Home · 2013 Ford Fusion Energi · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,774)Crash / fire / injury (157)Steering (389)Engine (372)Transmission & drivetrain (280)Body & structure (166)Electrical system (160)Fuel system (144)Seat belts (102)Airbags (98)Latches & locks (85)Brakes (73)

14 of 1,774 complaints match · Steering · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Sep 24, 2023SteeringCrash

Sterling gear rack n pinion got very hard and the vehicle couldn't be controlled . Lost control and caused to crash

NHTSA ODI 11546235

Feb 6, 2023SteeringSuspensionElectrical systemCrash

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

Mar 19, 2021SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HER VEHICLE AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TURNED HER STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT; HOWEVER, THE WHEELS FAILED TO OPERATE AND TURN WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT COLLIDED WITH THE CURB DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND SHE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION. THE CONTACT LATER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN ACQUAINTANCE'S HOME WHERE IT REMAINED IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY OFFERED HER NO ASSISTANCE; THEY REFERRED HER TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HER FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V632000(STEERING); HOWEVER, HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000. *LN Consumer stated she no longer has the vehicle.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11403936

Nov 29, 2018SteeringCrash

MY DAUGHTER DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK ON NOVEMBER 28, 2018 AT 8:00 AM GOT AN ACCIDENT ON THE RAMP TO MURRYSVILLE 22 IN PITTSBURG, DUE TO STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION. SHE IS ALONE AND LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT HURT AND ALSO GOOD NO OTHER CAR WAS INVOLVED. SHE IS ALWAYS ON THIS ROAD GOING TO WORK FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY. THE CAR GOT A SERVICE AT FORD DEALERSHIP ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, AFTER THAT WAS WHEN SHE NOTICE THE WEIRD STEERING SITUATION AND THEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 WHILE GOING TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11154743

Nov 4, 2018Steering1 injury

WHILE TURNING OFF A MAIN ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT MY FINGER WAS CUT BY THE UNDERSIDE SHARP EDGE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON HOUSING ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ODI 11145255

Sep 12, 2018SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUCAS FORD (900 US-130, BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY 08016, (609) 386-3100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER ASSIST ECU FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11129175

Mar 15, 2018SteeringLightsSeat belts1 injury

TAKATA INFLATORS I COULD NOT SEE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY CAME CLOSE TO 3 FATAL ACCIDENTS EVERY TIME THINGS WENT WRONG I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ME AND MY KIDS CAME SO CLOSE TO LOOSING OUR LIVES

NHTSA ODI 11079556

Sep 25, 2017SteeringEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. DURING THE FAILURE, THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENT AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN APRIL OF 2017. THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11025260

Nov 29, 2016SteeringElectrical systemEngineFire

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

Nov 29, 2016SteeringElectrical systemEngineFire

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

Sep 28, 2016SteeringElectrical systemAirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,297.

NHTSA ODI 10910186

Dec 10, 2014SteeringElectrical systemCrashFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE SLIGHTLY STRUCK THE DRIVER SIDE BUMPER OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. TWENTY MINUTES LATER, A POPPING SOUND EMITTED FROM INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CONTACT HASTILY EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND THE FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO RIP APART THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN ORDER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10663396

Nov 27, 2014SteeringCrashFire1 injury

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 2013 FORD FUSION. THERE WAS A WITNESS AT THE SCENE SAYING THAT THERE WERE SPARKS SHOOTING FROM MY CAR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. HE SAYS IT LOOKED LIKE A TIRE CAME OFF MY CAR TAKING A RIGHT CURVE ON A MAIN ROAD IN THE CITY THE CAR DID NOT TURN I JUST WENT STRAIGHT ACROSS 2 LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.ON THO THE SIDEWALK AND INTO A TREE. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR TO THE CAR TO GET OUT 2 GUYS CAME OVER AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND PULLED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN. I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL LUCKILY NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT I LIVE IN LONDON ONTARIO CANADA. .....UPDATED 12/15/15 *BF *TR UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10661136

Apr 14, 2014SteeringAirbagsBrakesCrash

I OWN A 2013 FORD FUSION, I HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OVER THE PAST 3 WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK, BRAKES NOT TO WORK, EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT WORK AND FINALLY THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM ON 2 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS MARCH 28TH AND AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 7 HOURS I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN?T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT AND THAT I SHOULD BRING IT BACK NEXT WEEK. I ASKED THEM WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD ?KEEP TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR? AND BRING IT BACK NEXT WEEK. THE WEEK OF THE 31ST THRU THE 4TH I HAD TWO MORE OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR SHUT DOWN. I TOOK THE CAR IN ON APRIL 4TH AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I ASKED FOR A RENTAL OR A LOANER CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN?T HAVE ANY. I DIDN?T DRIVE THE CAR THAT WEEKEND BECAUSE I DIDN?T FEEL SAFE PUTTING MY FAMILY IN IT. ON APRIL 7TH I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND AS A RESULT I WENT THROUGH A 6 FOOT TALL STONE WALL THAT WAS REINFORCED BY REBAR. I WAS LUCKILY NOT INJURED, I HIT THE WALL BETWEEN 20-25 MPH AND HAD NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TAKES CARE OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND SPOKE WITH DIVANA IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT LIABILITY WITH THE CAR. THIS WAS ON APRIL 8TH . ON APRIL 11TH I WAS CONTACTED BY FORD AND TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO AND THAT I SHOULD CALL THEM BACK IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I POSED THE QUESTION IF I WERE DRIVING AT 75 MPH A HIT A 18 WHEELER WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO. I GUESS THEY WOULDN?T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A COMPLAINT. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10579691

Working with the data? Download all 1,774 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Ford Fusion Energi verdict →