Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here.
Owners have filed 1,954 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Fusion, and it carries 19 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 332 | 17% |
| Engine | 228 | 12% |
| Power train | 202 | 10% |
| Structure | 137 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 114 | 6% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 62 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 59 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 52 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 52 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 49 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
My power steering failed. There is no pump it's electronic so I can get it replaced without taking it to a dealer. There were 2 recalls for the Power Steering for this make and model, but my VIN number does not show up i
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while stopped in a drive-thru, there was an abnormal hissing sound coming from the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The brake pedal was dep
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
While driving my Ford Fusion, I experienced a serious transmission-related loss of propulsion. Leading up to the failure, I noticed that the engine RPM would fluctuate considerably and the vehicle appeared to have diffi
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes became inoperable. The brake pedal was depressed all the
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
Vehicle blew upper radiator hose due to blown head gasket. Vehicle has trouble starting and releases grey blue smoke via exhaust at all times. Has not been looked at by anyone other than an odot employee and myself. Hose
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low coolant warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact ass
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
My 2013 Ford Fusion equipped with the 1.6L EcoBoost engine started blowing thick white smoke (Burning Coolant) while I was driving on the freeway. Engine coolant was leaking and my card died right there, that had blown
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Engine lacks substantial power and has almost cause multiple collisions. Check engine light is on for a P0299 turbocharger underboost code Based off of my own research it looks like the part is the whole turbocharger a
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 19 recall campaigns for the 2013 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 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Min
Risk: 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 increa
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear w
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the tran
Risk: 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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter engines. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver t
Risk: 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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensione
Risk: If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began May 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332
| Reliability raw | 26 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 50 | average |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 100 | excellent |
| Performance | 62 | average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 1,954 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 332 of them (17%). There are 19 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 26/100 (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 50/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2013 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip, because the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here. Its overall ownership score is 61/100. 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.