The Lemon Index2010 Ford Fusion.
The 2010 Ford Fusion is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 1,758 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 729, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 13 recalls, and it gets 19 to 39 mpg combined. The best Ford Fusion year is 2008.
Lemon alert. 7.3× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2008
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 5,639 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fusion year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 48K to 110K miles on the car (4,381 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 74K–130K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 36K–74K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 40K–68K miles
Recalls 13
- airbags 2021
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.
- airbags 2021
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 hu…
- airbags 2021
Please see Ford's recall report for the specific part numbers.
Show all 13 recalls
- brakes 2019
The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives.
- airbags 2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2018
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.
- airbags 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- fuel system, gasoline 2015
The affected vehicles have fuel vapor canisters whose purge valves may not operate properly resulting in abnormal pressure changes in the fuel tank.
- equipment 2014
The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.
- wheels 2011
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 FORD FUSION AND MERCURY MILAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH STEEL WHEELS AND BUILT FROM APRIL 1, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2009, AND FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1…
- transmission & drivetrain 2010
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, MILAN, AND ESCAPE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 27, THROUGH MARCH 26, 2010.
- seats 2010
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL …
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 64 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Ford/mercury/lincoln: some vehicles equipped with reverse sensing system (parking aid)…
- Illuminated mil or safety stop now message, or a no
- On the left hand half shaft seal, there is a fluid leak from the transmission because of wear…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedAnti-lock brake system (abs) malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated2026
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedPower steering failure2017–2024
- ClosedPower steering failure2016–2017
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $1650–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Car died at cruising speeds and almost caused an accident. I feel it is dangerous for me to continue driving this vehicle even though it is almost new. I was told this is the throttle body?
2010 Ford Fusion owner · NHTSA complaint 10533739
More owner reports
When driving along, the rpms shot up to over 4500 with no increase in speed or increase in pressure on the accelerator pedal. The cruise control was also on at the time.
NHTSA complaint 10425113
The cars throttle body light comes on shuts down car. I was getting on the express way going about 60 miles per hour when the car begins to shake and my car shuts down and luckily I was able to control the car to the shoulder.
NHTSA complaint 10542559
Quick answers
Is the 2010 Ford Fusion reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 7.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 729; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fusion year by this measure since 2010 is 2018.
What are the most common 2010 Ford Fusion problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (39%), speed control (38%) and engine (28%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Ford Fusion have?
13 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Ford Fusion get?
19 to 39 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2010 Ford Fusion problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 48,000 and 110,000 miles. The middle report was at 74,000 miles, from 4,381 complaints.
Does the 2010 Ford Fusion have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 39% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2010 Ford Fusion cost in fuel a year?
About $1650 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 Ford Fusion have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Ford Fusion year is better than the 2010?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works