no report yet
Power train: manual transmission
NewRisk. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
2013 Ford FusionProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,793 owner complaints about the 2013 Ford Fusion, most often about the steering. It is covered by 19 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-162 the manufacturer reports only 39% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 4, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Ford Fusion has problems
1,793 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
389Steering14 crash/fire/injury
386Engine80 crash/fire/injury
281Power train15 crash/fire/injury
164Structure13 crash/fire/injury
160Electrical system29 crash/fire/injury
121Fuel/propulsion system
101Air bags
100Seat belts
85Latches/locks/linkages
40021 other systems38 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 389 | 14 |
| Engine | 386 | 80 |
| Power train | 281 | 15 |
| Structure | 164 | 13 |
| Electrical system | 160 | 29 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 121 | 5 |
| Air bags | 101 | 25 |
| Seat belts | 100 | 15 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 85 | 3 |
| 21 other systems | 400 | 38 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
19 recalls
2013 Ford Fusion recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2025 Q1
Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q3
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Show 15 more recalls
repaired · 2021 Q1
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering…
repaired · 2020 Q4
Lever and linkage: floor shift
Risk. If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the…
repaired · 2019 Q4
Lever and linkage: floor shift
Risk. If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the…
repaired · 2019 Q4
Power train: manual transmission
Risk. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Seat belts: front
Risk. If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
repaired · 2016 Q3
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Air bags
Risk. The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing…
repaired · 2015 Q3
Front assembly: recliner
Risk. The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
no report yet
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
no report yet
Steering
Risk. This could result in impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. If flammable engine fluids come in contact with the vehicles hot exhaust system, a vehicle fire could occur.
no report yet
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. An improperly cured projector coating will become hazy through operation, over time, reducing the brightness of the low-beam lamp.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
74kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 296 steering complaints. 72% were reported before 100,000 miles.
48under 30k miles213under 100k miles83100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
29 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,950 – $2,600
Engine
16 owners mentioned a cost$576median
Middle half: $275 – $1,520
Structure
15 owners mentioned a cost$400median
Middle half: $282 – $500
Fuel/propulsion system
9 owners mentioned a cost$700median
Middle half: $300 – $1,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Fusion year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Fusion median. How we score
'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Ford Fusion safety ratings
2013 Ford Fusion 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Ford Fusion, and the recalls they led to.
- Door Latch FailureLed to recall 15V-246
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Electronic Throttle Body MalfunctionNo recall
- Door Latch FailuresLed to recall 20V-177
- Front Brake Jounce Hose FailuresLed to recall 23V-162
In owners' words
What Fusion owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My power steering failed. There is no pump it's electronic so I can get it replaced without taking it to a dealer. There were 2 recalls for the Power Steering for this make and model, but my VIN number does not show up in the search. You need to expand the recall. My Power steering failed
The steering wheel of my 2013 ford fusion S.E 2.5 Lm was tightly connected to the steering system until now. It has start wobbling over time and the problem have greatly increased as of 05\31\2026. I fear that if I can’t this problem fixed soon the whole steering wheel will disconnect one day. When…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while steering the vehicle at various speeds, an abnormal, grinding sound would emit from the vehicle without warning. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle was NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000(SERVICE BRAKES,…
Own a 2013 Fusion?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.