What 1,774 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Fusion Energi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle produced a high pitch sound coming from the transmission. The contact was able to pull over. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle would not shift out of park. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact called a mechanic to the vehicle and the vehicle was diagnosed with needing the shifter cable replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the shifter cable replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.

NHTSA ODI 11448177

Just before the December holiday, my car was making a notable noise. My local mechanic has diagnosed it to be a transmission failure at 99k miles. The local Ford dealership still has not looked at it and can't for weeks to come because of Covid (1/3 of the mechanics plus the Service Manager and assistant are out). They told us that the tool needed to repair this problem will not be available until April because it needs to be manufactured and distributed. I am left without a car, thrown into the market 2 years ahead of my financial plan, without assets from my car and having difficulty getting a loan because of the hyperinflation of car prices, particularly used. I am quite stranded.

NHTSA ODI 11447210

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 10-15 MPH uphill and making a turn, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and was hesitating as if the transmission was in neutral. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that as the vehicle started rolling backward, she depressed the accelerator pedal and was able to move forward and made the turn. The contact continued to drive; however, the failure reoccurred while driving and the vehicle was making abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who test drove the vehicle and diagnosed that the transmission had shifted into fifth gear and would not shift out of fifth gear. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the residence. Then, the vehicle was towed to another mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V362000 (Power Train) and to take the vehicle to the dealer for a recall repair. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed her that the vehicle would be repaired at her expense since the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11446910

The shift cable bushing in my 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid degraded and broke apart from the gear shift cable. This resulted in me being unable to shift gears while the vehicle was in park. Fortunately the car was parked at the time but this could have been a serious safety concern had the vehicle been moving. The vehicle was repaired by a Ford dealership by replacing the entire gear shift cable. This repair was considerably more expensive than just replacing the bushing itself which they claimed was not possible. No warning lights or messages were indicated before the failure. This part failure is the exact same issue involved in NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V471000.

NHTSA ODI 11444739

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently to 20 MPH. In addition, the engine overheated message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact mentioned that there was a loud growling noise coming from the vehicle. in addition, the vehicle was placed in Park and the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact stated that the parking brake was activated to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission temperature sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken back to another dealer where there was a diagnosis taken but the failure was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.

NHTSA ODI 11432319

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift into gear without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,097

NHTSA ODI 11431412

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon parking his vehicle in his driveway, the contact placed the gear shifter into the park however, the dashboard read that the vehicle was in neutral. As the contact exited the vehicle, the vehicle began to roll backwards without warning. The contact immediately re-entered the vehicle and forcefully applied the brakes and activated the parking brake. Since the failure, the contact had been unable to drive the vehicle as the gear shifter remained stuck in park as the dashboard continued to read that the vehicle was in neutral. The contact had notified both the dealer and the manufacturer of the failure and both informed him that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train) which he linked to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

NHTSA ODI 11430145

Had been shopping all day, with no indication of a problem. Stopped to gas up vehicle and put the gear shifter in park, then removed the key (No warning or indicator there was a problem). Before exiting the vehicle, when releasing the brake pedal, the car started to roll forward. Brake pedal was immediately pressed again, before possibly colliding with another vehicle parked in front of my vehicle. I put the key back into the ignition to attempt to start the vehicle and it would not start. I looked at the gear indicator and it stated the car was in reverse, but the shifter was in park. Gear shifter override did not change the indicator on the dash either. Vehicle was able to roll forward and backward with gravity or pushing. I kept on the emergency brake and upon inspection of the engine compartment by the mechanic with the tow company, it was discovered that the gear shift cable had disconnected. Reconnection was attempted, but it would not stay connected. There is a current recall for this exact problem, but my VIN number was not included in the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11429250

Defective Ford engine and engine cooling recalls have been issued for select models (i.e., recalls 12S41; 17S09;) for cars with 1.6 liter engines due to issues associated with low coolant levels in which a recall was issued in 2017 requiring Ford to install new coolant level sensors and the associated hardware and software in order to prevent engine overheating and catastrophic failure. While the recall was not issued for the 2013 Ford Fusion Energi Titanium Hybrid 2.0 liter engines, the problems identified with the 1.6 liter engines also characterize many of the 2.0 liter engines, including the one that I drive. My Ford has had 18 recalls, and during 2020 the engine light came on 4 different times between February and October of 2020 in which I brought the vehicle to Serramonte Ford service center to determine the reason. Ford did routine inspections and recall work in each visit, but it was not until the final time that the engine light came on that the tech looked inside the engine to discover leaking oil that Ford's service staff informed me I would require a new engine. Ford suggests replacing the defective engine with a rebuilt engine rather than breaking down and diagnosing the cause of the oil in the engine block, according to Ford due to the relatively cheaper cost to me (Ford did not make the diagnosis until after the car was out of warranty) of installing a rebuilt engine rather than tearing down the existing engine to diagnose and repair. I suspect that the 2.0 liter engine has the exact same issues as the 1.6 and should have been included in the 2017 recall, when I could have had the coolant level sensor installed while the car remained under the manufacturer's warranty. The car is at risk of a catastrophic fire now if I drive it off of the service center's lot, where it has been since November 2020. 12S41 and 17S09 recalls should be offered to the 2.0 liter engine models as well, before more people die.

