Looking at a 2010 Ford Fusion

[carviewsonic]

Considering a 2010 Fusion V6 SEL AWD, 70000 km’s (43000 miles). Private sale, two owners and clean history. Drives nice, no issues noted during test drive. No rust or dings on the body. Some surface rust on rear trailing arms and suspension. Paint (white) and tan leather interior are decent, could use a wax and a detail. Price is reasonable for our market, though not a ‘steal’.
Anyway, reliability reviews are generally favourable, but there are issues that can crop up as the mileage goes up. I guess I’m looking for opinions from anyone that knows these cars.
Thanks

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Engine is one of the most reliable you’ll find, about the only issue is they sometimes develop an oil weep where the front cover and block meet the VC gasket. Takes a dab of RTV.

6F35s are livable if they’ve had fluid changes. Not the greatest Ford’s ever done.

Overall really good cars if they’ve received occasional care.

 

[Number_35]

Engine is one of the most reliable you’ll find, about the only issue is they sometimes develop an oil weep where the front cover and block meet the VC gasket. Takes a dab of RTV.

6F35s are livable if they’ve had fluid changes. Not the greatest Ford’s ever done.

Overall really good cars if they’ve received occasional care.

Is the V6 engine the Duratec DOHC 3.0?

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Is the V6 engine the Duratec DOHC 3.0?

Doh… Saw SEL and blazed right past the V6. You’re right I was talking about the MZR 2.3/2.5s. I don’t have any experience with the 3.0. Thanks for the catch lol

 

[Number_35]

Doh… Saw SEL and blazed right past the V6. You’re right I was talking about the MZR 2.3/2.5s. I don’t have any experience with the 3.0. Thanks for the catch lol

Agreed, the Duratec/Mazda L 4-bangers (2.0/2.3/2.5) are outstanding.

I'd prefer a 2.3 or 2.5 to the V6.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Didn't this sideways V6 have an internal water pump? There is lots written on it.

Here at the top 5 problems. The fifth one is the water pump and its pretty spooky.

 

[carviewsonic]

Is the V6 engine the Duratec DOHC 3.0?

Yes, that’s the one.

 

[carviewsonic]

Didn't this sideways V6 have an internal water pump? There is lots written on it.

Here at the top 5 problems. The fifth one is the water pump and its pretty spooky.

That’s the 3.5 litre, which came in the Sport trim. The 3.0 in this car has a good ol’ external water pump. That internal water pump was not one of Ford’s better ideas, a ticking time bomb.

 

[carviewsonic]

Agreed, the Duratec/Mazda L 4-bangers (2.0/2.3/2.5) are outstanding.

I'd prefer a 2.3 or 2.5 to the V6.

The V6 is smooth, but yes, servicing would be a lot easier with the 4 cyl.

 

[Plawan]

This era fusion was suppose to be Fords come back car. It is a good car overall and that’s why you still see them around.
Problems I’ve had in a 2008 are wheel bearings(they are pressed in and not easily fixed at home ) and AC has a temp sensor under the dash that’s known to go bad. It’s a pain because you have to pull the dash to change a $20 part. Shop will charge 6 or 7 hundred. Other than that the Ac systems are not known to leak or have any other common failures. Pretty solid car really

 

[JamesBond]

I see lots of them with bad rocker panel rust. Others look fine so I don’t know why some of them rust.

 

[macarose]

I got my son this generation with the 2.5 liter. It has less than 40,000 miles.

He'll probably get tired of it before I need to replace it. Chances are he'll keep it until the point when cars are so heavy due to the popularity of EVs, that it will no longer be a safe vehicle in an accident.

My dealership is in the rust free South. So time and neglect are your two biggest enemies out here. The V6 is fine. You can probably keep it for another 7 years without a worry.

Here's what my study says about them.

 

[michaelluscher]

The 3.0 Duratec V6 is a little harder to service than the I4, and the 6F35 lasts longer with periodic fluid refresh
With a drain plug and dipstick, they're easy

AWD is somewhat rare, I'd immediately service the PTU
If the PCM goes bad, it might take out all 6 ignition coils (and vice versa)
The PCM can be mailed away for repair, consider preemptive replacement of all plugs and coils (Motorcraft coils ONLY)

Rust is the enemy of this adopted Mazda platform, but if it's clean it's clean
Some oil based rustproofing will keep it right

It'll need the odd EVAP temp sensor/purge valve, and make sure it's airbag recalls have been performed
Check the VIN to see if the HCU was replaced under a recall/CSP

I run a 2010 Fusion and 2010 Milan, albeit 2.5 I4s, I find them reasonably efficient to drive and repair

 

[Haakon]

I got one of these as a brand new rental on one of my trips to the US. Had it for a coupe of weeks from Atlanta down to Key West and around Florida a bit. Pretty decent bit of kit. On another trip i got a lower spec one but still the V6 in Phoenix and had to LA via Flagstaff and Vegas and Death Valley and Yosemite. Ran it out of brakes once in the mountains in California, and somewhere around Sequoia National Park found a winding road from god and took a LOT of rubber from the front tyres.

I liked them Although to be fair rentals always go harder

 

[GMFan]

Had a 2011 Mazda6 (same platform) I put 203k on before selling. Front and rear subframe corrosion was an issue on these. Not sure if Ford had the same issues but worth a check before purchase. The 4 cyl are more reliable than the V6.

 

[brages]

My DIL has one. Her engine is a real oil leaker. It's probably run low on oil a bit, but keeps trucking.

Had problem with fan module, ac compressor, leaky injector, seat motor, and collapsed front brake line. (I fixed each of these)

Bad rocker panel rust, fairly peppy engine.

Electric power steering may be problematic on these, iirc. On my 2013, it clunked when you turned it lock to lock. So try that and avoid if it's not smooth and quiet. It can be a fairly expensive or time consuming repair.

 

[brages]

They are really common in junkyards, so if you can diy and pick and pull, you are set.

 

[carviewsonic]

Continuing this thread...
We bought the 2010 Ford Fusion SEL V6 AWD. 70k kms (43k miles). Will give it a coat of wax and a good interior detailing when the weather cools down. It has a few door dings, but white hides those pretty well.
Have a garage appointment in two weeks (they're booked solid until then) to get all the fluids changed; oil, coolant, trans fluid, brake fluid, PTU gear fluid, rear diff.
From there I'll do the maintenance, just wanted to get it all done at once as a maintenance starting point.
The front portion of the passenger power seat doesn't go up or down. Wife was complaining it's too high for her short legs, so I'll have to get that fixed.
Looking forward to having AWD this winter; the residential streets aren't cleared here, just the main routes. Got stuck in the street in front of our house last winter, and that started the car purchase gears turning .