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2010 Ford Fusion problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
38% of relevant owner complaints on the 2010 Ford Fusion are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 583 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).
Does the 2010 Ford Fusion have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 1,709 of 4,546 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Fusion concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (38%), and the largest group is filed under power train (894). For comparison, the 2011 scores 23%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2010 compares with other Ford Fusion years
Of the 11 Ford Fusion years with enough complaints to score, the 2010 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (38%). The worst is the 2018 (77%), the best the 2012 (14%). By volume, the 2010 drew 5,129 complaints (1,709 drivetrain), against 2,786 for the 2011.
Ford Fusion years to avoid and best years →
2010 · 2011 Fusion problems · 2012 Fusion problems · 2013 Fusion problems · 2014 Fusion problems · 2015 Fusion problems · 2016 Fusion problems · 2017 Fusion problems · 2018 Fusion problems · 2019 Fusion problems · 2020 Fusion problems
The rest of the picture on the 2010 Ford Fusion
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2010 Ford Fusion said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 1,709 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2010 Ford Fusion transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2010 Ford Fusion involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, MILAN, AND ESCAPE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 27, THROUGH MARCH 26, 2010. THE PARK ROD GUIDE RETENTION PIN MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION".
Risk: A VEHICLE PARKED WITHOUT AN ENGAGED PARK PAWL AND WITHOUT AN APPLIED PARKING BRAKE MAY HAVE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 28, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332 AND FOR THE…
11 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2010 Ford Fusion? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2010 Ford Fusion have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 1,709 of 4,546 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Fusion concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (38%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Ford Fusion?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2010 Ford Fusion is steering: 1,661 of 5,129 complaints (32%) name it, followed by power train (894) and vehicle speed control (793). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 38% of the relevant total.
Is the 2010 Ford Fusion reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 38% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Ford Fusion years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Ford Fusion?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2010 Ford Fusion involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total: 15V793000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: auxillary tank), 10V222000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Fusion years are better?
Among the Ford Fusion years we track, the 2012 (14%) and the 2011 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2010 (38%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-fusion
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.