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

As I was going down the highway my car started smoking dramatically. There were no warning lights so I assumed it might be a belt. I pulled to the side of the road and opened the hood to find flames coming from the backside of the engine. I have had it in the shop now for the last two months and the initial thought was that the water pump could have caused the issue. However, after that set of repairs it was burning oil. Further investigation has shown that the head is cracked.

NHTSA ODI 11545435

While driving my vehicle into the garage, I placed the car into the P(park) gear and the car continued to roll. I had to hit the emergency break to stop the vehicle. The fuel line keeps cracking although it has been replaced multiple times causing gas to be leaking from the vehicle even after filling the car up.

NHTSA ODI 11505722

THE CARS DASHBOARD LIGHTS KEPT LIGHTING UP AND NOT LONG AFTER I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR CAUGHT ONFIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND BURNT DOWN COMPLETE LOSS

NHTSA ODI 11488892

My 2013 Ford Fusion SE had the high pressure fuel pump start leaking and dripped fuel on the exhaust and started the car on fire while driving down the road. This caused about $7,000.00 in damage but could have easily gotten out of control and caused injury or death to occupant(s). I reached out to Ford Motor Company and did a chat log asking for assistance and to make them aware. Ford Motor Company Case number CAS-34734107-H6J0Z5. What is dangerous about this design is that Ford chose to design and install a secondary high pressure fuel pump directly above the exhaust manifold and the engineers surely would have known the durability and longevity along with possible outcomes due to normal use over time. For the same reason you are not to refuel a hot engine, a fuel pump should not be placed directly over the exhaust manifold. I believe Ford Motor Company should be held accountable for their finished product liability. This is dangerous enough that they should remove these vehicles from service until a safe solution is available and deployed in my opinion.

NHTSA ODI 11445359

THE DASH LIT UP NOTIFYING OF A PARKING BRAKE ERROR WHILE DRIVING. GOT HOME, PARKED CAR, TURNED CAR OFF. WENT INSIDE FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES. WHEN CAME BACK OUTSIDE, THERE WAS SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF THE WINDOW. PUT FIRE OUT. AFTER EXAMINING, THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED FROM SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE CENTER COUNSEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IT CAUGHT THE SEAT ON FIRE, MELTED THE COUNSEL, AND THE ROOF. NO SMOKING OF ANY SORT HAS BEEN ALLOWED IN MY CAR SINCE I GOT IT. IT WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE FIRE STARTED, BUT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING DRIVEN.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11373410

THIS PAST SUNDAY OUR SON DROVE OUR FUSION LESS THAN 1.5 MILES TO CHURCH, PARKED IT AND WENT INSIDE. AROUND 5 MINUTES LATER, SOMEONE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF IT. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN BEFORE THAT SINCE THURSDAY EVENING. THE CAR HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE OVER 2 YEARS EARLIER WHEN WE PURCHASED IT FOR THE COOLANT ISSUE SUSPECTED OF ENGINE FIRES. THE CAR HAD NO OTHER ISSUES AND HAD IT'S STATE INSPECTION A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DECIDED NOT TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AS TO THE CAUSE. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING?

NHTSA ODI 11350442

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED ON IT'S OWN AND I CAN NOT GET IT TO SHUT NOW. WHEN THE DOOR OPENED I GRABBED FOR IT AND IT SWUNG BACK AND SMACKED MY ARM AND HAND AND THEY ARE SWOLLEN BRUISED AND SORE. THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR LIGHT UP AND THE DINGING STARTED TO ALERT ME THE DOOR WAS OPEN. WENT TO A NEAR BY FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ONE EVENING I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE TO LEAVE A PARKING GARAGE AND IT WOULD GO IN REVERSE WHILE IN DRIVE (REVERSE CAMERA IS ON THE WHOLE TIME) AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WOULD DRIVE IN REVERSE. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH MY GEAR IN REVERSE JUST SO I COULD DRIVE FORWARD.*DT *TP

NHTSA ODI 11268297

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. MY CAR HAD NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE. SUDDENLY SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE HEAT VENTS ON THE DASH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME I SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED 911. BY THE TIME OF ARRIVAL OF THE FIRE DEPT THE CAR WAS FULLY INVOLVED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11172771

OUR CALL HAD A RECALL , NEVER GOT NOTICE AND THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE LOCALIZED OVERHEATING MY CYLINDER HEAD TO CRACK, RESULT IN FIRE IN ENGINE AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR 2013 FORD FUSION

NHTSA ODI 11144172

KEY NOT DETECTED MESSAGE CAME ON WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AS I WAS DRIVING. THEN THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT START.