NHTSA ODI 11426507

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND VEHICLE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING, BUT TRANSMISSION QUIT PULLING (FLEXPLATE HAD FRACTURED AND BROKEN). VEHICLE COULD NOT ACCELERATE OUT OF TRAFFIC. I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP IN CRESTWOOD. KY AND HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE TWICE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IN VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMBINATION. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS AN AWD FORD 2015 EDGE. I'M SURE THIS IS AND WILL BE A MAJOR ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11425009

The transmission shifter was in the “Park” position, but my dashboard highlighted the “Reverse” position. Using the Shift-Brake Interlock, I attempted to remedy the problem and now my dashboard reads in the “Sport” position while the shifter can move freely. Luckily I had just gotten off work and parked in my spot at home. No injuries or damage other than the aforementioned transmission issue.

NHTSA ODI 11419384

WHILE COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY MY HILL START ASSIST, ADVANCED TRACT, AND STEERING FAILED. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. ALSO, THE LINKAGE FOR THE SHIFTER KEEPS COMING UNDONE.

NHTSA ODI 11413981

TRANSMISSION LATCH AND ENGINE COOLING ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH SIMILAR MODELS BUT NOT THIS SPECIFIC MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 11405574

I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE OF HARD SHIFTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. TODAY WAS VERY SCARY FOR ME AS I WAS MANEUVERING ACROSS TRAFFIC MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO MOVE.IT MADE A HIGH GEAR SOUND, AS IF IT WAS REVVING IN A HIGH GEAR.IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTED INTO THE CORRECT GEAR.AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES IT STARTED TO DRIVE NORMALLY. IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THE GEARS HAD SLIPPED. I WAS LUCKY THAT IT WASN'T A BUSY TIME OF DAY, AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE NOT BEING ABLE TO GO ABOVE 2 MILES AN HOUR.I WAS AT A FAST FOOD PLACE AND HAD THE CAR IN PARK GEAR.I THAN SHIFTED IT TO DRIVE AND MY CAR MOVED OUT INTO TRAFFIC NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 30 FEET AND THAN JUST SEEMED LIKE IT WENT OUT OF GEAR BECAUSE IT BARELY MOVED

NHTSA ODI 11403176

LEAVING GAS STATION. CAR JUST STOPS DRIVING WHILE IN THE DRIVING GEAR. SO I PULLED OVER SLOWLY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND I HAD A WARNING TO 'SEE MANUAL' 'HILL ASSISTANT NOT AVAILABLE' 'STOP SAFELY NOW' AND IT WAS SHOWING TRACTION CONTROL ON. IT WILL NOT DRIVE. AND RUNS WEIRD NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11398839

I NOTICED WHEN THE CAR WAS ON THE ENGINE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AT STARTUP, THIS WAS NOT VERY UNUSUAL AS THE HYBRID HAS MADE DIFFERENT NOISES AT STARTUP, AND DEALERSHIPS HAVE ASSUMED THIS WAS "NORMAL". AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, A LOUD NOISE BEGAN, SOUNDING AS IF I WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE ANY AND ALL REPAIRS/RECALLS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THEY FELT THAT IT WAS THE BEARINGS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD BE BETTER TO GET RID OF THE CAR THAN REPAIR IT. THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED KNOWN ISSUE THAT FORD IS AWARE OF. IN APRIL OF 2020, THE ELECTRICAL/ A/C WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND THE FACEPLATE WAS REPLACED COSTING $780. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 7 KNOWN RECALLS, 3 OF WHICH HAD TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION/POWERTRAIN, THREE OUT OF THE 4 DOORS HAD FAILED DATES WERE AUG 2014, FEB 2015 & APRIL 2015 THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THE 4TH DOOR STATING IT WAS NOT A RECALL (I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE WHEN ONE OF THE DOORS LATCHED FAILED MY SON WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND FELL HALFWAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING-HIS SEAT BELT SAVED HIM) IN JUNE OF 2015 NHTSA SENT A RECALL, 4 DOOR LATCH ISSUES WERE REPLACED IN MAY 2016. THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF KNOWN PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

