Door handle is stuck/broken. Door cannot open from the inside or outside. Passengers are stuck in car.
- NHTSA ID
- 11619638
- Incident
- Oct 7, 2024
Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Ford Fusion submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 80 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 80, in the owner's own words
Door handle is stuck/broken. Door cannot open from the inside or outside. Passengers are stuck in car.
I want to file a safety complaint against Ford car company for their vehicle in which I purchased which is a 2008 Ford Fusion SEL for excessive and dangerous rot and rust problem on the frame and suspension and under component which can lead to accidents if one of these components fall apart . I purchased a 2008 Ford fusion SEL in Connecticut which used to be a Massachusetts state government vehicle before I've obtained it. It was well maintenance and had no flood damage. But just like a wide range of cars from Ford especially this model that I've purchased has a serious problem with excessive rust which make the car very dangerous to drive. Mind's speaking I've had to have framework done to my vehicle and change multiple suspension parts because of all the rust my transmission pan literally fell apart and all the oil came because it was so rusted. My stabilizer links and control arms have fell apart in which obstructs the steering which also caused a safety hazard for me and other people on the road. Ford has a duty to design their cars with a certain level of weather resistance. After doing research I found that there is a wide range of customers who's having the same having the same problems with this year make and model just like other vehicles that are made by ford. All the problems that stated in this complaint having verified by ASE certified mechanics that I've been working on my vehicle. The contact stated all the original metal components like control arms, tie rods, suspension shocks and struts and frame all have a issue with rot rust and corrosion which led to vehicles having alignment issues.
My Breaks gave way for some odd reason I ran into a cable box trying to control or rather stop the vehicle.
ON DECEMBER 27TH 2019. MY DAUGHTER SLIDE INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR AND SHE COMPLAINED THE BREAKS WERE TAKING TO LONG TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND ON JANUARY 23RD, 2020 WE RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 19S54/NHTSA RECALL 19V-904. HAD WE RECEIVED THIS NOTICE BEFORE 12/27/19 WE BELIEVE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR PARTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LIFTED UP AND EXPOSED THE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED DON GASGARTH'S CHARLOTTE COUNTY FORD AT (888) 313-9652 (LOCATED AT 3156 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PORT CHARLOTTE, FL 33952) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DETACHED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND HAD DETACHED ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, WHICH REQUIRED THAT THE HANDLE BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
THE DASH IS POPPING UP AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG! FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE VERY WEAK AND BROKE. DOOR BECAME INOPERABLE FROM THE INSIDE. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR WAS TO TURN THE IGNITION ON, ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, AND THEN RELEASE THE EXTERIOR HANDLE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF AN EMERGENCY EXIT WAS NEEDED.
SEPTEMBER 8 WE HAD A CAR ACCIDENT AND OUR CAR WAS TOTALED THE AIR BAGS NONE OF THEM EVER WENT OFF, EVEN THE POLICE AND PARAMEDIC WERE CONCERNED, AND BEING A NURSE I AM VERY CONCERNED, WE WERE GETTING OFF BYPASS AND ANOTHER CAR HIT US. WE WERE REAR ENDED
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE SEAM LOCATED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHOTTENKIRK FORD JASPER (868 GA-515, JASPER, GA 30143 (706) 692-6467) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE DASHBOARD NOT BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE/PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF UPDATED 8/16/18*JB
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD OVER THE AIR BAG, WHICH EXPOSED THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MASTEL FORD, OLEAN, NY, 716-372-7272) WHO STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED A TAKATA SETTLEMENT NOTICE AND WAS REFERRED TO 833-619-7579. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATED IT IS A SEPARATION OF THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT COVER FROM THE DASH. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL CAR WARMS UP. IT STARTED THE WINTER OF 2012-2013. BY 2015 YOU CAN PUT HAND IN THE HOLE. IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE. UPDATED 8/21/18*JB
HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH MY BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY AFTER ABS GOING ON BY HITTIN MY BRAKES ON A BUMPY ROAD OR UNEVEN GRAVEL AND IN RAINY WEATHER, MY BRAKES WENT SOFT AND LOW AND I WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GROUND FOR MY VEHICLE TO STOP. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES AND STOPPING A LOT OF TIMES THE BRAKES WOULD GO SOMEWHAT BACK TO NORMAL, RECENTLY I PRESSED MY BRAKES IN UNEVEN GRAVEL AND I ALMOST RAN INTO A CONSTRUCTION POST BECAUSE MY BRAKES GAVE OUT ON ME AND WENT SOFT AND LOW, SO I HAD TO TURN MY VEHICLE TO PREVENT ME FROM CRASHING, MY BRAKES HAVE BEEN LOW AND SOFT EVER SINCE AND I DROVE MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT INCIDENT AND MY BRAKES HAVE NOT RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL, IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THIS ISSUE AND BELIEVE IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, I TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE IT LOOKS BRAND NEW STILL AND I ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF IT, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO A CONSTRUCTION POST, I BELIEVE FROM RESEARCHING THAT OTHERS WITH THE 2008 FORD FUSIONS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS.