NHTSA ODI 11141375

MY STEERING IS VERY LOOSE MY GEAR SHIFT CABLE CAME OFF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AND IM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA ODI 11133216

CAR ENGINE BURNED UP OUT OF NOWHERE

NHTSA ODI 11131649

A LETTER WAS MAILED TO ME ON APRIL 2017 INFORMING ME OF SAFETY RECALL 17S09. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE SPECIAL ORDER FOR PARTS WAS NOT PLACED UNTIL 7/3/18. THEY HAVE NOT COME IN YET, PER OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF ALL OF THIS. ON SATURDAY 8/8/2018 THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO MY RESIDENCE TO PUT OUT AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DUE TO THISRECALL ISSUE. THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ENGINE OVERHEATING SIGNALS HAD ALERTED ME. THE FIRE ESCALATED VERY QUICKLY, AND FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING DROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS, AND THIS HAS CREATED A MAJOR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR OUR FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI 11128629

ON MARCH 26TH, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:40PM MY 2013 FORD FUSION (VIN #[XXX]) CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS OCCURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY A 5 MINUTE DRIVE. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR OVER 5 HOURS AND ON MY RIDE HOME A LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH SHOWING COOLANT/ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM THE HOOD (THIS OCCURRED AS I ENTERED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH). I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY SLOWLY AND PULL INTO A GAS STATION. THERE THE CAR CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND A PERSON THERE POINTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHERE THE FIRE WAS GOING. IT TOOK TWO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO A RECALL 17S09. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TWICE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. ON 6/22/17 I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO CARMAX TO HAVE THE COOLANT TEMP SENSOR REPLACED AFTER EXPERIENCING OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. I THEN TOOK THE CAR INTO TUTTLE-CLICK CAPISTRANO FORD TO HAVE THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR SYSTEM INSTALLATION WORK DONE PER THE RECALL ON 7/7/17. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11082111

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE KEPT OVERHEATING AND WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER (COUNTRY FORD, 95 GOODMAN RD E, SOUTHAVEN, MS 38671, (662) 349-4300) MADE NO MENTION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE RECALL NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS), 15V246000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES), AND 16V875000 (SEAT BELTS). IN ADDITION, THE DEALER MADE NO MENTION OF THE MANUFACTURER SERVICE CAMPAIGN (15R01) FOR THE EPS MOTOR BOLTS - REGIONAL AND (14N02) FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR PCM RE-PROGRAMMING. WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF THE DEALER'S REPAIR, THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE HEAT AND NOTICED A STRONG ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHO WAS TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11047018

THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WAS NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES FROM OUR HOUSE WHEN IT STARTED SMOKING WHILE BEING DRIVEN TO WORK. WITHIN A MINUTE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WITHIN ANOTHER MINUTE THE CAR LOST POWER. THE GAS PEDAL WOULDN'T WORK, ETC ETC. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST INTO A SIDE STREET AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. WITHIN A MINUTE OF THAT HAPPENING IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED AND DESTROYED.

NHTSA ODI 11029872

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. THE FIRE STARTED WHILE DRIVING BUT I WAS UNAWARE. I JUST KEPT SMELLING POPCORN SMELL. I THEN GOT TO MY DESTINATION , PARKED THE CAR 5 MIN. LATER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME IN AND ASKED IF ANY WAS DRIVING A WHITE FORD FUSION. IT'S WAS BBOT QUIT 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD LESS THEN 50 K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11029897

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION, CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND AFTER RETURNING TO MY CAR I STARTED IT AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE, AS SOON AS I LET OF THE BRAKE AND TOUCHED THE GAS PEDDLE THE CAR MAXED OUT IN RPM AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN EVEN AFTER PUSHING ON THE BRAKE RESULTING CRASHING INTO A LIGHT POLE.

