2011 Ford Fusion
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2011 models.

- Class
- Midsize Cars
- Body styles
- S/Se/Sel 4cyl 4dr Sedan, Sel AWD / Sport / Hybrid 4dr Sedan, Sel V6 4dr Sedan
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Regular Gasoline, FFV
- MPG (best)
- 38 combined · 41 city / 35 hwy
- Length
- 190.2 in
- Curb weight
- 3,285–3,638 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 7 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 38 MPG combined — 64% better than the average 2011 midsize car (23.2 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Many owner complaints2,065 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 149 for similar models — most often about the steering.
- "Do not drive" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 29 similar 2011 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2011 Ford Fusion is a midsize car offered with 3 engines (2.5L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl and 3.5L 6-cyl), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 190 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 108-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,285 lb (S/Se/Sel 4cyl 4dr Sedan).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 38 MPG combined (41 city / 35 highway), 64% better than the 2011 midsize car average of 23.2 MPG, for an estimated $1,750 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 7 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 2065 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the steering.
What changed for 2011
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2010 Fusion — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2010; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2010 Fusion →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/Se/Sel 4cyl 4dr Sedan | 190.2 in | 72 in | 57.1 in | 107.5 in | 61.4 / 61 in | 3,285 lb | 60/40 |
| Sel AWD / Sport / Hybrid 4dr Sedan | 190.2 in | 72 in | 57.1 in | 107.5 in | 61.4 / 61 in | 3,638 lb | 59/41 |
| Sel V6 4dr Sedan | 190.2 in | 72 in | 57.1 in | 107.5 in | 61.4 / 61 in | 3,446 lb | 60/40 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion Hybrid FWD Hybrid | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 41 / 35 / 38 | +64% | $1,750 | 234 |
| Fusion FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 32 / 26 | +12% | $2,600 | 342 |
| Fusion S FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 25 | +8% | $2,700 | 355 |
| Fusion FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 29 / 24 | +3% | $2,800 | 370 |
| Fusion FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 24 | +3% | $2,800 | 370 |
| Fusion FWD FFV FFV | 3.0L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | -1% | $2,900 | 386 |
| Fusion FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -9% | $3,200 | 423 |
| Fusion AWD FFV FFV | 3.0L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 20 | -14% | $3,350 | 444 |
| Fusion AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | -18% | $3,550 | 468 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2011 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2011 Ford Fusion.
Similar 2011 midsize cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Ford Fusion (this car) | 38 MPG | Not rated | 7 |
| 2011 Ford Mustang | 23 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2011 Honda Accord | 26 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
| 2011 Toyota Camry | 33 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2011 Chevrolet Camaro | 22 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2011 Nissan GT-R | 17 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2011 Dodge Charger | 21 MPG | Not rated | 12 |
Recalls (7)
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Mar 10, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V158000 · 2,602,668 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Feb 16, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V081000 · 1,067 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jan 7, 2019 Do not drive
NHTSA campaign 19V001000 · 782,384 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 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 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or 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 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY 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. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · May 31, 2016 Do not drive
NHTSA campaign 16V384000 · 1,892,343 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank · Nov 24, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V793000 · 411,205 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured July 21, 2008, to March 4, 2011, and 2010-2011 Mercury Milan vehicles manufactured July 23, 2008, to December 10, 2010. The affected vehicles have fuel vapor canisters whose purge valves may not operate properly resulting in abnormal pressure changes in the fuel tank.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Steering › Electric Power Assist System · Jun 2, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V340000 · 393,623 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs · Dec 7, 2011
NHTSA campaign 11V574000 · 128,616 vehicles
- Problem
- FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 FORD FUSION AND MERCURY MILAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH STEEL WHEELS AND BUILT FROM APRIL 1, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2009, AND FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009, THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, 2010. THE WHEEL STUDS MAY FRACTURE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A WHEEL TO SEPARATE.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Not every 2011 Ford Fusion is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2011 Ford Fusion buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Safety-critical recall. At least one recall carries a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Do not buy until the VIN shows it was repaired.
- Steering — 1,153 owner reports. Turn lock-to-lock while parked and on the road; listen for noises and feel for heavy or loose steering.
- Air Bags — 359 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Service Brakes — 177 owner reports. Brake firmly from speed; check for pulling, pulsing pedal or ABS warning light.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 76,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Hybrid system. Check for hybrid-system warning lights and ask whether the high-voltage battery has been replaced or is still under warranty.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Fusion. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Fusion years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Fusion | 42 | 191.7 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 235 |
| 2019 Fusion | 42 | 191.7 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 473 |
| 2018 Fusion | 42 | 191.7 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 509 |
| 2017 Fusion | 42 | 191.7 in | Not rated | 4 | 1,204 |
| 2016 Fusion | 41 | 191.7 in | Not rated | 13 | 1,731 |
| 2015 Fusion | 41 | 192.1 in | Not rated | 14 | 1,065 |
| 2014 Fusion | 41 | 192.1 in | Not rated | 20 | 1,376 |
| 2013 Fusion | 41 | 192.1 in | Not rated | 20 | 1,803 |
| 2012 Fusion | 38 | 190.2 in | Not rated | 5 | 2,196 |
| 2010 Fusion | 39 | 190.2 in | Not rated | 11 | 3,483 |
| 2009 Fusion | 23 | 190.2 in | Not rated | 6 | 931 |
| 2008 Fusion | 23 | 190.2 in | Not rated | 5 | 1,182 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Ford. How we calculate this →