2010 Ford Fusion: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Nov 1, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · MD

The throttle body failed. It is not available for inspection because it was replaced. While driving on a high-speed road, the engine felt like it shuddered, and the car lost engine power and would no longer accelerate. At the same time, the light shaped like a wrench came on. Our safety was therefore put at risk because we could now barely accelerate, and could easily have been rear-ended. The problem was confirmed and repaired by an independent service center. After doing the repair, the service center informed us that there was a Ford Customer Satisfaction Service Bulletin (13NO3) for this problem. We called Ford about this bulletin and were told that the Bulletin was limited to ten years or 150,000 miles, whichever came first. Even though our car is over ten years old, it only has 87,000 miles on it.

Filed Apr 14, 2023 · Engine · 147,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket was fractured and had caused oil to leak onto the spark plugs. The mechanic diagnosed that the valve cover gasket and spark plugs needed to be replaced. Additionally, the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the brakes, the calipers, and the tie rod needed to be replaced. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

Filed Dec 29, 2021 · Brakes · 220,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Fusion. The contact’s son stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the wheels shuddered, and the brake pedal went to the floor. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) replaced however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

Filed Oct 6, 2015 · Engine · 88,000 miles · NY

While driving I noticed the temp gauge was on high. No warning lights preceding this and now low coolant alarm. Turned a corner to pull off and before I could, check engine light came on and engine shuddered to a stop causing me to loose steering and brakes. With no warning enabling me to either check the car out, or safely get off the road. The water pump which is inside the engine failed. It has contaminated the oil now requiring an entire new engine. On searching google for the ford 3.5l v6 engine this appears to be a huge problem with these engines and its design. I cant imagine what would happen should it fail without warning at highway speeds.

Filed Sep 18, 2015 · Fuel system, Transmission · 66,700 miles · AZ

I was accelerating from a stop light. I have a 2010 ford fusion manual transmission 4-cylinder engine. I had just shifted into 2nd gear and was at about 15 MPH when the car suddenly stopped accelerating. The powertrain warning light came on the dash. The engine was idling - but I was unable to accelerate the car. Fortunately, there was no one behind me, and traffic was not impeded. I pulled to the side of the road and verified electrical systems were working. The engine felt rough. I turned off the ignition and let the car sit for about 15 seconds. I started the car back up, and it ran without issue. I searched online, and found similar complaints on other fusions. I took the car to a ford dealership and they replaced the throttle body as well as the fuel valve. Leading up to this, I had noticed some symptoms of shuddering, but, it coincided with a new tank of fuel. I planned to put a new tank of fuel in and see if the problem persisted. The car died prior to a new tank. This is a serious safety issue given that it can easily result in being rear-ended.

Filed Jun 1, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 51,285 miles · MD

I was driving at 50 MPH when the engine stopped working, even as I floored the accelerator. The lights, radio and A/C stayed on. I had to coast across several lanes of at least 50 MPH traffic to the shoulder. As I turned off the engine, the car rumbled and shuddered for several seconds. I waited a minute, then restarted the car and was able to drive. Ford covered the problem under an "extended warranty" for a throttle body problem, but I feel that my safety was in jeopardy by not fixing the problem before my car engine suddenly quit at high speed. In this area, having a car suddenly dive from 50 MPH to almost nothing can get you killed. The throttle body problem should have been covered by a safety recall, rather than waiting to see who survives the problem to take the car in for service.

Filed May 6, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 122,020 miles · TN

While driving on the highway the engine started to shake and shudder and I had to pull over in heavy traffic. Turning the car off, then on again helped for a bit then engine started stumbling again. Diagnostic equipment revealed error code p2111, throttle actuator control system -stuck open. Ford has a customer satisfaction campaign (13n03) for this issue that is not advertised to consumers unless they research this issue. This could have easily caused an accident as the car completely lost power when this event occurred.

Filed Apr 21, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 57,052 miles · FL

My husband was driving on the interstate highway at about 75 MPH and the wrench light came on and the car suddenly lost acceleration and would not accelerate with the gas pedal. It shuddered as he drove, and he was only able to drive at a very low speed. He was very worried that he would get hit by other faster cars. He got it towed to the closest ford dealership, and they replaced the throttle body. We are registering this complaint because we understand that this is a problem with ford cars generally.

Filed Nov 5, 2013 · Fuel system · 41,000 miles · MI

I was driving at about 40 MPH down a very busy main street in okemos, mi when my car jumped and a wrench light came on in the dashboard then my car decelerated rapidly and wouldn't move. My car stalled in the middle of this busy street...I was luckily able to coast into the nearest parking lot before it hit 0. When I arrived to the dealership I was informed that this was a throttle body failure. I have been reading that this is a common problem in ford cars from 2010 and I think this is extremely dangerous. Ordinarily at this time I would have been driving 70+ on the highway home from work it just so happened (luckily) that I needed to stop at the mall on my way home. I shudder to imagine what would have happened on the busy highway going 70 when my car stalled...it was scary enough at 40 MPH. I think this is a safety issue in the 2010 ford fusion that should be addressed. This could be deadly.

Filed Sep 23, 2013 · Fuel system · 46,000 miles · VA

Car went into "limp mode", with wrench lit up on dash. Could not go over 5 MPH, and the car was shuddering terribly. Took almost a month for ford to replace defective throttle body. The service folks indicated it was an "epidemic" across the us, and the issue was part availability due to the number of issues.

Filed Sep 10, 2013 · Transmission · 52,000 miles · NC

While going to first to second gear the engine suddenly shudders and I lost power and the "wrench" symbol on the dash came on. The engine was still running, very roughly, but would not accelerate. The brakes still worked and I pulled over. I was able to restart the engine with some difficulty. This has happened four times. The first time I thought I was in too low of a gear and stalled it. But since I realized it has only happened while accelerating and going from first to second gear.

Filed Aug 21, 2013 · Acceleration, Body · 74,000 miles · MI

Pulled out into traffic and my car lost all acceleration and began to shudder when I got it to the shoulder. Turned it off, and back on: no issue. Less than 40 yards down the road it did it again. Took it to auto zone, the only code that came up was that my "fuel door stuck open". Which is impossible, because it came with a "racing cap" I.e no twist-off cap. Drove fine for two months, then came back something awful to the tune of freeway 75mph to zero, at which point it went into "limp mode" and barely made it home due to numerous stalls. Just had to replace this defective throttle body on a 3-year old car. Ridiculous ford. Also, my drivers' side interior door handle broke out of nowhere.