Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2009 Ford Fusion — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2014 to Dec 2020
The most reported issue is service brakes problems (429 complaints). 65 complaints involved crashes. 5 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (7)
NHTSA Campaign: 21V158000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
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 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V081000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
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 death.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V904000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
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 close properly.
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 condition, replacing the HCU as necessary. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S54.
NHTSA Campaign: 18V046000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
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 may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
NHTSA Campaign: 17V024000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle 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. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V384000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle 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. 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 14E028000
Component: EQUIPMENT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 1019)
Service Brakes →11 issues
Your ABS warning light came on while driving, and your brakes felt unsafe during normal stops, especially on wet roads. There's an open recall for the ABS module on your vehicle, but the dealership refused to perform the recall repair without charging you for a new ABS control module. The ABS system continues to malfunction, making your vehicle unsafe to drive. The repair will likely involve replacing or reprogramming the ABS control module as part of the recall service.
Parts you may need:
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Your brake pedal sinks deeper than normal and takes longer to stop your car, sometimes happening suddenly without warning. This has caused near-accidents and creates a serious safety risk since there's no warning light to alert you beforehand. Even though Ford had you flush the brake lines under a previous recall, the problem persists—Ford acknowledges this is a known issue covered under a Customer Satisfaction Program, but your car is ineligible due to its age. A repair would likely involve replacement or service of the hydraulic control unit in the braking system.
Parts you may need:
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After your ABS brakes activate, your brake pedal becomes soft and spongy with longer stopping distances. Ford issued a recall (19S54) for a stuck valve in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU), but when you took your car to the dealership for repair, they replaced the brake fluid instead of replacing the HCU — and the problem returned. Even after a second dealer visit and a "customer satisfaction" repair, the brakes failed again and were involved in an accident. The HCU needs to be completely replaced, not just serviced.
Parts you may need:
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Your brake pedal is traveling too far down toward the floor when you press it, which makes it take longer to stop your car. This happened to you while driving at various speeds, and once caused your car to hit your garage wall when your husband was pulling in. Even after the dealer replaced your brake fluid and brake fluid cap under a Ford recall, the problem came back. The dealer did not replace the hydraulic control unit (HCU), which may be the actual cause. A proper fix will likely require inspecting and potentially replacing the HCU or other brake system components that control brake pressure.
Parts you may need:
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Your car's brake system has a faulty hydraulic control unit (HCU) that causes your brakes to feel soft and take longer to stop than normal. This is a safety issue that requires prompt inspection and repair of the brake hydraulic system.
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Your brake pedal feels soft and spongy even after multiple repairs including new calipers, brake discs, and a master cylinder, plus extensive bleeding. Multiple mechanics have been unable to identify the underlying cause despite multiple service visits, and they've told you the brakes don't meet safety standards despite the car being sold with a safety inspection pass. The issue may require a comprehensive brake system diagnostic to locate hidden leaks, air pockets, or other problems preventing proper brake function.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2009 Fusion is subject to recall 19S54, which requires changing your brake fluid from D03 to DOT 4. The ABS warning light is on, but the Ford dealership refused to perform the recall repair because their diagnostic equipment couldn't read any error codes from your vehicle. Ford is claiming this is a pre-existing condition, even though the recall states the fluid change should be done regardless of whether codes are present.
Parts you may need:
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Your brake pedal requires more travel (longer press distance) than normal before the brakes engage, meaning you need to brake earlier and more abruptly to stop safely. Ford issued a recall (19S54, later replaced by CSP 21N11) to address this issue, but the dealer informed you the service program expired in 2022 and your vehicle is no longer covered under it. The owner is requesting that Ford extend the coverage period for this safety-related braking issue. Repair would likely involve inspection and replacement of brake system components as specified in the recall service procedure.
