Small car · 2000–2021 cars

Ford Fusion reliability

The Ford Fusion fails 40.6% of first MOT tests, 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 183,058 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 47/100#16 of 63 small cars

Checking a Ford Fusion before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 40.6%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 3% more; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 183,058; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 5,500; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Ford Fusion needs careful checking when buying used. In 183,058 MOT tests from 2022 to 2024, 40.6% of first-time tests failed, against 28.4% for all cars. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage, it has 3% more MOT fails, and it ranks 16 of 63 small car models.

The 2011 model year performed best, with 6% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage. The 2002 model year was weakest, with 10% more MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage. Lights and electrics are the main weak point, with 29% more fails there than comparable cars. A Fusion can still be a sound buy, so check carefully: test the stop lamp, rear fog lamp and position lamp, and look for corrosion on the rigid brake pipes.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Ford Fusion ages

Each point is the share of Ford Fusions of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Ford FusionAll cars

Ford Fusion first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Ford Fusion	All cars
9	21.4%	28.8%
10	25.6%	31.8%
11	30.8%	34.6%
12	34.1%	37.3%
13	36.2%	39.5%
14	39.1%	41.1%
15	40.9%	42.3%
16	42.8%	42.9%
17	44.3%	43.4%
18	45.2%	43.5%
19	45.7%	43.4%
20	45.8%	42.8%
21	48.4%	41.4%

By year

The best and worst Ford Fusion years

2011 cars come out best and 2002 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Ford Fusion MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2012 Fusion	2,355	27.6%	2% fewer fails	54,030
2011 Fusion	7,838	29.9%	6% fewer fails	63,037
2010 Fusion	18,697	35.8%	4% more fails	67,542
2009 Fusion	28,528	37.6%	1% more fails	74,296
2008 Fusion	27,472	39.1%	0% fewer fails	79,047
2007 Fusion	25,502	41.4%	2% more fails	84,523
2006 Fusion	23,834	45.4%	9% more fails	88,183
2005 Fusion	16,688	43.3%	2% more fails	91,931
2004 Fusion	15,439	44.9%	5% more fails	94,262
2003 Fusion	14,489	46.3%	8% more fails	95,735
2002 Fusion	2,030	46.4%	10% more fails	96,059

Common problems

What fails most on a Ford Fusion

Its weak spot is lights and electrics: 29% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics23.3%29% above avg
Suspension12.2%18% below avg
Brakes11.1%6% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.6%1% above avg
Body, chassis and structure6.1%8% below avg
Tyres6%9% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks5%8% below avg
Steering3%2% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.7%60% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Stop lamp not working 7.11% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
2
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 4.36% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
3
Rear fog lamp not working 3.78% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
4
Position lamp not working 3.74% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.65% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
6
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 2.97% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
7
Ball joint dust cover no longer sealed 2.78% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, speeding wear, so the joint may need replacing later.
8
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.32% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Ford Fusion's MOT certificate most often.

Brake pipes corroded and greasy19.67%
Tyre worn close to legal limit14.05%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking12.59%
Brake disc pitted or scored8.12%
Coil spring showing some corrosion7.37%
Engine oil leak, not excessive7.32%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Ford Fusion

1
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
2
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
3
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
4
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Ford Fusion covers about 5,500 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol74.5%
Diesel25.4%
Hybrid0%
LPG0%
Other0%

Most common colours

Silver, Blue, Black, Grey, Red

Average engine size: 1.5 litres.

Compare

How the Ford Fusion compares with its rivals

Ford Fusion against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Ford Fusion	40.6%	3% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Venga	26%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 206	48.5%	20% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford B-Max	27.2%	22% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Fiat Punto	44.5%	24% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën DS3	46%	51% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Dacia Sandero	30.8%	62% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Ford models.

Questions

Ford Fusion questions, answered

Is the Ford Fusion reliable?

On MOT results, the Ford Fusion is about average: it fails 40.6% of first MOT tests, 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 16 of 63 small car models in our index.

What fails most on a Ford Fusion MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Ford Fusion are stop lamp not working (7.11% of tests), rigid brake pipe excessively corroded (4.36% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (3.78% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 23.3% of its tests.

Which Ford Fusion year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2011 cars do best (6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2002 cars do worst (10% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Ford Fusion do a year?

A typical Ford Fusion covers about 5,500 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Ford Fusion before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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