When you’re in the market for a new or second-hand Fusion, you’re probably looking to get the most bang for your buck. In this blog, we’ll look at the most popular models but first, let’s answer our main question:
How many miles can a Ford Fusion last?
On average, a Ford Fusion lasts between 190,000 – 220,000 miles. A Ford Fusion needs to go to the garage for unscheduled repairs about 0.33 times per year, with a 12% chance of severe problems. Furthermore, Ford Fusion owners spend an average of $495,14 per year on repair costs.
Having said that, we’re certainly not done. Below we’ll first explain in more detail how many miles a Ford Fusion can last. Then, we’ll compare Fusion to its ten main competitors and other Ford models to see which is most likely to reach a mileage of 150,000 or more.
After that, we’ll also show you how much a Ford Fusion costs per year and which production years are the most and least expensive. Furthermore, we also discuss the common problems that a Ford Taurus can have for the produced models. Read on!
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How Many Miles Can A Ford Fusion Last?
To answer how many miles a Ford Fusion can last, we needed to do some research. For this, we’ve used the database of Autotrader.com. For the Fusion, we looked at several different factors.
We found while doing this research that there are currently 8,117 units of this car for sale. The Fusion with the highest mileage was a car that had 260,000 miles on the counter. This seems to be the maximum a Ford Fusion can drive before giving up. Furthermore, we found that a Ford Fusion can do around 200,000 miles in total on average. This gives the car a lifespan of 14 years and 10 months, with an average mileage of 13,500 per year.
Furthermore, we found the information that you can see in the table below. This table tells us how many miles the Ford Fusion generally seems to achieve before being sold. We found that 6.87% of the cars that were being sold had a mileage over 150,000 miles. This indicates that the car does seem to have a long lifespan.
| Amount Of Miles | Percentage Of Cars |
| Cars With 150.000+ | 6.87% |
| Cars With 100.000 – 149.000 | 19.67% |
| Cars With 45.000 – 99.000 | 48.24% |
| Cars With 0 – 44.999 | 25.21% |
19.67% of the Ford Fusion cars being sold had a mileage between 100,000 – 149,999 miles. The majority of the cars that were for sale had a mileage between 45,000 – 99,000. In total, this meant a percentage of 48.24%. The remainder of the cars (25.21%) had a mileage between 0 – 44,999 miles.
How Reliable Is The Ford Fusion Compared To Its Competitors?
Besides knowing how many miles a Ford Fusion can drive, it’s also valuable to know how the Fusion stacks up to its competitors in terms of reliability. Below we’ve created a table that compares the Ford Fusion to its ten main competitors.
To determine how reliable the Ford Fusion actually is, we went to Autotrader.com. Here, we selected Fusion, its ten competitors and subtracted the number of cars with a 150,000+ mileage from the total sample size. This gives us an overview per car of how likely it is to reach a mileage north of 150,000 miles.
The conclusion is that the Fusion seems to be the car most likely to reach a mileage of 150,000 or more. Only the Toyota Camry seems to get close to the Fusion with a percentage of 5,63%
| Model | Sample Size | Cars With 150.000+ Miles | % Percentage Of Cars With 150.000+ |
| Ford Fusion | 8117 | 558 | 6.87% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 6160 | 138 | 2.24% |
| Buick Regal | 1212 | 45 | 3.71% |
| Hyundai Sonata | 24895 | 486 | 1.95% |
| Subaru Legacy | 5002 | 181 | 3.62% |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 13502 | 641 | 4.75% |
| Kia Optima | 8895 | 214 | 2.41% |
| Nissan Altima | 26735 | 766 | 2.87% |
| Mazda 6 | 4538 | 159 | 3.50% |
| Toyota Camry | 32110 | 1808 | 5.63% |
| Honda Accord | 39231 | 1649 | 4.20% |
How Reliable Is The Ford Fusion Compared To Other Fords?
Below you can see that the Ford Fusion is fairly reliable compared to other Fords. Of the 8,117 Fusion cars for sale, we found that 558 of them had crossed the 150,000-mile mark.
This means that 6,87% of the Fusion cars will reach this mileage. This means the Fusion is not the worst (<3,5%) but also not the best (10%>) in terms of how many miles a Ford Fusion can last.
| Model | Sample Size | Cars With 150.000+ Miles | % Percentage Of Cars With 150.000+ |
| Edge | 19961 | 776 | 3.89% |
| Escape | 35265 | 1041 | 2.95% |
| Expedition | 7328 | 524 | 7.15% |
| Explorer | 32194 | 1139 | 3.54% |
| F-150 | 83845 | 4684 | 5.59% |
| F-250 | 17982 | 1873 | 10.42% |
| F-350 | 10639 | 1209 | 11.36% |
| Fiesta | 2757 | 54 | 1.96% |
| Flex | 2343 | 214 | 9.13% |
| Focus | 8141 | 522 | 6.41% |
| Fusion | 8117 | 558 | 6.87% |
| Mustang | 14294 | 276 | 1.93% |
| Ranger | 8980 | 371 | 4.13% |
| Taurus | 2931 | 336 | 11.46% |
| Transit Connect | 3081 | 121 | 3.93% |
| Total | 257858 | 13,698 | 5.31% |
How Much Does Maintenance Cost For A Ford Fusion?
On average, maintenance for a Ford Fusion costs $495,14 per year. Of course, the Fusion produced in 2019 and 2020 is the cheapest to maintain with annual spending of $340 and $155.
The reason for this is that these cars haven’t driven a lot of miles yet, which means major problems haven’t yet had time to develop.
The table below shows that the 2013 model is the most expensive to maintain, with average annual spending of $649. The reason for this is that those Fusion cars produced in the middle of the last decade have many major problems.
