Ford Fusion reliability by year
34 recalls and 17,603 owner complaints across 15 model years. Best year to buy: 2020. Year to avoid: 2016.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
Years to avoid — and why 11 flagged on the NHTSA record
Cleaner on the data: 2018, 2019, 2020 . Still verify the specific vehicle.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 15 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the Fusion aggregated across 15 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Ford Fusion?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2020 Ford Fusion scores 7.4/10 — the strongest in the 2006–2020 range. 173 complaints on file, 1 active recall. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.
Which Ford Fusion year should I avoid?
The 2016 Ford Fusion scores 4.8/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 1,628 owner complaints with NHTSA, 8 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2016 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.
Which years of the Ford Fusion should I avoid?
On the NHTSA complaint and recall record, the model years to be most careful with are 2017 (avoid — the brakes — 5 fire-related complaints on the engine); 2016 (avoid — the electrical system — 1 fatality report and 3 fire-related complaints on the electrical system); 2014 (avoid — the steering — 5 fire-related complaints on the electrical system); 2013 (avoid — the engine — 5 fire-related complaints and 9 crash-related complaints on the steering); 2012 (avoid — the steering — 1 fatality report and 2 fire-related complaints on the steering); 2011 (avoid — the steering — 1 fatality report and 42 crash-related complaints on the steering). The cleaner years on the data are 2020, 2019, 2018. This is our read of the federal data, not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection of the specific vehicle.
How many years of the Ford Fusion are tracked?
15 model years (2006 through 2020) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 34 recalls and 17,603 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Ford Fusion?
steering is the most-reported category — 4,182 complaints across 14 model years. Average shop repair runs about $700.