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

Engine was leaking oil and it caught fire twice. Emergency activates while driving and yes it's available upon request. My, family members and others around where at Risk because whole car could of caught fire. No one has confirmed it or inspected yet. Brake light stays on. Engine was leaking about a week.

NHTSA ODI 11633693

The engine malfunctioned and faulty rear seat belt, it is not available for inspection because it started a fire that destroyed by car. The remains of the car is at a savage yard. We were put at risk because we were driving/riding in the car at the time it starting burning. We were able to pull the car over and park it in a gas station parking lot before it became fully engulfed in flames. I am reaching out to Ford. Since it was not an accident involved, the fire department inspected the vehicle and determine the fire started in the engine. Insurance representative has determined it is a total loss. There were no warning lamps or messages from the car. However, what caused us to detect something was wrong was the thick smoke started filling the car's cabin at which time we immediately pulled over. When we stopped the car, actual flames came from under the hoods towards the windshield of the car and we proceed to exit the car. My granddaughter in the back seat was having a hard time releasing herself from her seat belt.

NHTSA ODI 11614780

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI 11577588

The fire started in the engine, unsure of exact cause according to the fire report. My wife [XXX] ), I, and my one year old daughter’s safety was compromised bc there was no warning until a minute before us realizing fire and exited the vehicle. Car was investigated by local department. Check engine light flashing crazy less than a minute before car loss power INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11564155

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

10 mins into driving the car the car had a loss of power and the instrument cluster flashed a see manual indicator and a wrench flashed on the screen within 1 min of pulling on to the shoulder of the road the entire engine compartment was in flames. I had the recall for the issue know to have caused this performed on the car but it doesn’t seem the issue was resolved. The car is now totaled due to an issue that has appeared to happen with multiple vehicles reported to the NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI 11496003

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 60 MPH, she smelled an unknown burning odor as an unknown-colored smoke began to emit from underneath the vehicle without warning. Her daughter then pulled over and saw flames emitting from underneath the hood of the engine. While waiting for the authorities to arrive at the scene, a fellow motorist witnessed the failure and managed to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11488398

accidente automovilístico por que dejó de funcionar el vehículo y se tuvo que utilizar el freno de mano porque el vehículo dejó de responder ocasionando un accidente aparatoso que puso en peligro mi vida y el de las personas con las que me impacte car accident because the vehicle stopped working and the handbrake had to be used because the vehicle stopped responding, causing a spectacular accident that endangered my life and that of the people with whom I was impacted

NHTSA ODI 11476432

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 contact owned a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while he was parked on the side of the road, he noticed dark smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated as he turned off the vehicle, the vehicle caught on fire. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no injuries sustained. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the emergency units. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was deemed a total loss. The dealer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist due to the severity of the fire. The manufacturer stated that the failure was not related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V551000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11428643

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at 25 mph, there was an abnormal smoke odor inside of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department was called out and extinguished the fire. A police and fire report were filed. No medical attention was sought. The vehicle was towed to a police towing facility. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11420610

16 year old driver left home and 4 miles into trip noted that the hot engine indicator had come one. She stopped immediately at the next road and opened the hood to see what the problem was and immediately noted smoke and flames under the hood. Car then proceeded to erupt into flames and burned resulting in a total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11419300

PURCHASED A 2013 FORD FUSION IN 2020 AND KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. DURING THE 4TH MONTH OF OWNING THE CAR I NOTICED THAT I WOULD FILL UP THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND A COUPLE DAYS LATER I WOULD HAVE TO FILL IT UP AGAIN. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR FOR LEAKS AND THERE WEREN'T ANY LEAKS THAT I COULD FIND. I CHECKED FORUMS FOR ANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS AN INTERNAL ENGINE COOLANT LEAK FOR FORD FUSIONS WITH THE 1.6L ECOBOOST MODELS. THAT'S THE EXACT MODEL I HAVE. I CALLED FORD GAVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME. SO I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT MY COOLANT LINES AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A HUGE LEAK IN MY COOLANT SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHERE. I HAD THE VEHICLE PRESSURE TESTED AND THE LEAK WAS INTERNAL. DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME THAT DAY AND ONCE I REACHED MY HOUSE SMOKE STARTED TO COME INSIDE THE CABIN. I IMMEDIATELY PARKED THE VEHICLE AND POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER MY HOOD. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THEY ARRIVED AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND BY THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DONE FOR. I COULD'VE LOST MY LIFE THAT DAY. I'M HAPPY THAT I DIDN'T. FORD PREVIOUSLY RECALLED CERTAIN 2013 AND 2014 FORD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 1.6L ENGINE FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGNS 12V551 AND 17V209. UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOW OUT OF $12,000 AND I NO LONGER HAVE A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11398764

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND WHITE SMOKE WOULD COME OUT FROM THE REAR. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS ODOR OF COOLANT BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM TIDWELL FORD, 2205 BARRETT LAKES BLVD, KENNESAW, GA 30144, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE LONG BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 161,916.

