2011 Ford Fusion: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Aug 4, 2025 · Wheels · GA

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the front driver's side wheel lug nuts fractured, causing the wheel to detach and the vehicle to shudder. The contact decelerated to 15 MPH, and the vehicle stopped. The driver and the two children that were occupying the vehicle had not sustained any injuries. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 11V574000 (Wheels). The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. Additionally, the contact was informed that the recall covered steel rims however, the vehicle was equipped with aluminum rims. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who contacted the local dealer to confirm the recall details. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Nov 16, 2016 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · MO

While driving 70 MPH on the highway the car suddenly shuddered. The yellow wrench light came on and the gas pedal would not work. Forced to coast to the shoulder. Shut car off waited 30 seconds and tried to restart. Car started and wrench light went out. Was able to drive. Has happened repeatedly. I called ford and there is a customer satisfaction program 13n03. To address this but said they could only correct if the computer saved a code. Since this problem has thus far failed to trip my check engine light, it is not storing a code. I argued that it was unsafe for me to drive the care like this. They stated that ford does not recommend I drive the car and stated my only options are to take to dealership for diagnosis where the only hope is that they can drive the car and maybe the intermittent problem will luckily happen. This is unacceptable. They know the issue exists and is unsafe. I have read multiple accounts of this on the internet. How many more are required to trigger a recall?

Filed Feb 1, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 49,000 miles · MO

I was driving on the highway and all of a sudden the car seemed to start shutting down. I lost speed and could not accelerate even thought I was pressing the accelerator pedal. The whole car started to shake and vibrate violently making a sputtering noise. I was able to brake, slow down and stop to pull off onto the shoulder of the highway. The car would not stop shuddering until I turned the engine off. I waited 10 seconds, turned the engine back on and the car drove normally again. This happened twice more, one at 30 MPH and one at 60 MPH again on the highway. Then we took it to have the throttle body replaced.

Filed Oct 15, 2013 · Transmission · 43,800 miles · GA

I was at a traffic signal and vehicle would not accelerate when the light turned green. It did not go dead but would move only at a very very slow speed, and the engine shuddered and ran roughly. The wrench indicator light came on. I got the car across three lanes of traffic to the shoulder, turned it off and restarted with no further trouble. Drove home without incident. Took the car into the dealership and problem was diagnosed as a faulty throttle body.

Filed Sep 8, 2013 · Fuel system · 34,000 miles · GA

Car began on multiple occasions acting like it was either not getting power or fuel. Taken to a ford dealer in 04/2103 and they disregarded the symptons I was describing and said nothing was wrong (still under warranty then). By august 2013 it was having incidents of shuddering, losing power and would have to be turned off. By 09/03/2013, it was undriveable. A complaint was filed with ford in mid august. Car was out of warranty and quoted repair was $871. Ford agreed to repair at 50% and work was completed on 09/06/2103.

Filed Sep 5, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 65,000 miles · FL

I own a 2011 ford fusion. On 8/16/2013, on city streets, traveling less than 20 MPH, the car engine cut off, the wrench light came on. I was able to steer, but all of my dash indicator lights were functioning as well as A/C and radio. However, there was no response from the accelerator. At less than 5 MPH, she began to shudder/balk like I was just learning to drive a stick shift. On 9/2/2013, the same thing happened at two separate times, except during the first I was driving on a toll road at 55 MPH. The second incident I was again traveling at 55 MPH on an access ramp that leads onto the interstate. In all 3 incidents, the wrench light came on and I did have control of the steering wheel and was able to safely get my vehicle out of the main thoroughfare. I then shut off A/C, radio and ignition; waited a short time and restarted the car. Each time she hesitated ever so slightly before starting and I was then able to drive on to my destination.

Filed Sep 3, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 39,521 miles · OH

I was driving on a major highway (I-70) east from st. Louis, mo, to dayton, oh. Cruise control was on at 65 MPH, moderate/heavy traffic. All of a sudden, the car started to decelerate without warning, a "wrench" light and the engine light came on, and when I pressed on the accelerator, nothing happened. I pulled over onto the shoulder, and the car was shuddering. I turned it off and let it sit for a minute and then turned it back on. It seemed to be fine, so I got back on the highway. Three miles later, it happened again. I did the same thing, pulled over/turned off car/restarted, and the car worked okay once I got back on the highway. Four miles later, it happened again. This time, I was between two semi trucks, and was almost rear-ended by the one behind me, which would have resulted in my car basically being "crushed" between the two tractor trailers. I was able to pull over onto the shoulder safely to call for roadside assistance, and after having to tow my car to the nearest ford dealership, they advised me it was caused by failed throttle body (diagnostic code p2111). The service agent there told me that this was a known issue by ford (he told me he has seen the same problem on close to 100 other cars), but the company has done nothing about it. I came very close to being either seriously injured, or even killed, because of this. I truly hope that something can be done about this before someone is seriously injured or worse, killed (I know there are reports of crashes and injuries as a result of this problem as I have researched this issue).

