leaving only rim, at extremely low mileage.
When: Failure at 800 miles (narrative #17).
Symptoms owners cite: Severe difficulty steering and vehicle control; Veering left and right; Complete tire loss, only rim remained; Loss of control led to collision
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired per complaint narrative.
Door latch design defect – incomplete pawl spring coverage
Existing recall for door latches covers only specific production dates/VINs (pre–31 Oct 2013 on some models, or other cutoff ranges). Many 2014 Fusion vehicles experience identical pawl spring failures but fall outside recall scope, suggesting the recall was not comprehensive despite the known defect.
When: Ongoing; most recent complaints cite 2020 recalls still not covering complainant VINs (narrative #7).
Symptoms owners cite: Same door latch failure (broken pawl spring) as recalled vehicles; Dealer and Ford confirm vehicle VIN not in recall despite matching failure
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 15S16, NHTSA 16S30, NHTSA 17V210, NHTSA 20V331
Repairs/costs cited: Owners pay out of pocket when recall does not cover VIN. Repair costs $300–$600 per door.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued recalls 15S16 (May 2017), 16S30, and 20V331 for pawl spring tab breakage but only covers subset of VINs. Ford refuses to expand recall despite multiple owners reporting identical failures on non-covered VINs. One owner noted recall 15S16 was for vehicles 'manufactured 2013 to 31-OCT-2013,' yet 2014 model-year vehicle experiences same failure (narrative #4). Ford customer care denies all out-of-recall claims without escalation or explanation.
Fuel pump click-off (filler nozzle behavior)
Gasoline pump nozzle clicks off every 1–2 seconds during refueling, making it difficult to fill tank and creating uncertainty about fuel level.
When: Ongoing issue (narrative #50).
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel pump nozzle clicks off repeatedly during refueling; Takes excessive time to fill tank; Uncertainty about whether tank is overfilled; Must repeatedly turn ignition on/off to check gas gauge
Body denting easily
Body panels dent easily with minimal impact.
When: Reported in narrative #50 without specific incident.
Symptoms owners cite: Body dents easily
Synthesized from 71 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 2014 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 2014 Ford Fusion?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 71 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 56 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 40,000 and 95,000 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 95,000. 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/2014/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.