NHTSA ODI 11388825

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, WHEN SHE SAW NOTICED SMOKE EXITING THE FRONT HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH HER SON AND STATED SAW FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND STARTING TO MOVE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND HER SON DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES OR SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DEEMED THE VEHICLE WAS LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JUNKYARD. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER CROSSROADS FORD LINCOLN OF LUMBERTON ( 5045 DAWN DR, LUMBERTON, NC 28358;(910) 738-6281) AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURE HER VIN WAS INCLUDED TO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000. *DT*JB*DT*LN

NHTSA ODI 11378452

ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK. I CHECKED THE COOLANT AND IT WAS LOW. I REPLACED THE COOLANT TO PROPER LEVEL. LATER THAT DAY, AFTER DRIVING DOWN A BUSY CITY STREET, WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM BEHIND THE ENGINE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY GOT ME IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. AFTER A MONTH OF BACK AND FORTH WITH WARRANTY COMPANY, FORD CALLED ME TO SAY THE WARRANTY COMPANY DECLINED THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY DON'T COVER DAMAGE DUE TO OVERHEATING. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED OCCASIONALLY EVEN AFTER GETTING THE RECALL 17V209000 'FIXED.' FORD SAID THE REPAIR IS $9K. I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME AND IT'S NOT BEING ADDRESSED!

NHTSA ODI 11377581

WHILE DRIVING I SMELLED A FAINT WHIFF OF GASOLINE, MOMENTS LATER THE CAR BEGAN FILLING UP WITH SMOKE THAT SPILLED IN THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS. THERE WAS ALSO SMOKE THAT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND & I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR TO RUN TO SAFETY AND I SAW FIRE UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. ONCE THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WE WERE TOLD IT LOOKS LIKE THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11363933

I NOTICED THIS ISSUE A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES AND THOUGHT NOTHING MAJOR OF IT, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON MY TRANSMISSION WOULD CONTINUE TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE FORWARD REGARDLESS OF THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL AND ALSO NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN TIMES CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND FAIL TO ENGINE BRAKE AFTER MY FOOT HAD LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE LATTER OF WHICH I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT AND WAS GOING TO HAVE A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT NEXT TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO GET SERVICED. HOWEVER, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA AND APPROACHED A SET OF TRAIN TRACKS. I WENT TO SLOW DOWN TO CROSS THE TRACKS VIA ENGINE BRAKING, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I ATTEMPTED TO USE THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE I REACHED THE TRACKS, BUT THE DELAYED RESPONSE AND THE GRAVEL ON THE ROADWAY PROVED NO AVAIL AT SLOWING THE VEHICLE AND I HIT THE TRACKS GOING MUCH FASTER THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED, AROUND 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE ROUGHNESS OF THE TRACKS CAUSED MY FRONT AXLE TO SNAP, YANKING ME TO THE RIGHT OFF THE ROADWAY, THROUGH SOMEONE'S YARD AND INTO SOME TIMBER. WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ALSO CONCERNING WAS THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT ALL DURING THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11352303

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 PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2018. FORD COMPLETED THE 17S09 RECALL IN AUGUST 2018, WHICH WAS RELATED TO COOLANT SYSTEM ISSUE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR IN DECEMBER 2018, THE CAR OVERHEATED AND BROKE DOWN. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED (HENNESSY FORD IN ATLANTA, GA) TOWED IT BACK AND "REPAIRED" THE ISSUE AGAIN. I'VE CONTINUED TO RECEIVE ERROR MESSAGES ABOUT THE ENGINE COOLANT FOR THE DURATION OF MY TIME IN THE VEHICLE. LAST WEEK ON 6/12/20 I DROVE MY CAR HALF A MILE AND IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN BECAUSE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM ISSUE UNDER THE FORD 17S09 RECALL. BECAUSE IT'S BEEN 12 MONTHS SINCE THE REPAIR, FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX THE CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY OF THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED IN 2018. AND NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT NEEDS A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE AT THE TUNE OF $7,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329351

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF BURNING WIRES THAT WAS EMITTED THROUGH THE VEHICLE VENT. THE DRIVER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, POP THE VEHICLE HOOD AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAME WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A PERSON CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILE A REPORT. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOW YARD AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER PUMP, THE HEADS CRACK DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT THAT SPILL OUT OIL WHICH CAUSE THE FIRE. THE WATER PUMP THE PULLEY AND HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11302569

CYLINDER HEAD LEAKED OIL CAUSE FIRE

NHTSA ODI 11279214

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH STARTED OUT LIGHT COLORED AND THEN BECAME VERY DARK. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD AND QUICKLY COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AS IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE SCENE. THE CONTACT CALLED WORLD FORD PENSACOLA (6397 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505, (850) 476-9050) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER STATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT WOULD BE SCHEDULED AND THEY WOULD CALL HER BACK; HOWEVER, THEY NEVER DID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS24690899. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11277046

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE POPPING SOUNDS AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. ALSO, THE OVERHEATING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND, WITHIN SECONDS, BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT CALLED A PLUS AUTO SALES AT 513-759-5470 (LOCATED AT 9253 CINCINNATI COLUMBUS RD, WEST CHESTER, OH 45069) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V875000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11270234