In this model, the transmission may need a complete rebuild at some point. The shock absorbers also have major problems, but we’ll discuss these later on in the article.
| Year Of Manufacturing | Ford Fusion Maintenance Cost Per Year |
| 2020 | $ 155 |
| 2019 | $ 340 |
| 2018 | $ 552 |
| 2017 | $ 562 |
| 2016 | $ 559 |
| 2015 | $ 616 |
| 2014 | $ 615 |
| 2013 | $ 649 |
| 2012 | $ 583 |
| 2011 | $ 537 |
| 2010 | $ 523 |
| 2009 | $ 495 |
| 2008 | $ 462 |
| 2007 | $ 439 |
| Average | $ 495.14 |
Ford Fusion Common Problems
At first, we wanted to present you with a list of common Ford Fusion problems divided by year. However, most Ford Fusions seem to be vulnerable to the same list of problems.
Therefore we’ve outlined the nine major problems that you’ll find in most Ford Fusions below. If applicable, we also stated the model years that have proven to be vulnerable to that specific problem.
NOTE: Before buying a used car, I always like to make sure the vehicle isn´t having any problems that you should be aware of. The easiest way to do this is by buying an OBD2 scanner. These scanners can easily be plugged into any car you’re interested in, and they’ll give you a rundown of potential problems.
Automatic transmission not shifting properly
The automatic transmission may develop problems. This can normally be solved by upgrading the software of the powertrain control module. If problems persist, the valve body may have to be replaced ($500 – $700), or the transmission must be rebuilt ($1,500 – $2,000).
Swollen Lug Nuts
Lug nuts swell and must be drilled out during tire rotation ($40 – $60).
Problems With The Suspension
Squeaking and creaking noises when the car is driven over bumps or while turning. Problems could include problems with the welding on the lower control arms.
A bump stop rubbing against a dry strut place can also cause these noises. This would mean that the strut assembly needs to be disassembled, the jounce bumper needs to be lubricated, and everything needs to be put back together again ($300 – $350).
Transmission Oil Leak
A worn axle shaft seal makes that transmission oil leak out of the left side half shaft area. The axle shaft and seal need to be replaced to fix this problem ($800 – $1,000).
This video might also give you some insight, especially for the 2009-2014 models:
Key Is Stuck In Ignition
The shifter knob or the shifter bezel is too sticky, which means they need to be replaced for the ignition to work properly ($80 – $100).
Coolant Leaks From Heater Core
In the pre-2012 models, the heater core tends to develop leaks. This is caused by electrolysis which means there’s voltage present in the coolant. This means the heater core needs to be replaced ($700 – $900)
CD-player Not Working
In pre-2014 models, the CD player may fail to read the CD or unnecessarily eject the CD. A mechanic can fix this electrical problem quite quickly, but it’s not something you can do yourself ($80 – $110)
Check Engine Light Illuminates
In pre-2015 models, the check engine light may illuminate because of a solenoid that’s failing. In this case, it’s normally the variable camshaft timing. The solenoid needs to be replaced ($80 – $110)
Trunk Won’t Shut Close
The reason for this is a trunk latch solenoid that’s stuck in the open position. The trunk latch will need to be replaced ($70 – $100).
Is It Smart To Buy A Ford Fusion?
If it’s smart to buy a new or second-hand Ford Fusion depends on several factors such as warranty, risk of problems, and depreciation. Let’s take a look at these factors.
First of all, it’s good to know that a new Ford has a warranty of 3 years of 36,000 miles. This means that each new Fusion will have its problems solved by Ford for no extra charge. Given that Fusions’ do seem to have a fair bit of problems, this could be a smart buy if you don’t want to have many financial risks.
However, when you buy a new Ford Fusion, you do have the problem of depreciation. After 3 years, the car has 59.45% of its original value left, according to caredge.com. This means you lose about 13,5% of the value each year in the first three years.
In general, we believe that it’s a financially smarter decision to buy a used Ford Fusion that has been around for 5-6 years. The reason for this is that the car has lost 60% of its value, which means you can pick it up for a good discount. Normally this car still has a good 8 years left at this point.
However, before you do this, it’s wise to have the car checked thoroughly. As said before, Ford Fusions can have several major problems that could cost you $1,000 or more.
Therefore, make sure that your potential buyer does not seem to have any problems and that it has received proper maintenance over the years.
Are you in the market for this Ford? Don’t forget to check out our extensive list of the largest Ford dealers per state!
How To Maintain A Ford Fusion
If you want your Ford Fusion to reach a high mileage, you’ll have to look after it. In general, this means following the maintenance schedule of the Ford Taurus that Ford has provided. This looks as follows:
- Change the oil of the car every 10,000 miles
- Rotate the tires every 10,000 miles
- Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles
- Replace the air filter every 30,000 miles
- Replace and flush the coolant every 50,000 miles
- Replace the spark plugs every 100,000 miles
- Replace the drive belt every 150,000 miles
- Replace the automatic transmission fluid and filter every 150,000 miles
Closing Thoughts
The longevity of a Ford Fusion greatly depends on several factors, among them maintenance habits, and driving conditions. But it’s a testament to Ford’s engineering that a well-cared-for Fusion can clock anywhere between 190,000 – 220,000 miles.
However, one must consider that not all Fusions are made equal. Depending on the fuel type the Ford Dusion utilizes the Fusion’s performance can vary significantly. The Fusion’s transmission is another vital aspect that affects its performance and longevity.
Remember, a car is only as good as the care it receives. With regular servicing, timely repairs, and a good understanding of your vehicle’s needs, your Ford Fusion has the potential to become a high-mileage champion.
Happy driving!
Sources:
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!