Traction Control complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1% | 81,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% | 41,000 miles |
| 2017 | 12 | 1% | 72,000 miles |
| 2016 | 29 | 2% | 73,000 miles |
| 2015 | 10 | 1% | 17,000 miles |
| 2014 | 39 | 3% | 73,000 miles |
| 2013 | 27 | 2% | 50,000 miles |
| 2012 | 86 | 3% | 83,000 miles |
| 2011 | 102 | 4% | 74,000 miles |
| 2010 | 155 | 3% | 87,000 miles |
| 2009 | 5 | 0% | 80,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 0% | 135,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 0% | 107,000 miles |
| 2006 | 5 | 1% | 100,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (electronic stability control and traction control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) 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 contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, she heard an abnormal clicking noise as she depressed the brake pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle kept moving forward. The contact started pumping the brake and suddenly the vehicle lost power steering assist and became very stiff. The contact stated that the brakes, traction control, and Hill Start Assist warning lights were illuminated. The contact let the vehicle coast to a stop and turned the vehicle off and on and the power steering returned. The contact stated that the brake failure had become constant. …
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electronic stability control (ESC) and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair, and it was determined that rodents had chewed the soy-based ESC wiring harness. The contact was informed that the ESC wiring harness and purge solenoid valve needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the engine needed to be cleaned due to rodent droppings and that mothballs needed to be placed beneath the hood to deter rodents from entering the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,546.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the traction control warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering gear had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (Steering) however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered because the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. 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 failure mileage was 108,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Upon returning from a long trip and approximately 3 miles from home, the steering wheel of the car began to vibrate heavily and as I turned a corner, the dashboard lit up like a christmas tree and I lost my power steering. The info on the dashboard informed me the vehicle had lost the power steering and traction control and I was to seek service immediately. By driving slowly, I was able to make it home steering manually. The dealer was notified immediately and they arranged to tow the car to the dealership. Two days later I was contacted by the dealership and informed the steering gear had failed and would need to be replaced. Because of the serious nature of this defect and the fact that I had just purchased the car new on 6/15/15, I requested a replacement vehicle but was told Ford would not do that. I contacted Ford corp. And my case was turned over to the regional mgr. …
Started car and several warnings popped up on display... Something about "hill assist" not available, "steering assist fault service required", and "service advancetrac". Steering wheel felt like it was still locked... Turns out it was just extremely difficult to turn. I'm 6'3" 200+ lbs. If it's difficult for me to turn, it would be impossible for most people. If this had failed while the car was in motion, someone could have been seriously injured or worse. Ford had this same problem on 2011-2012 fusions and issued a recall and now it's still happening on 2015 models. This needs to be recalled immediately as Ford never really fixed the problem. …
I avoided another vehicle that cut me off on the expressway by honking the horn, slamming on the brakes and quickly changing lanes. As soon as I maneuvered into an empty lane, my vehicles instrument panel went dark, the horn stopped sounding, all gauges went to zero and the car lost all electric power (including steering assist) and the engine stumbled. After a second or two everything on the instrument panel reset. Once everything came back on, the engine was on a reduced power mode and pushing the accelerator to the floor did not make the car accelerate. With the vehicle rapidly loosing speed, I was able to steer the vehicle into the shoulder of the expressway. I shifted the vehicle into neutral and turned the car off by moving the key to "accessory" and then restarted the vehicle. Once restarted, I shifted back into drive and depressed the accelerator. …
Car was attempting to park when this happened: 2013-16 model year Ford Fusion and 2013-14 Ford escape vehicles to replace shifter cable bushings. On affected vehicles, the bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission May detach from the transmission. A degraded shifter cable bushing that detaches from the transmission May allow the transmission to be in a gear state different than the gear shift position selected by the driver. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to 'park' and remove the ignition key, while the transmission May not be in 'park,' with no warning message or audible chime. If the parking brake is not applied, a degraded shifter cable bushing that detaches from the transmission could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Fusion years have traction control problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2010 (155), 2011 (102), 2012 (86), 2014 (39) and 2016 (29) model years. Traction Control complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2010.
Is there a recall for Ford Fusion traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for any Ford Fusion model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Ford Fusion traction control problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic (asc) (2 mentions).
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.