Is the 2013 Ford Fusion a bad year?
1,793 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 447, 7.7× a quiet Fusion year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 65k–118k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 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 89,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 446 (25%) | 65k–117k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 389 (22%) | 42k–105k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 164 (9%) | 40k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 142 (8%) | 47k–100k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seat beltsSTANDS OUT | 100 (6%) | 50k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locksSTANDS OUT | 85 (5%) | 45k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 281 (16%) | 69k–125k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 160 (9%) | 32k–95k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 73 (4%) | 29k–127k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 43 (2%) | 19k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 32 (2%) | 50k–99k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Stability control | 24 (1%) | 46k–104k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 11 (1%) | 32k–95k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Air bags | 101 (6%) | 18k–63k 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 89,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,793 complaints: 63 mention a crash · 91 mention a fire · 47 report an injury · 135 say the car was towed.
45 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Takata recall - august 2017 my car experienced the following: coolant loss well below the minimum level in the coolant bottle at the time of a cold start of the vehicle.
2013 fusion overheated on hwy, with no warning. Overheated light came on, car started to sputter and quite, I was able to pull off the hwy.
I purchased the car 4 months ago and discovered shortly after it was leaking coolant from a hose in the heating system.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 89,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Ford Fusion: 19
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak. 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.
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid. A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. 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. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position.
These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts. 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 effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. 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 risk of a crash.
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. 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 risk of a crash.
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak. 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.
A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil. If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail. If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, snow or water containing road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts. If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The coating on portions of the Restraint Control Module (RCM) may crack, and when exposed to humidity, circuits on the printed circuit board may short. 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 the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
The driver and passenger seatback assemblies may have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
The steering gears may be missing an internal retaining clip. If the clip is missing, components inside the steering gear may become dislodged inside the gear assembly. This could result in impaired steering, including the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Coolant system leaks may cause the engines to overheat and leak flammable engine fluids. If flammable engine fluids come in contact with the vehicle s hot exhaust system, a vehicle fire could occur.
The affected vehicles may not have had the low beam headlamp projector coating properly cured during its manufacturing process. An improperly cured projector coating will become hazy through operation, over time, reducing the brightness of the low-beam lamp. This may decrease driver visibility and increase the risk of a vehicle 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: 182
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Ford Fusion. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain 2013-2014 Model Year Escape and 2013-2016 Fusion Vehicles Equipped with a 6F35 Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Inspection and Protective Service Cap…
Some vehicles may exhibit a thumping/rubbing or grinding noise coming from the transmission
Some vehicles can now be disassembled to repair and clean any contamination that may have been the result of a differential or transfer shaft bearing failure…
Some vehicles may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Door Latch Failures
Door Latch Failure
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Neighbouring years
2012 Fusion: 2,518 complaints, keep it · 2014 Fusion: 1,334 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Fusion year
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Questions
Is the 2013 Ford Fusion a bad year?
1,793 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 447, 7.7× a quiet Fusion year. At 89,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 65k–118k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Fusion?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (446), steering (389), body structure (164), fuel system (142), seat belts (100). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 65k–118k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Fusion have?
19 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-376), Brakes (NHTSA 23V-162), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-413), Latches and locks (NHTSA 20V-331) 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.