FaultScore

2011 Ford Fusion seat problems

14 of the 3,654 complaints about the 2011 Ford Fusion are about the seats — 0% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 53,000 miles.

D

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Seats 11 78.6%
Head Restraint 2 14.3%
Seat Heater/Cooler 1 7.1%

Seats across every Ford Fusion year

2006 10 9.3%
2009 10 9.3%
2010 35 32.7%
2011 14 13.1%
2012 11 10.3%
2013 27 25.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Indianapolis, IN Fire

SEATS

My driver heating element in my seat stopped working. I went to get it fixed and that’s when they noticed the charred heating pad in the seat had burnet makers on it. I have picture showing that the electrical part in the heating pad indicator has black marks around the wires and burnt through the pad and the electrical coils. The seat under the leather part had damage to it. This would have caused a fire. I’m very lucky. I bought the part on [XXX]. I just want to be reimburse from Ford Dealership the part cost. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11647497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbus, OH

SEATS

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON

NHTSA complaint #11376395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Grayslake, IL

SEATS

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED. TESTED ALL FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR BEFORE A DECIDED TO BUY IT. THE HEATED DRIVERS SEAT WORKED FINE WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I WENT TO USE THE HEATED SEAT ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, IT CAME ON AND ABOUT 30 SECS LATER WENT OFF AND HASN'T WORKED SINCE. THE PASSENGER SEAT WORKS FINE BUT NOT THE DRIVERS SEAT. IN CHECKING DIFFERENT FORD FORUMS, IT APPEARS THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT IN FUSIONS. THIS APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING IN ANY SITUATION. STANDING STILL, DRIVING OR RUNNING OR NOT.

NHTSA complaint #11374099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Blue Bell, PA

SEATS

THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT HEATED SEAT ISN'T WORKING . IT GOT REALLY HOT BURNING MY BOTTOM AND THEN SHUT OFF AND NEVER CAME BACK ON . WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON IT COMES ON AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUTS OFF . THE PASSENGER SIDE STILL WORKS .

NHTSA complaint #11321910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Jacksonville, FL

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH FRACTURED AND THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN PROMPTED. COGGIN FORD JACKSONVILLE IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD NOT ADJUST FORWARD.

NHTSA complaint #11080843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80 miles Springfield, OR

SEATS

MY DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT BEGAN TO GET WARMER THAN USUAL WHEN I WOULD USE IT. IT WOULD BECOME SO WARM THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT OFF BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING TOO HOT AND I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WOULD BURN ME. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THIS HAPPENING THE SEAT HEATER STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY ALL TOGETHER. I WOULD PRESS THE HEATED SEAT BUTTON AND IT WOULD ILLUMINATE FOR A FEW SECONDS (MAYBE 2-3) AND THEN SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN, AS IF SOMETHING WERE TRIPPING A FAULT. TODAY (1/12) THE SEAT DOES NOT GET WARM AT ALL BEFORE THE SWITCH TURNS OFF AUTOMATICALLY. IT IS APPARENT BASED ON RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD FUSION. THIS WAS HAPPENING WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO REVOERS OR DRIVE TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10944577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles South Field, MI

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEATS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA complaint #10822216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Holland, MI 1 injured

SEATS

MY 2011 FORD FUSION (PURCHASED IN THE FALL OF 2010) HAS A RECENT ISSUE WITH THE HEATED SEATS. THEY ARE GETTING SO HOT THAT IT IS BURNING ME. I HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AT THAT POINT. I HAVE LOVED THE HEATED SEATS THE WHOLE TIME I HAVE HAD THE CAR. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10780854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Murfreesboro, TN 1 injured

SEATS

FIRST AT ABOUT 42000 MILES IN OCTOBER 2012 THE DRIVER SEAT BECAME SO HOT IT CREATED 1ST DEGREE BURNS ON MY HUSBAND. THE SEAT HEATER WENT OUT SOON AFTER. NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THE SEAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AT 55000 MILES THE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE BECAME UNLATCHED WITHIN THE DOOR AND STOPPED OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. WHAT IF I HAD A WRECK AND COULDN'T GET OUT? NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. I'VE HEARD IT'S COMMON ON THE FUSIONS. THE FRONT DOOR SPEAKERS WENT OUT SOON AFTER ALL OF THIS. AT 90000 MILES THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER WENT OUT. SAME BURNING HOT THING BUT THIS TIME NO ONE WAS BURNED. AT 95000 MILES THE SAFETY SYSTEM HAS NOW GONE OUT. IT FLASHES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR PARK AID AND A FAULT WITH THE CROSS TRAFFIC SYSTEM. I'VE READ THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SPEAKERS CAUSE THIS. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPEAKERS WENT OUT 2 YRS AGO. MAYBE THESE ARE CONNECTED. IT SEEMS THE WHOLE CAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH FUSES AND ELECTRICAL WIRES EITHER BURNING OUT WAY TOO QUICKLY. MY VEHICLE IS A 2011 MANUFACTURED IN OCTOBER OF 2010

