AI Damage2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid filed 126 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 126
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 24% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 15% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 9% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 9% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 30 complaints (24% of all).
- Electrical system: 20 complaints (16% of all).
- Steering: 19 complaints (15% of all).
- Structure: 12 complaints (10% of all).
- Engine: 11 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 126 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Several unknown warning lights were illuminated during the failure. The failure caused the steering wheel to lock up, the brake pedal became extremely firm, and the accelerator pedal became inoperable. Additionally, the exterior lights shut off unexpectedly and the vehicle lost electrical power.
No prior warning lights or steering-related symptoms were present before the failure. Due to wet road conditions and the sudden loss of steering assist, I temporarily lost the ability to maneuver the vehicle normally and nearly collided with roadside structures near the river.
The factory-installed rearview backup camera on my 2013 Ford Fusion fails intermittently. When shifting into reverse, the display screen frequently goes black, shows a distorted or flickering image with multicolored lines, or displays an error message stating the camera is unavailable.
The contact stated that while her granddaughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver looked in the rearview mirror and noticed black smoke coming from the rear seats of the vehicle. The contact stated that the driver's sons were in car seats in the rear seats of the vehicle.
The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and approaching a stop, the vehicle jerked forward. The contact veered to the right to avoid crashing with another vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure.
The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The traction control and power steering assist warning lights were illuminated.
The contact stated that while her mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The steering assist warning light was illuminated.
On another occasion, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started shaking. Additionally, when the vehicle was in the park(P) position the vehicle continued to move inadvertently. The parking brake was applied to stop the vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,018 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Fusion Hybrid has 109 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 126, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 126. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (17%), steering or power steering problems (12%), door locks, latches, handles (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.