Is the 2009 Ford Fusion a bad year?
1,023 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Fusion years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Ford Fusion are in line with other Fusion years. Brakes and air bags stand out for this year: see below.
5th quietest of 14 Fusion years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Fusion owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 102,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 531 (52%) | 81k–130k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 359 (35%) | 65k–125k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 36 (4%) | 69k–132k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 33 (3%) | 30k–109k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 16 (2%) | 75k–130k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Wheels | 9 (1%) | 22k–107k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Suspension | 6 (1%) | 55k–108k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Stability control | 5 (0%) | 62k–121k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 42 (4%) | 60k–96k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 23 (2%) | 45k–95k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (2%) | 37k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Latches and locks | 13 (1%) | 60k–98k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 12 (1%) | 45k–82k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 9 (1%) | 26k–92k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 102,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,023 complaints: 65 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 25 report an injury · 33 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Business name: Ford motor company. Customer service division p.o.box 1904 dearborn, mi 48121 bus phone: 866-436-7332 email: website: Ford motor company.
Heard about a recall on some Ford vehicles over coolant leak I think my vehicle should be included in that my vehicle is leaking coolant but I can't tell where I have an 09 Ford fusion 2.3 li I 4 cyl.
I purchased the 2009 Ford fusion for my 16 year old daughter's first car. It only has 68k miles on it so I was confidence that it would be a reliable car.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 102,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Ford Fusion: 7
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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. 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 valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly. If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 15
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Ford Fusion. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan…
Replacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket SYNC/Navigation kit or modifying original SYNC/Navigation parts to provide…
Some vehicles may generate a vhr that identifies a concern with the brakes and suspension category indicating service is required due to a brake system warning…
The throttle body internal motor contacts may be contaminated, resulting in an electrical, intermittent, connectivity…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Extended Braking Distance
Extended Braking Distance
Floor mat interference with accelerator
Accel Pedal Interference - Acc Floormat
Neighbouring years
2008 Fusion: 1,353 complaints, keep it · 2010 Fusion: 5,128 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford Fusion year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All Fusion years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Ford Fusion a bad year?
1,023 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Fusion years. At 102,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Fusion?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (531), air bags (359), engine (36), speed control (33), steering (16).
How many recalls does the 2009 Ford Fusion have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-158), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-081), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-904), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-046) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.