NHTSA complaint #10763141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Plymouth, MI 1 injured

SEATS

THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT OVERHEATED AND BECOME SO HOT IT NEARLY BURNS THE DRIVER'S LEG . TO AVOID LEG BURN I HAVE TO TURN IT TO THE LOWEST HEAT SETTING. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF THIS, THE HEATED SEAT FAILED TO OPERATE. A MOMENT AFTER DEPRESSING THE HEATED SEAT BUTTON IT WOULD TURN OFF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE UPON WHICH IT WAS FOUND THE SEAT HEATING ELEMENT HAD A BURNT/BROKEN HEATING WIRE. THE FABRIC IT WAS WOVEN INTO WAS SEVERELY BURNT AND IT APPEARED A WONDER THE ENTIRE SEAT DID NOT CATCH FIRE AS RESULT. I HAVE KEPT THE BURNT HEATING ELEMENT ASSEMBLY IF ANYONE WISHES TO EXAMINE IT.

NHTSA complaint #10679853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oklahoma City, OK

SEATS

I CHANGED THE HEADRESTS ON THE FIRST LONG TRIP WE TOOK. MY FRIEND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CHANGED HERS AROUND WHILE I WAS DRIVING -- IT WAS FORCING HER HEAD FORWARD UNCOMFORTABLY. AS SOON AS I STOPPED FOR GAS, I CHANGED MINE AROUND, AS WELL. I AM NOT GOING TO CHANGE THEM BACK AND IT IS A SHAME -- I AM LEFT WITHOUT SUPPORT SHOULD A CRASH OCCUR. THIS IS NUTS. WHAT THE HECK WERE THE ENGINEERS THINKING? I NEED TO GET HEADRESTS THAT LET ME SIT UP STRAIGHT WITHOUT HAVING TO LOOK OUT FROM UNDER MY EYEBROWS WITH MY NOSE AIMED AT THE FLOOR! WHO WERE THEY ENGINEERING THE HEADRESTS FOR, PRAY TELL?

NHTSA complaint #10447438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Fishers, IN

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STEERED TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT HEAD RESTS WERE MADE TOO CLOSE TO THE HEAD, FORCING THE CONTACT TO SIT IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3200. UPDATED 12/16/11*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE BRAKING. UPDATED 01/19/12

NHTSA complaint #10434081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18 miles Barre, VT

SEATS

2011 FORD FUSION HEAD RESTRAINT TILTS TOO FAR FORWARD CAUSING CRAMPING AND PAIN IN THE NECK BECAUSE THE RESTRAINT PUSHED THE HEAD TOO FAR FORWARD. I HAVE ADJUSTED THE SEAT AND HEADREST VARIOUS WAYS BUT CAN NOT GET COMFORTABLE. MY CURRENT SOLUTION IS TO TILT THE SEAT BACK ABOUT FIVE NOTCHES TOO FAR BACK AND PLACE A PILLOW BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS SO THE HEADREST IS AN INCH OR SO BEHIND THE HEAD. NOT THE BEST SOLUTION, BUT WORKS FOR SHORT TRIPS. THE FLEET MANAGEMENT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS (THESE ARE NEW TO FLEET), BUT THE SELLING DEALER SAID THAT I WAS NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN. OTHERS THAT HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME CONDITION. FLEET'S RECOMMENDED SOLUTION WAS TO NOT DRIVE THE FORD FUSION, BUT TO USE THE CHEVY IMPALA. THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION TO THE HEAD RESTRAINT PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IF I HAVE AN INJURY (I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN INJURY JUST BECAUSE I DRIVE A CAR) I CAN GET A DOCTOR'S SLIP TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR AND BE REIMBURSED. SEEMS ONCE AGAIN A SUGGESTION THAT DOES NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BUT REMOVES THE PROBLEM FROM THEIR OFFICE. MY RECOMMENDATION IS FOR A HEAD RESTRAINT THAT HAS SOME FORWARD TO BACK ADJUSTMENT (ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT) AS IN MY PERSONAL VEHICLE WHICH IS A 2006.

NHTSA complaint #10416215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Levittown, PA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

2011 FORD FUSION. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS. CONSUMER STATES THEY EXTEND TOO FAR FORWARD OF THE SEATBACK WHEN THE SEAT IS IN THE POSITION FOR DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RESTRAINT WAS CONSTANTLY PUSHING HIS HEAD FORWARD. WHEN THE SEATBACK WAS IN THE FULL UPRIGHT 90 DEGREE POSITION, THE HEAD RESTRAINT ALIGNED WITH THE MIDDLE SEAT. WHILE PIVOTING THE SEATBACK ABOUT 5 DEGREES, TO THE DRIVING POSITION, THE HEAD RESTRAINT WAS STILL 1/3 FORWARD OF THE SEATBACK. THE CONSUMER STATED IF HE PIVOTED THE SEATBACK FURTHER BACK, THERE WAS NO SUPPORT FOR HIS BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10375898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2011 Ford Fusion problems

← Full 2011 Ford Fusion report