Home · 2014 Ford Fusion Energi · Complaints

What 1,347 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 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 (1,347)Crash / fire / injury (69)Steering (326)Transmission & drivetrain (247)Engine (210)Electrical system (157)Brakes (115)Fuel system (85)Seat belts (81)Body & structure (77)Latches & locks (51)Airbags (45)

Newest first · 1,347 complaints · page 1 of 54

Jul 11, 2026Electrical systemEngine

The car is suffering random shutdown and intermittent times. The battery is no longer holding a charge and when it shuts down this places me at extreme risk. Ford is unable to fix it so this is no longer happening without replacing the High Voltage battery - battery from ford alone is 11k. I cannot be the only one who is dealing with this car doing this.

NHTSA ODI 11749732

Oct 31, 2025Brakes

Brake lights stay on even after turning off car. According to my research the problem is a brake pedal bumper that deteriorated. I actually found the rubber piece on the floor. Prior to finding out my brakes remained on, the red engine light turned on. I checked recalls for this problem, and there was one, but it was only valid for high humidity States. I live in California so I didn't qualify. Now, due to not knowing what the red light was about, and it being smog time, I cleared the engine light. Well, I didn't know that disqualifies my smog test because other codes were erased.now I have a car that is battery disconnect since I can't drive it due to not smog certified. All because of a rubber brake part falling off. I?called my dealer if it was covered by recall, they said no, even though there IS a recall for humid areas. I don't live in a humid area. So my case shows that it DOES NOT have to be humidity related. It's just a cheap quality part. I'm hoping this changes to include ALL areas. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11696821

Sep 10, 2025Backup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11686382

Jul 29, 2025Engine

On cold startup, a significant amount of white exhaust is sometimes observed coming out of the tailpipes. The exhaust has a sweet aroma and after checking the coolant levels, it appears that the coolant levels have dropped and the exhaust smoke is being caused by a coolant intrusion into the engine block. No warning lights have been observed and it only happens about half of the time.

NHTSA ODI 11676918

Jul 21, 2025Steering

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the steering wheel while attempting to make a turn. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electric rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact ordered the parts and had the dealer install the parts. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the same diagnostic was provided. The contact was informed that the electric rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The parts were ordered by the dealer. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the same diagnostic was provided. The contact was informed that electric rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 208,864.

NHTSA ODI 11675131

Jul 17, 2025Steering

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the messages "Service - AdvanceTrac Off", "Hill start Assist Unavailable", and "Steering Assist Fault - Required" were displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering rack had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however the VIN was not included in the unknown recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11674309

Jul 14, 2025Steering

I am submitting this complaint regarding a complete loss of power steering on my 2014 Ford Fusion. The issue occurred without warning and was accompanied by multiple dashboard alerts including: “Steering Loss – Stop Safely” “Service AdvanceTrac” “Hill Start Assist Not Available” The steering became extremely heavy and difficult to turn, creating a major safety concern—especially while driving at low speeds or attempting to park. I have since researched this issue and found numerous reports from other 2014 Ford Fusion owners experiencing the exact same failure. While Ford issued a Customer Satisfaction Program (15N01) covering similar issues on 2011–2013 Fusion models, no such support appears to be available for the 2014 model—even though the symptoms and system design are identical. Dealers are quoting repairs in excess of $3,500 to replace the rack-and-pinion steering system, which is believed to be the source of the failure. Given the abrupt and dangerous nature of the malfunction, I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential safety defect and consider whether Ford should expand coverage or issue a formal recall for affected 2014 vehicles. This is a critical steering safety issue that could easily lead to accidents or injury if it happens at higher speeds or in traffic. I urge the NHTSA to take this seriously and evaluate Ford’s handling of this problem in 2014 Fusion models. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11673446

Jul 13, 2025Brakes

My brake fluid line ruptured and the dealer refused repair and told me that even if they did repair it I would take 2 days and wouldn’t provide a loaner/rental so I had took to a different shop that I had to pay out of pocket for and was done in an hour.and also this is a recall for my year make and model and isn’t on my vin

NHTSA ODI 11673107

Jul 2, 2025Lights

I left my car at Ford to do the recalls, they just called me telling me they won’t fix the brake light on because in Florida it doesn’t cover the repair, something about the humidity here. It doesn’t make sense for me, they were trying to charge me around 400 bucks to fix it. They will give me my car back without fixing the problem. My car is at Matthews-Currie Ford in Venice.

NHTSA ODI 11670756

Jun 28, 2025Steering

Steering gear in rack in pinion grinding and felt like car stalled and steering went hard..no warnings or indications prior to..67,000 miles on Car …now there is a continuous grinding sound coming from steering wheel and Ford had a recall on 2014 Fusion but my car doesn’t show any …afraid steering may lock up without warning

NHTSA ODI 11669975

Jun 26, 2025Seat belts

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while wearing the driver's side seat belt, the seat belt failed to retract and was locked. The contact stated that the failure mostly occurred after the vehicle had been parked outside in extreme heat, but the seat belt operated as needed in the morning after the vehicle had been parked in the garage overnight. The contact was unable to secure herself inside the vehicle using the seat belt. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V875000 (Seat belts); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11669423

Jun 17, 2025Latches & locks

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front driver's side door latch failed to operate as intended and the door failed to close securely. The contact stated that due to the failure the vehicle was driven to work with an open door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the front driver's door latch was inoperable. The contact was informed that the front driver's door latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that a week later, the rear passenger's door latch failed to latch as intended. The vehicle was scheduled to be inspected. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V775000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,198.

