2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid: jerking or lurching

Filed Nov 9, 2022 · Engine · 55,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering and jerking inadvertently. The accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot. The contact stated that the vehicle went into LIMP mode and emitted abnormal rattling sounds while shuddering. The contact turned off the vehicle for a moment. The contact stated that as she restarted the vehicle, the vehicle responded as needed and she was able to continue driving. However, four months later the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle actuator was stuck in the closed position, and the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact notified the local dealer and another unknown dealer who referred her to the federal safety agency hotline. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Filed Mar 26, 2019 · Brakes · 73,650 miles · FL

Driving in city traffic, probably about 25 MPH and went to brake as someone merged into my lane but pedal went to the floor with no resistance. Warning lights went off on the dash regarding brake failure and ABS and advance trac. I was able to pull the emergency brake and move into the middle turn lane to avoid hitting the car in front of me. From that point on brakes ceased to function reliably--sometimes jerking to an almost stop and then nothing, sometimes just nothing, had to continue to use the emergency brake to get home and to the dealership in the am and it is basically a miracle that I made it safely. This is clearly not a mechanical part wearing out--like brake pads etc. But rather some kind of computer failure that happens without warning and is extremely dangerous.

Filed Jul 28, 2017 · Engine, Transmission · 46,000 miles · PA

Vehicle did a hard stall in the middle of an intersection on three separate occasions. It completely shut off with no warning. The first two incidents happened in the space of a few minutes. After the first incident the car was turned back on and there was no indication anything was wrong. Continued to try and drive it a short distance to get back to the parking lot. It than stalled again turning into the parking lot and a battery light came on. Battery was replaced but the vehicle stalled again a few weeks later during a turn with oncoming traffic. No warning, it jerked hard than just shut off. I'm not sure at this time what is causing it to stall. It seems to be happening when switching from battery power to engine power while making turns. Leaving the car stuck in the middle of the intersection with no engine power, power brakes or steering and oncoming traffic.

Filed Dec 18, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 97,400 miles · VA

When decelerating, my car sometimes "jerks", accompanied by multiple warning lights and--dangerously--a total loss of engine power. The car goes dead, in the middle of the road, and has to be restarted by removing the key and reinserting it. This could cause a collision both from behind (by someone who doesn't realize that the car has just "died"--especially at night), as well as the "jerk" potentially causing me to collide with someone in front. My dealership told me that ford had "put out a bulletin" regarding this issue, which called for the installation of a new wiring harness. And yet--inexplicably given that this is a safety hazard--this apparently "known" issue is not treated as a recall, with me being charged more than $500 for parts and labor. I've seen numerous reports of people with the same issue, many with less mileage than myself (97,000), so I'm shocked that a recall hasn't happened, especially given the danger that this issue poses to the car's occupants and those nearby.

Filed Jun 5, 2015 · Brakes · 56,280 miles · CA

In a shopping plaza went to stop at a stop sign and brakes became spongy and car was very difficult to stop where normally expected. When finally stopped it seemed to want to lurch ahead dashboard had a red " brake service" warning light and then a number a number of yellow warnings appeared. Happened again at another stop sign on my way home. Drove to the nearest dealer where car is serviced and they pulled a code c1012 memory continuous code. They could not recreate the problem and released the car back to me. In sep 2015 car had software updated after a " tool" kept appearing. After you turned off car they brakes seemed to work ok. I'm concerned if this happens on freeway.