Parts you may need:
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When your car hits a pothole or road hole and you try to brake, the brakes may become unresponsive for a moment. After a few seconds, the brake pedal travels much further than normal before engaging, requiring extra pressure to stop. The brakes eventually return to normal operation, and this issue only happens when the ABS system activates.
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Your car has been at the dealership for nearly a month waiting for a replacement hydraulic control unit (HCU) to fix an ABS recall issue. While waiting for specific parts can extend repair times, a month is longer than typical for most brake system recalls. The repair will involve replacing the HCU component that controls your anti-lock braking system.
Parts you may need:
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Your ABS (anti-lock braking) system has a defective hydraulic control unit (HCU) that should be covered under a Ford recall. The dealership acknowledges the unit is defective but is refusing to replace it, claiming it's not part of the recall—even though the recall documentation indicates it should be covered. You may need to escalate this with Ford or contact another dealership to get the recall service completed.
Parts you may need:
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Service Brakes, Hydraulic →2 issues
Your brake pedal feels soft and requires pushing it about 70% of the way down before your brakes engage, even though your car was supposed to have this fixed under a recall. The dealer says your braking system needs to be flushed and your rear calipers may need inspection, but the work hasn't been completed yet. Ford's satisfaction program for this issue has expired and they're not offering additional help. A complete brake system flush and possible caliper replacement or rebuild may be needed to restore proper braking feel and responsiveness.
Parts you may need:
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Your brake pedal may suddenly sink all the way to the floor without warning while driving at any speed, leaving you with little to no braking ability. This happens because the Hydraulic Electric Control Unit (HECU) fails and can no longer regulate brake pressure. The fix involves replacing the HECU, which is the electronic component that controls your brake system's hydraulic pressure.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,service Brakes →1 issue
Your brake pedal went soft and sank to the floor while driving without any warning light appearing on your dashboard. The dealer flushed your brake lines on the first visit, but the problem happened again. On a second visit, they diagnosed a failed HECU fuse (part of your anti-lock brake system), but the vehicle wasn't repaired. The underlying issue likely involves replacing the HECU fuse and possibly inspecting the brake system for air or fluid leaks.
Parts you may need:
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Engine →1 issue
Your transmission is having trouble engaging into gear and often requires multiple attempts before it shifts. When it finally does shift, your car suddenly jerks forward or backward without warning, regardless of which gear you select. This unpredictable behavior creates a safety hazard for you and other drivers, especially in parking lots, since you can't reliably control when your car will move or stop.
Parts you may need:
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Service Brakes, Hydraulic,air Bags →1 issue
While driving at 35-45 mph, your brake pedal became slow to respond and a "check brakes system" message appeared on the dashboard along with an illuminated ABS warning light. A dealer diagnosed corroded brake module and HECU (anti-lock brake) module components but couldn't complete repairs because recall parts weren't available at the time. The repair typically involves replacing the corroded brake control modules to restore normal braking response.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,suspension,wheels →1 issue
Your car hit potholes on the highway, which caused both your tie rods and tires to fail. This damage occurred from impact with road debris and uneven pavement.
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Latches/locks/linkages →1 issue
Your driver's side front door won't open, even though the lock mechanism still works—you can lock and unlock it, but the door itself won't budge. This happened at around 100,000 miles. The fix will likely involve replacing or repairing the internal door latch assembly to restore normal operation.
Parts you may need:
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Tires →1 issue
Your tires are supposed to be size 205/60R16, but you noticed rippling or bulging around the entire sidewall of at least one tire while driving. This is a sign of internal tire damage or failure. You'll need to have the affected tire(s) inspected and likely replaced.
Parts you may need:
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Engine And Engine Cooling →1 issue
Your check engine light came on while driving. A mechanic found that your exhaust manifold valve was stuck in the open position. Even after it was repaired once, the same problem happened again. The fix will likely involve cleaning or replacing the exhaust manifold valve to ensure it opens and closes properly.
Parts you may need:
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Related Vehicles
Other Ford Fusion years: