2011 Ford Fusion Problems, Recalls & Reliability

3,654 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Ford Fusion, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 53/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 90,000 miles.

3,654Complaints
53/100Trouble index
9Recalls
68,000Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2011 sits among all Fusion years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Steering 1,436 complaints (39%) · typically ~90,000 miles
“The power steering assist fault alarm comes on when I start the car and the power steering does not work.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Fusion
Airbags 332 complaints (9%) · typically ~99,300 miles
“Takata recall i need an airbag replaced due to recall. I also need the throttle body replaced due to recall”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Fusion
Engine 290 complaints (8%) · typically ~45,000 miles
“Driving up a hill when my engine lost all thrust, then the wrench and battery light turned on. Vehicle engine shut down in the middle of an intersection. I shut off the car and restarted it with the same end result. Took car to a mechanic and i now have to get my throttle body replaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Fusion
Transmission & drivetrain 268 complaints (7%) · typically ~46,365 miles
“Vehicle started leaking transmission fluid from the seal mechanic said it is a problem with this year ford fusion and there should have been a recall”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Fusion
Speed control 257 complaints (7%) · typically ~45,000 miles
“The wrench light came up on my car. It says it's the throttle control transmission. The car gave no sign or warning about this car throttle. The code coming up is p2111. I believe there was a investigation going on with my situation a few years ago. Is this a recall or something that can be fixed…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Fusion
Fuel system 236 complaints (6%) · typically ~51,000 miles
“Fuel tank is cracked and actively leaking fuel. There was a recall for this issue, clearly it did not fix the problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Fusion

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 2,759 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 68,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 42,600 and 105,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (9)

AIR BAGS 21V158000 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the…

AIR BAGS 21V081000 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17,…

AIR BAGS 21E013000 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014…

Fix: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford…

AIR BAGS 19V001000 2019 Do not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…

AIR BAGS 16V384000 2016 Do not drive

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 15V793000 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured July 21, 2008, to March 4, 2011, and 2010-2011 Mercury Milan vehicles manufactured July 23, 2008, to December 10, 2010. The affected vehicles have fuel…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle powertrain control modules and inspect the vehicle for any diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) for this issue and perform a leak test on the…

STEERING 15V340000 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will…

EQUIPMENT 14E028000 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number…

WHEELS 11V574000 2011

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 FORD FUSION AND MERCURY MILAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH STEEL WHEELS AND BUILT FROM APRIL 1, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2009, AND FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009, THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, 2010. THE WHEEL STUDS MAY FRACTURE,…

Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE DISC SURFACE FOR FLATNESS AND REPLACE THE DISCS AS NECESSARY. ADDITIONALLY, THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS.…

Federal defect investigations

Power Steering Failure EA17004 opened 2017, closed 2024
Electric power steering failure PE14030 opened 2014, closed 2015

Led to recall campaign 15V340000.

Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction PE13003 opened 2013, closed 2014
Floor mat interference with accelerator EA12009 opened 2012, closed 2014

Led to recall campaign 14E028000.

Technical service bulletins

55 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2011 Ford Fusion. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2011 Fusion TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2010peak 789 in 20132026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2011 Ford Fusion reliable?

The 2011 Ford Fusion drew 3,654 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 53/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).

What are the most common 2011 Ford Fusion problems?

The top reported problems for the 2011 Ford Fusion are steering (1,436 complaints), airbags (332), and engine (290).

At what mileage do 2011 Ford Fusion problems show up?

Owners most often report 2011 Ford Fusion problems around 68,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 42,600 and 105,000 miles.

Does the 2011 Ford Fusion have recalls?

9 recall campaigns apply to the 2011 Ford Fusion. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.