Most common 2008 Ford Fusion problems
Share of the 1,353 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Fusion complaints by model year
Best Fusion years: 2006, 2007, 2020. Years to avoid: 2010, 2011, 2012. Compare all years →
2008 Ford Fusion recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal
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.
Remedy: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ 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…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 2008 Ford Fusion:
Extended Braking Distance
On December 20, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 16-017 to investigate reports of braking concerns in model year 2007 through 2009 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles.Complainants report that after an ABS braking event (caused by braking on a slippery or uneven surface) the brake pedal moved towards the floor and the distance in which the vehicle stopped increased…
Accel Pedal Interference - Acc Floormat
Unsecured mats may interfere with accelerator pedal return to idle. A heel blocker in the floor pan provides a platform that may lift an unsecured mat into contact with the pedal. Ford introduced new pedals as a running change early in model year (MY) 2010 vehicles. Analysis of complaints received by ODI and Ford show elevated rates of pedal entrapment incidents in MY 2008 through early 2010 production vehicles.
Tire valve cracking
On October 14, 2008, odi opened pe08-060 to investigate allegations of cracked and leaking snap-in tire valves in model year (my) 2007 vehicles manufactured by Ford motor company.the valves were supplied to Ford by topseal auto-parts, a subsidiary of the shanghai baolong automotive corporation in china.valves made by topseal for aftermarket sale were the subject of two recent safety recalls by tech international…
Extended Braking Distance
On April 18, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) 18-002 to investigate reports of braking concerns in model year (MY) 2006-12 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, and MY 2006-11 Mercury Milan vehicles manufactured with Continental Automotive System?s ABS hydraulic control units (HCUs).
Floor mat interference with accelerator
On May 27, 2014, Ford Motor Company submitted recall 14E-028 (Ford recall #14S07) to correct a safety-related problem with certain driver's side Ford optional all-weather floor mats sold for use in model year 2006 through 2011 model year Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr, and Lincoln MKZ vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant (HAP) from November 9, 2007, to October 31 ,2010.NHTSA testing determined…
What 2008 Ford Fusion owners say
Air bags all 638 →
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but went all the way to the floorboard and the vehicle hesitated to respond, causing a stopping distance delay. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the dealer inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the vehicle passed the valve condition test. The Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) was not replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that after the dealer completed the recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V024000 (Air Bags) the front passenger's side air bag material was protruding from the enclosure. The dealer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. …
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that whenever the brake pedal was depressed the brake pedal traveled to the floor. The failure mileage was 170,073. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Brakes all 542 →
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph the brakes failed and the pedal extended to the floor causing the vehicle to crash into a stationary truck. During the crash, the front end was damaged but the airbags did not deploy. No injuries were reported, no police report was taken and the vehicle was not towed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The contact was notified that the vehicle was included in the NHTSA campaign number 19v904000(service brakes) and 21v158000(airbags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable.The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall and the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but went all the way to the floorboard and the vehicle hesitated to respond, causing a stopping distance delay. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the dealer inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the vehicle passed the valve condition test. The Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) was not replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that after the dealer completed the recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V024000 (Air Bags) the front passenger's side air bag material was protruding from the enclosure. The dealer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. …
Body & structure all 82 →
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after the dealer performed the passenger's side airbag recall repair, the passenger's side dashboard and airbag compartment was separating. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the car was parked outside in the sun, the passenger's side dashboard nearby the air bag became deformed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 87,150.
2008 Ford Fusion engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Ford Fusion a good car?
Based on 1,353 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Fusion rates better than average: 49% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Fusion at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Ford Fusion?
The air bags — 638 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window. Next are the brakes (542) and body & structure (82).
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Fusion have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2008 Ford Fusion, the most recent from March 10, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Fusion?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2007 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2011 and 2012. See the full Ford Fusion years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Ford Fusion problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.