NHTSA ODI 11667379

Jun 9, 2025Electrical systemEngineFuel system

I had multiple coolant leaks in the pass and I have to constantly replace the hose about every 2000-3000 miles Also my screen went out in my dashboard causing me to not be able to make any audio changes or station adjustments in my car Lastly whenever I get ready to increase my speed my car jerks back

NHTSA ODI 11665681

Jun 6, 2025Steering

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound and the steering wheel seized. The "Service Advancetrac" message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11665268

May 16, 2025Body & structure

Driving down the road and the trunk popped open on its own. It has happened multiple times while driving. The trunk will just open up on its own without pushing the button or anything.

NHTSA ODI 11661369

May 15, 2025Steering

On May 15, 2025 I experience a loss of power steering assist in my vehicle due to steering gear bold corrosion. There is a recall for this exact same issue, 19S26/19V632, issued on 2019-10-11, however, Ford is telling me my VIN number is not included in this recall. They are also claiming this problem was fixed as part of their recall 19R02 back in 2015. As part of the more recent recall, the remedy calls for replacing the bolts and applying a corrosion inhibitor, but they obviously did not do when fixing recall 19R02 back in 2015.

NHTSA ODI 11661266

May 10, 2025Steering

I currently have no open recalls on my vehicle however I feel as though my vehicle is apart of the the national recall involving the steer column. My vehicle jerks at high speeds randomly and I sometimes lose control. This issue has been seen by multiple mechanics and they’ve done numerous inspections but can’t find the problem. They only tell me they think it may fix the issue but none are certain. I’ve gotten two wheel alignments within a year and each time I’m recommended a wheel alignment by a different mechanic. I’ve bought several tires of this issue because the wear on my tires keeps wearing out and causing my tires to blow out. I believe it involves the national recall.

NHTSA ODI 11660105

May 9, 2025Steering

Around [XXX], I began experiencing issues with the electric power steering system in my 2014 Ford Fusion. The steering became noticeably stiff and difficult to turn, especially at low speeds. A warning message appeared on the dashboard — something like “Service Trac” or a similar alert. Despite the warning and steering difficulty, I was able to continue driving the vehicle for about a week, but it became increasingly unsafe and physically demanding to steer. The vehicle has approximately 138,000 miles and was purchased from a dealership in Michigan just a few months ago. The issue has not been inspected by a Ford dealer, but an independent service center diagnosed the problem as a failure of the electric power steering system. I was quoted $2,400 for a new part or around $1,000 for a used one, not including labor. I checked my VIN using Ford’s official site and confirmed there are no open recalls or Customer Satisfaction Programs for the steering system on this vehicle. However, this issue appears to match the symptoms described in Ford recall 19V632000, which applies to some 2014 Fusions with the same steering design. My vehicle appears to be excluded from that recall. Given the widespread nature of this defect and the serious safety risk it poses, I believe the recall should be expanded to include more affected VINs. This failure could easily result in loss of control at higher speeds and represents a hazard to both occupants and others on the road. Thanks for your time [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11660005

Apr 25, 2025SteeringSuspensionWheels

Power steering rack and pinion

NHTSA ODI 11656669

Apr 25, 2025Electrical systemDriver assistance

Nothing on my steering wheel that controls dash works

NHTSA ODI 11656670

Apr 25, 2025Seat belts

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion Energi. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s and driver’s side seat belts failed to latch securely. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11656743

Apr 11, 2025Steering

While driving on highway, my 2014 Ford Fusion suddenly reported loss steering power and it was requiring a greater steering effort to make a small turn. I have to stop unexpectedly on highway. This incident reminded me that a day or two, I started to feel some roughness while turning in low speed locally. But it didn't affect driving.

NHTSA ODI 11654107

Apr 9, 2025Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle idled and then stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader to diagnose the vehicle. The contact filled the coolant reservoir and noticed that the coolant was leaking out. There was coolant intrusion into the cylinder, causing engine failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and confirmed that there was coolant intrusion into the block head. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 23-2223. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,135.

NHTSA ODI 11653643

Apr 7, 2025SteeringLane DepartureElectrical system

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while leaving a parking lot at approximately 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact turned off the vehicle and waited for a while before restarting the vehicle. The contact restarted the vehicle 3 times before being able to turn the steering wheel; however, the power steering functionality remained inoperable. The contact stated that the Service Advancetrac, Lane Keep Assis system malfunction, Hill Start Assist Not Available, Steering Assist Fault, and Service Required messages were displayed on the instrument panel. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer suggested that the contact take the battery to be tested. The battery was tested and there was no failure found with the battery. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11653101

Mar 26, 2025Transmission & drivetrain

The transmission is idle high and hard and yes it is available for inspection My safety and the safety of other is the car jerks and it accelerate unvoluntary Yes it was confirmed by a certified mechanic No it have not been inspected my manufacturer or others No there is no warning lights or messages that prior to failure

NHTSA ODI 11650750

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Working with the data? Download all 1,347 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 2014 Ford Fusion Energi verdict →