Filed Aug 29, 2013 · Fuel system, Transmission · 68,075 miles · IL

While driving the car shuddered, lost power, had no gas peddle response and ran very rough. Put car in park and shut off. Turned ignition, car turned over for 10-15 seconds as if starving for fuel. Finally caught and ran for about 2 miles, then happened again. In a span of 4 miles it did this three times. A few days later it did the same thing 3 times in a matter of about 10 miles. That time was on the highway doing 65 MPH.

Filed Aug 26, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 52,000 miles · TX

My 2011 ford fusion has repeatedly experienced the same stalling and random shut-downs that I know understand many other drivers have experienced. Usually upon accelerating, my vehicle will buck abruptly and then shudder and rapidly reduce speed until I am able to shut it off. The indicator light for the transmission turns on and occasionally the check engine light. Most of the time, the vehicle will turn right back on and be able to drive as normal, but sometimes it will repeat the same bucking process very shortly after I resume driving. I took it to an auto zone and the engine check they ran returned with an error message saying "throttle body system stuck open" and that is was being held open at an angle larger than needed. Thankfully, this hasn't happened while on the highway or in any place that I could not pull over safely, but it continues to happen with other drivers around, nonetheless. This is an incredibly dangerous and frustrating issue and one that I am shocked and appalled to find happens to so many other drivers. Ford needs to do something to make this right for the great many of us who have been put in harms way by this faulty system.

Filed Aug 10, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 69,700 miles · OH

Vehicle stalled without warning in heavy traffic. Pulled off, restarted. Resumed normal operation. Stalled again. Restarted again. Began stalling at lights. Had to trim gas pedal while stopped to keep running. Car stalls on acceleration b/w 2nd and 3rd gear (6 speed manual). When car stalls while underway, major shudder occurs. Has gone into limp mode but after restart will be normal operationally for a short time and then without warning cut out. Extremely dangerous situation, in particular when accelerating from a stop or into traffic or if successful doing that, stalling without warning at speed and with cars/trucks bearing down on you. At one of the above stalls, had tractor trailer bearing down on me without an ability to remove the car from road in that particular area. Throttle body codes p2111 and p2112 indicating bad throttle body. Very common occurrence apparently among the 2010 through 2012 ford fusions. Requesting a recall and reimbursement for throttle body which I have replaced.

Filed Jun 28, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 25,610 miles · LA

I just purchased this car on june 26 2013 with 25580 miles. I pulled out of a parking lot and with no warning an orange wrench indicator came on the instrument panel followed by a complete loss of throttle response. I was able to pull over, put the car in park and restart the car. The wrench disappeared and the car was driving well. After about two miles I entered the interstate. After several miles traveling in heavy traffic I was able to cruise at about 65 to 70 miles per hour. With no warning just as described in the first occurrence, the wrench light came on and I had no use of the throttle. I had to pull over to the side of the road and this time the car was bucking and shuddering. I was able to restart the car and continue the rest of my trip. I have to bring it to the dealer on 07/01/2013 to have it diagnosed, but it is running ok now. The only other problem I have had is a random wavering idle speed. A few times the car has hunted between 600-900 rpms while in drive sitting at a traffic light. At first I thought this just the car making adjustments but now I wonder if it is all related. I am nervous driving the car because you have to pull over, stop, restart and then proceed. I tried both times the throttle died to shift into neutral, restart and continue to no avail. I have a 2009 ford fusion and have no similar issues.

Filed Jun 13, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 49,250 miles · KS

Driving on highway, left lane at 72 MPH, car made a clunking noise and shuddered, instantly lost ability to accelerate engine, tach dropped to 720 RPM, transmission acted as if it was in neutral. Pulled off highway to shoulder. Engine continued to run, but no response from accelerator.