2008 Ford Fusion Reliability
The 2008 Ford Fusion has 1,353 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and service brakes. Compared with nearby Fusion model years (2006–2010), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Fusion's typical year, while the 2006 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,353
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
53
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Ford Fusion complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2008 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 638 | 47% |
| Service brakes | 542 | 40% |
| Body structure | 82 | 6% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 47 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 39 | 3% |
| Engine | 39 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 28 | 2% |
| Speed control / throttle | 24 | 2% |
2008 Ford Fusion recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2008 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14E028000 | May 29, 2014 | Equipment | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through… |
| 16V384000 | May 31, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 17V024000 | Jan 10, 2017 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 19V904000 | Dec 18, 2019 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives.… |
| 21V081000 | Feb 16, 2021 | Air bags — frontal | 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… |
| 21V158000 | Mar 10, 2021 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | 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… |
How the 2008 compares with nearby Fusion years
Verdicts compare these Fusion model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 730 | 5 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2007 | 1,064 | 5 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2008 (this page) | 1,353 | 6 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2009 | 1,023 | 7 | Service brakes | Caution |
| 2010 | 5,130 | 13 | Steering | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2008 Ford Fusion
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Ford Fusion can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Ford Fusion reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Ford Fusion reliable?
The 2008 Ford Fusion has 1,353 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and service brakes. Compared with nearby Fusion model years (2006–2010), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Fusion's typical year, while the 2006 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2008 Ford Fusion problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Fusion are air bags (638), service brakes (542), body structure (82), powertrain / transmission (47). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Ford Fusion have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2008 Ford Fusion, including 14E028000 (equipment) and 16V384000 (air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2008 Ford Fusion compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 1,064 complaints and 5 recalls (solid); the 2009 has 1,023 complaints and 7 recalls (caution). The 2008 has 1,353 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Ford Fusion?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Fusion research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 Fusion, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.