THE DASH AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AS WELL AS THE VENT ALONGSIDE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SWITCH THAT TURNS ON AND OFF THE LIGHTS AS WELL AS DIMMING THE LIGHTS AND A TRUNK RELEASE HATCH IS BUCKLING UP AND SEPARATING FROM EACH OTHER THIS HAS OCCURRED DUE TO JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND DRIVING SITUATIONS AND NORMAL TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILED AND FRACTURED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE HIMSELF. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CABLE AND ACTUATOR WERE NOT RELEASING THE LATCH; THEREFORE, IT CAUSED THE HANDLE TO FRACTURE. THE CONTACT ADVISED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS AGO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 11/15/17 *BF *TR
PUT IN BRAND NEW MASTER CYLINDER SEPT 2013 WITH ONLY 28,119 MILES ON IT. DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. SEPT. 2013. 28, 119 MILES DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE REPLACED SEPT. 2016. 47,147 MILES DEFROSTER PANEL ON DRIVERS SIDE OF DASHBOARD SEPARATED SEPTEMBER 2016.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE SERVICE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND A STRONG ODOR WAS DETECTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS HARD TO OPEN UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.
ON MY FORD FUSION DRIVERS DOOR THE RELEASE MECHANISM IS BROKEN. I CAN NOT EXIT THE CAR FROM THIS DOOR AND IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THE ESCAPE FROM THE VEHICLE WOULD BE GREATLY HINDERED. I WOULD HAVE TO EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR OR THROUGH THE WINDOW. RESEARCH (YOUTUBE VIDEOS)SHOWS THIS PLASTIC PART BREAKS FREQUENTLY.
DASH IS BUBBLING AROUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE VENT ON DASH AND AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. VENT IS PROTRUDING FROM THE DASH. AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH ALSO COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT IS NOT CONSTANT. ALSO INVOLVED IN THE TAKATA RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES PER WEEK FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DASHBOARD BECAME UNGLUED NEAR THE AIR BAG AREA. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD BUBBLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAD UNLOCKED MY DOOR VIA THE AUTOMATIC LOCK SWITCH TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO PULL THE INDOOR DRIVER'S SIDE LATCH TO EXIT WHEN THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING ON THEIR OWN, SO I DISENGAGED THE LATCH. THE LATCH THEN BROKE/POPPED OUT WITHOUT ME TOUCHING IT. I CAN NO LONGER EXIT OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS AND OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. MY VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 01/06/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD HAS BOWED OUT WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. *TR
DRIVER DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. MUST ROLL DOWN POWER WINDOW REQUIRES IGNITION ON OR ENGINE RUNNING TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK. (NO SECURITY OR THEFT PROTECTION) EGRESS FROM CAR IMPOSSIBLE FROM INSIDE DRIVER SIDE. EXIT VIA PASSENGER DOOR BLOCKED BY CENTER CONSOLE. LOSS OF IGNITION LEAVES DRIVER STRAANDED INSIDE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH BOARD AROUND THE DEFROSTER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
DASHBOARD HAS PULLED UP AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG. I AM JUST GETTING AROUND TO REPORTING THIS, BUT I SEE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING FORD RECALLS AND FIX DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD. BULGED AROUND AIRBAG AS WELL.
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