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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the midsize sedan segment

2015 Ford Fusion vs 2015 Hyundai Sonata

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2015 Ford Fusion and 2015 Hyundai Sonata are nearly tied on reliability data

Two direct rivals running close on the data. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (2.9 versus 2.9), and both have similar complaint patterns. At this margin, choose based on what specifically matters to your use case rather than overall scoring.

2015 Ford Fusion

2.9/5
Reliability score
1,045 complaints
4 recalls (0 critical)
$14,550 repair exposure
vs

2015 Hyundai Sonata

2.9/5
Reliability score
1,118 complaints
4 recalls (0 critical)
$15,050 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Direct rivals running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores within rounding distance (2.9 for the 2015 Ford Fusion, 2.9 for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata). When two vehicles in the same segment land this close, the data alone won't pick a winner.

If you lean 2015 Ford Fusion, know what you're getting into on steering and brakes. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2015 Hyundai Sonata sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2015 Hyundai Sonata? Watch the engine and electrical. The 2015 Ford Fusion has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2015 Ford Fusion
2015 Hyundai Sonata
engine
242 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
405 reports
severe · ~$3,100
powertrain
140 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
123 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
steering
176 reports
moderate · ~$700
74 reports
severe · ~$700
electrical
91 reports
severe · ~$850
140 reports
severe · ~$850
brakes
109 reports
severe · ~$450
31 reports
severe · ~$450
body
24 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
42 reports
severe · ~$1,500
airbags
31 reports
severe · ~$1,100
21 reports
critical · ~$1,100
cruise control
No reports
37 reports
severe · ~$600
wheels
19 reports
severe · ~$400
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2015 Ford Fusion or the 2015 Hyundai Sonata?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (2.9 vs 2.9). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2015 Ford Fusion?

Compared to the 2015 Hyundai Sonata, the 2015 Ford Fusion sees more reported issues in steering and brakes. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2015 Hyundai Sonata?

Compared to the 2015 Ford Fusion, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata has more complaints in engine and electrical. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 4 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $15,050 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2015 Ford Fusion on NHTSA · 2015 Hyundai Sonata on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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