Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 1,022 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Ford Fusion, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 430 | 42% |
| Air bags | 315 | 31% |
| Service brakes | 45 | 4% |
| Structure | 24 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 1% |
| Air bags | 14 | 1% |
| Engine | 11 | 1% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Dear NHTSA, The braking system failed which was covered by Ford Safety Recall 19S54 with NHTSA campaign #19V904000 at 37,750 miles. After research and finding the label of the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit still on the
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for brake repairs, and after the repairs, the brake pedal felt spongy. The independent mechanic performed furt
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), but the failure occurred. When the vehicle was retrieved from the dealer, the contact was
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The ABS warning light came on while driving, and the brakes began to feel unsafe during normal stops. I later learned there is an open recall for the ABS module on my vehicle. When I took it to the dealership, they refus
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
My car's brake pedal started not working properly. When trying to brake, the brake pedal goes down further than what it is supposed to and it takes longer than normal to brake, causing almost wrecks. It happens suddenl
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I have recall 19S54 and called Ford. They made an appointment with Downtown Ford, Charleston, WV. The dealership said ford declined my recall repair due to not being able to get their machines to get any codes from my ca
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I have noticed for some time in our 2009 Ford Fusion purchased used that the brake travel was longer than it should be. This results in the need to anticipate braking quicker and react faster to allow appropriate time t
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 35-45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was slow to respond. The check brakes system message was displayed. The ABS warning lig
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2009 Ford Fusion. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 pass
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as
Risk: 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
Fix: 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
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. 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
Risk: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the HCU will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve con
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Vir
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Owners ma
| Reliability raw | 47 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 63 | average |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 100 | excellent |
| Performance | 64 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 1,022 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 430 of them (42%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 47/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 63/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.