NHTSA ODI 11397214

WHEN TRANSMISSION IS HOT IT STOPS SHIFTING OR IT DONT GO IN GEAR

NHTSA ODI 11395992

WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER BEING STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION OR STOP SIGN CAR HITS ABOUT 20 25 RPM'S ACCELERATION STOPS HAVE TO EASE BACK ON THE GAS SLOWLY AND NEVER SHIFTS IN TO NEXT GEAR. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME SLOWLY ABOUT 20 MPH. HAPPENS AFTER EVER STOP AND GO

NHTSA ODI 11390852

ON NOVEMBER 29TH 2020 I WAS DRIVING ON THE 40 FREEWAY WESTBOUND PASSING NEWBERRY SPRINGS I WAS GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I LOOKED AT MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED SMOKE SO I WAS PULLING OVER I HEARD A NOISE POP AND MY IDLE WENT PAST 8 BEFORE IT WENT INTO GEAR I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERYWHERE THINKING THAT MAYBE A HOSE BROKE COME TO FIND OUT I HAD NO REVERSE AND NO GEARS I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHICH COST ME A FORTUNE TO TOW MY CAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 15 FREEWAY SOUTHBOUND FORD INSTALLED THE PLASTIC PART INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH MELTED WITH THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACING THE PLASTIC PART WITH A METAL PIECE SO THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR DUE TO THE POPPING SOUND AND NO CONTROL OF MY CAR I NEED TO KNOW IF I COMPLAIN TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE THIS FAULTY PART INSIDE MY TRANSMISSION I LOST WAGES AND COMPENSATION STRESS WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR A MONTH THANK YOU I WOULD LIKE TO GET A CORRESPONDENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

NHTSA ODI 11389147

I PUT MY CAR IN PARK IN THE PARKING LOT AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MY CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS SO I NOTICED MY BACKUP CAMERA WAS ON SO I LOOKED AT THE DASH AND MY CAR SHOWED THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE AS THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE SHIFTER LINKAGE CAME DETACHED AND THE CAR WASN'T ABLE TO SHIFT. THE BUSHINGS HAVE DETERIORATED AND CAUSED THE SHIFT TO COME OFF . MY CAR IS A 2013 FORD FUSION VIN# [XXX] AND I HAVE SEEN A RECALL BACK IN 2019 RECALL 19V362000 AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11386046

VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED HARD ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING INTO DRIVE. NOW WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND ENGINE JUST REVVED. IT EVENTUALLY SLIPPED BACK INTO GEAR AND WAS ABLE TO BE LIMPED HOME. DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED SOLENOID A WAS BAD. REPLACED ALL SOLENOID BUT DIDNT FIX THE ISSUE. A TRANSMISSION SHOP THEN TOLD ME THIS WAS AN ISSUE FOR VEHICLES LIKE MINE AND THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION CLAIM.

NHTSA ODI 11385246

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I HEARD A LOUD SOUND FOLLOW BY OIL PRESSURE LOST I PULL OVER AT A GAS STATION AND NOTICE THAT ALL MY OIL WAS PORING OUT OUT MY VEHICLE .I THAN CAR FOR A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED ..WHY DIS MY VEHICLE DO THAT.I DID NOT MAKE IT TO WORK ...I HAD TO CALL OFF WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.THIS SITUATION COST ME MY JOB DUE TO CAR FAILURE..IT HAPPENED ON CITY STREET LEADING TO HIGH WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11376501

I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY IN SPORT MODE WHEN I COULD NOT MOVE SHIFTER OUT OF SPORT MODE SO GOT TO RED LIGHT TO TRY TO MOVE MY SHIFTER INTO ANOTHER GEAR DIDN'T WORK SO SHUT CAR DOWN BUT CAR COULDN'T RECOGNIZE IT WAS NOT IN PARK AND CAR WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON AND WOULD DRIFT BACKWARDS SO HAD TO PUT EMERGENCY BREAK ON SO MY CAR WON'T DRIFT DOWN HILL IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. I HAD TO HAVE FLAT BED TOW CAR AWAY TO GARAGE, I SEEN A RECALL ON THE 2.5 FUSION AND ESCAPE SHIFTER CABLE BUT NOT ON 2.0 WHICH IS SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WITH MY 2.0 FUSION. I DO NOT HAVE RECALL NUMBERS ON HAND. .

NHTSA ODI 11376001

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING POORLY LOW GEARS, REVERSE, STUCK IN LOW GEARS, LOUD NOISEY SHIFTING, BURNING ODOR, CANNOT INCREASE SPEED

NHTSA ODI 11373256

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING BUT NO LEAK CAN BE FOUND. HAVE TO PUT COOLANT IN CAR EVERY OTHER DAY OR ANY TIME I DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11372754