NHTSA ODI 11006807

ON FEBRUARY 5, 2017 THE ENGINE OF MY 2013 FORD FUSION CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. I STOPPED AND OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT AND THE ENGINE WAS ALREADY IN FLAMES. THE FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE. MY SON AND I WERE BARELY ABLE TO ESCAPE UNHARMED. I CONTACTED FORD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNWILLING ASSIST. THEY CLOSED MY ORIGINAL CLAIM WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. I ALSO ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS RELATED TO ENGINE FIRES AND THEY STATE NO. I FEEL I AM UNABLE TO GET ANY ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER THAT PUT BOTH MINE AND MY SON'S LIVES IN DANGER AND ALSO DESTROYED THE SIZEABLE INVESTMENT I MADE INTO THE PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. PLEASE ASSIST!

NHTSA ODI 10970366

CAR STARTED ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING HOME FOR NO REASON LUCKY TO GET OUT

NHTSA ODI 10969840

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 2 HOURS FROM HOME AND I HAD A WARNING LIGHT COME ON, ENGINE COOLANT TEMPTRESS OVERHEATED. SO ME AND MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE, WE HAD COOLANT.WE SAT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS TO BE SAFE. AND PROCEEDED DOWN THE HIGHWAY. AFTER 2 MINS WE HAD ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT COME ON STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. AT THIS POINT HE COULDN'T MOVE THE WHEEL SO WE PULLED OVER AGAIN AND AS SOON AS WE STOPPED BLACK SMOKE CAME IN THE VENTS AND UP THE WINDSHIELD. AS WE OPEN OUR DOORS THERE IS FLAMES COMING IN THE DOOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WE QUICKLY EVACUATED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911.

NHTSA ODI 10967382

LEFT MY HOUSE DROVE 5 MILES, STOPPED TO SISTERS HOUSE TO DROP OFF AN ITEM, 2-3 MINUTES LATER WALKED OUTSIDE AND FOUND FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR WINDSHIELD. BARELY ABLE TO OPEN DOOR QUICK ENOUGH TO GET MY PURSE OUT AND IT WAS ENGULFED. WOKE UP A NEIGHBOR WHO CAME OVER WITH A TRUCK TO DRAG IT AWAY FROM HOUSE AND GARAGE. WASN'T FOR HIM MY SISTERS HOUSE WOULD BEEN LOST AS IT TOOK 25 MINUTES FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SHOW UP. ONLY THING NOT BURNED IS THE TAILLIGHTS. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAVE READ ABOUT A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC MODEL FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON. FEELING LIKE MY INSURANCE IS NOT GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL WITH DAMAGES. WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?

NHTSA ODI 10937312

YESTERDAY I PURCHASED A VEHICLE THROUGH AN AUTO BROKER FROM MANHEIM ATLANTA. NO MORE THAN 6 HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND EXPLODED MULTIPLE TIMES. 7:30PM I WAS DRIVING ON 285 HEADED HOME AND I NOTICED A WARNING ON MY DASH STATING THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE HAS A FAULT AT THE SAME TIME I NOTICED BALLS OF FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I TRIED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER HOWEVER THE ENGINE SEIZED HINDERING ME FROM DOING ANYTHING. BY THE TIME THE CAR SLOWED THE INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE, I JUMPED OUT THEN THE CAR EXPLODED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928487

POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAULT CAME ON THE DASH. PRESSED THE OK BUTTON AND THEN NOTICED BALLS OF FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. I THEN TRIED TO PULL OVER. I COULDN'T BRAKE, PRESS THE GAS, OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR THEN BURST INTO FLAMES AND THEN THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND BURNED.

NHTSA ODI 10928481

I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 FORD FUSION, 1.6L ECOBOOST TO WORK WHEN I NOTICED THE ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND PULLED OVER. AS I DID THIS, SOMEONE DRIVING BY SAID THEY SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR ONTO SOME PAVEMENT AND GOT OUT TO CHECK. I SAW FLAMES DRIPPING FROM THE OIL RESERVOIR. I GRABBED MY BACKPACK AND STARTED RUNNING UP THE HILL TO MY OFFICE, WHICH WAS ONLY ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY, TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AS I STARTED RUNNING, I HEARD A LOUD WOOSH SOUND AND SAW THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR HAD BURST INTO FLAMES. LESS THAN A MINUTE AFTER I HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR. THE FLAMES WERE ABOUT 15 FEET HIGH AND LUCKILY DIDN'T IGNITE THE DRY, GRASSY HILLSIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND PUT OUT THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10911237