2011 Ford Fusion: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2011 Ford Fusion: 7 recalls, 2788 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.

Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Wheels Vehicle recall #11V574000 · 2011 · 128,616 vehicles
What's wrong: The wheel studs May fracture, potentially causing a wheel to separate.
Why it matters: While driving, multiple stud fractures could occur at the wheel location, and the operator May experience vehicle vibration and/or wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about January 24, 2012.
Steering Vehicle recall #15V340000 · 2015 · 393,623 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l engine and Lincoln mkz hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford taurus, Ford flex, Lincoln mks, and Lincoln mkt vehicles equipped with a 3.5l gtdi engine and 2013 Ford taurus, Ford flex, Lincoln mks, and Lincoln mkt vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that May shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor…
Why it matters: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The 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 be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the pscm inspection, the pscm software…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #15V793000 · 2015 · 411,205 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have fuel vapor canisters whose purge valves May not operate properly resulting in abnormal pressure changes in the fuel tank.
Why it matters: The pressure changes May cause the tank to crack and leak fuel. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The 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 canister purge valve (cpv). The fuel tank will be inspected for cracks. The cpv and fuel tank will be…
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V384000 · 2016 · 1,892,343 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford ranger, edge and Lincoln mkx vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford fusion, Mercury milan and Lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford gt vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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 mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will…
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V001000 · 2019 · 782,384 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford ranger and Mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford fusion and Lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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 recall began February 13, 2019.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #21V081000 · 2021 · 1,067 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles May be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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, 2021.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V158000 · 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver's side air bag inflator May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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 passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #14E028000 · 2014 · 82,579 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected floor mats May move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Why it matters: The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014.
Airbags, Airbags Equipment recall #21E013000 · 2021 · 249 vehicles
What's wrong: The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford mustang and mustang gt500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln mkz, 2010-2012 Ford fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury milan, 2007-2011 Ford ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln mkx vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 10 mention a fire, 46 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (1430): the most common themes are steering problems (1378), warning light on (405).
- Airbags (330): the most common themes are warning light on (18), deploys unexpectedly / inflator (14).
- Engine (276): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (124), warning light on (110).
- Transmission & drivetrain (268): the most common themes are warning light on (106), stalls / loses power (96), hard / delayed shifting (88).
The 2011 Ford Fusion has 2788 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 15 Fusion model years for complaints (1.9× the average Fusion year). Complaints peaked in 2013 (445 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 72,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (5130 complaints, 11 recalls), 2012 (2516 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 32 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 24 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 Ford Fusion.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2011 Ford Fusion have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2011 Ford Fusion, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2011 Ford Fusion problems?
Owners have filed 2788 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (1430), airbags (330), engine (276).
What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford Fusion get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 7 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2011 Ford Fusion repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.