2011 Ford Fusion Problems: Steering (2,916 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2011 Ford Fusion is Steering (46% of 2,916 owner reports). There are 9 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Steering — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
What problems show up on the 2011 Ford Fusion?
1,347 of 2,916 filings named Steering (46% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Airbags (317 reports).
There are 9 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Wheels, Steering, Fuel system, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2010 has 5,627 reports on file; this year has 2,916. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
- Crashes 83
- Fires 10
- Injuries 48
- Deaths 3
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering (STEERING) | 1,347 | 46.2% | 39 crashes · 0 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 317 | 10.9% | 14 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 199 | 6.8% | 3 crashes · 1 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 179 | 6.1% | 6 crashes · 1 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 171 | 5.9% | 10 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 141 | 4.8% | 2 crashes · 1 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 136 | 4.7% | 2 crashes · 1 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 87 | 3.0% | 0 crashes · 4 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 52 | 1.8% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 356 | 12.2% | 7 crashes · 1 fires |
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 11V574000 was reported 86 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 15V340000 was reported 1,510 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 15V793000 was reported 1,131 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V384000 was reported 1,785 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V001000 was reported 2,736 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21E013000 was reported 3,507 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21V081000 was reported 3,507 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21V158000 was reported 3,529 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2011-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2011-Q2 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2011-Q3 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2011-Q4 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2012-Q1 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2012-Q2 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2012-Q3 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2013-Q1 | Owner reports | 40 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 95 | |
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 237 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 73 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 62 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 94 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 116 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 77 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 86 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 44 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 40 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 58 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 59 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 58 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 62 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 147 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 77 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 73 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 68 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 76 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 69 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 59 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 89 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 54 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 57 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 40 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 23 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 11V574000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14E028000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V340000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V793000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V384000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V001000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21E013000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V081000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V158000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA12009 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA12009 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE13003 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE14030 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE14030 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA17004 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 |
Safety Recalls (9)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Wheels, Steering, Fuel system, and Airbags.
-
Recall campaign 11V574000
Wheels
- Report date
- Component:
- Wheels (WHEELS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE DISC SURFACE FOR FLATNESS AND REPLACE THE DISCS AS NECESSARY. ADDITIONALLY, THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 24, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
-
Recall campaign 14E028000
Safety recall 14E028000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S07. NOTE: Vehicles built after October 31, 2010, while potentially equipped with the same floor mats, are equipped with a Brake Over Accelerator (BOA) feature that prevents simultaneous accelerator and brake application, allowing the vehicle to be safely stopped by pressing firmly and steadily on the brake pedal.
-
Recall campaign 15V340000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
-
Recall campaign 15V793000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle powertrain control modules and inspect the vehicle for any diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) for this issue and perform a leak test on the Canister Purge Valve (CPV). The fuel tank will be inspected for cracks. The CPV and fuel tank will be replaced as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S34.
-
Recall campaign 16V384000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy:
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
-
Recall campaign 19V001000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy:
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
-
Recall campaign 21E013000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
-
Recall campaign 21V081000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
-
Recall campaign 21V158000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Ford Fusion Complaints and Recalls by Year
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2011 Ford Fusion?
Owners named Steering most often — 1,347 of 2,916 reports (46%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2011 Ford Fusion?
NHTSA lists 9 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Wheels, Steering, Fuel system, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2011 Ford Fusion?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.