I am filing a complaint regarding Ford's refusal to perform an airbag safety recall on my 2011 Ford Fusion (VIN: [XXX]) because the vehicle has a rebuilt title. A rebuilt title should not automatically disqualify a vehicle from federally mandated safety recall repairs. I am unsure whether the airbags were previously deployed or replaced, and I am concerned about the potential safety risks. I request that the federal safety agency investigate Ford's refusal and determine whether the manufacturer is obligated to complete the applicable recall repairs regardless of the vehicle's title status. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2011 Ford Fusion airbags problems
331 complaints (12% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 93,400. 19 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 331
- of this car's complaints
- 12%
- typical mileage
- 93,400
- crashes
- 19
- recalls
- 4
Which part fails
- Frontal2
- Frontal: passenger side: inflator module1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Ford Fusion airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Ford Fusion airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
Recall number 21V158000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Recall number 21V081000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
Recall number 19V001000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Recall number 16V384000 · Recall details
What 2011 Ford Fusion owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Ihave?opntitle.2011fordfusionseflexfuel1oftheexpensivemachanicalreplace ,torepair/electronicassistshutofftomanualsteer:fordwillreplaceairbagrepair:driveable'runs:electronicpowersteringassistanceshutoff':drivable;repairpalsayonwed'.steeringassist/#VIN.too15years,forddealer,servicetellsmemilagew/yearsoldnoapplybut$.288.00.diagnosis{fordprocontactcenterofexcellence./diagnosis288.00-300.00/serviceman/submittapproval.phoneconversation/localfordcardiagnosis.;payforsteeringuptoaffordingcomputer.diagnosticshowscodes;heinhumournochargeduetocodefaults/{replace{fordrecalls;unsafetydrivingcarissues.,parkd.
2airbagsrecall,epas-steering 15n01,agencyrecall19v001000,.
The contact owned a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags); prompting the contact to schedule the vehicle for repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who refused to perform the recall repair, but the contact was unaware of the reason for the refusal. The vehicle was not repaired but remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was later informed that the vehicle was towed away and destroyed without his consent. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V001000 (Air Bags). The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact was able to drive to the residence by using manual strength to steer the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the doors and the windows had failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V081000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted, and the steering wheel unlocked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the failure was not able to be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the lug nuts and the studs had fractured and were replaced by a tire mechanic. The contact also stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the message "Check the Connection of The Fuel Inlet Port" was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 30-35 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality inadvertently while making a turn into the driveway. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was only included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags). Additionally, the manufacturer informed the contact the recall of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) was previously performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
Loss steering not able to drive.
Questions about the 2011 Ford Fusion airbags
Does the 2011 Ford Fusion have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 331 complaints about the airbags of the 2011 Ford Fusion, 12% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Fusion airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 93,400 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Ford Fusion airbags?
Yes, 4 recalls: 21V158000, 21V081000, 19V001000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ford Fusion have bad airbags?
The Ford Fusion model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (638 complaints), 2007 (615 complaints) and 2010 (591 complaints).
Other 2011 Ford Fusion problems
Steering 1,436Engine 290Transmission 268Acceleration 256Fuel system 237Electrical 203Brakes 194Driver assistance 106Body 61Wheels 49Suspension 29Lights 18Locks 18Seats 14Visibility 14Tires 4Seat belts 3
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