Is the 2010 Ford Fusion a bad year?
5,128 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 892, 13× a quiet Fusion year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 36k–71k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 100 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 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 51,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 892 (17%) | 36k–71k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 793 (15%) | 40k–67k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 787 (15%) | 41k–74k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 705 (14%) | 45k–81k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| WheelsSTANDS OUT | 143 (3%) | 22k–106k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 1,662 (32%) | 76k–130k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 324 (6%) | 43k–95k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 87 (2%) | 50k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 34 (1%) | 48k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 25 (0%) | 2k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 12 (0%) | 37k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 591 (12%) | 56k–120k miles · ahead | — |
| Brakes | 548 (11%) | 74k–145k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Stability control | 144 (3%) | 62k–123k miles · ahead | — |
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 51,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 5,128 complaints: 122 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 62 report an injury · 96 say the car was towed.
29 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
I previously sent a complaint because my car kept stalling, wrench light would come on, but when I turned car off then turned on, it would run, but then they couldn't get the codes.
While driving my car suddenly went into shut down mode. A wrench symbol showed on panel. I was able to turn into a drive way and after turning the vehicle off and back on the wrench went off and the car ran normal.
Vehicle had no throttle response, and had to coast to a stop. Incident happened many times prior to the date shown, but did not have specific date and mileage.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 51,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2010 Ford Fusion: 13
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 parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. 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.
In the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing may deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out. If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event 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, 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 vehicles have fuel vapor canisters whose purge valves may not operate properly resulting in abnormal pressure changes in the fuel tank. 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 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.
The wheel studs may fracture, potentially causing a wheel to separate. 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 park rod guide retention pin may not have been properly installed which fails to conform to the requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "Theft protection and rollaway prevention". A vehicle parked without an engaged park pawl and without an applied parking brake may have unintended movement which may cause a crash.
These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 202, "Head restraint." The recliner gear plate teeth may be out of dimension specification which could result in limited pawl to gear plate tooth engagement. In the event of a crash, the seatback and head restraint may move rearward, increasing the risk of injury.
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: 53
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Ford Fusion. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A…
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0030 and/or P0130
2014 escape, 2010-2014 fusion, 2012-2014 edge, explorer, 2013-2014 taurus: Lincoln 2013-2014 mkt,mkz: Mercury 2009- 2011 mariner, 2010-2011 milan
In valve body, a worn solenoid pressure regulator valve has diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0735 stored and indication of repair history was the valve body was…
NHTSA defect investigations: 10
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
Power Steering Failure
Power Steering Failure
Electric power steering failure
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Neighbouring years
2009 Fusion: 1,023 complaints, keep it · 2011 Fusion: 2,795 complaints, keep it.
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 2010 Ford Fusion a bad year?
5,128 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 892, 13× a quiet Fusion year. At 51,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 36k–71k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 100 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Fusion?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (892), speed control (793), engine (787), fuel system (705), wheels (143). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 36k–71k miles.
How many recalls does the 2010 Ford Fusion have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-158), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-081), Air bags (NHTSA 21E013000), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-904) 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.