Ford Reliability by Model: Fusion, Focus, Escape, Explorer, Ranger and More

RepairPal rates reliability from 1 to 5 and reports the average annual cost of repairs and maintenance. These are averages across model years, so they describe the model in general and not a particular vehicle.

RepairPal rates the Ford Fusion 4.0 out of 5, which it labels above average, and ranks it 18th of 24 midsize cars. Its average annual repair cost is $581, compared with $526 for midsize cars. RepairPal reports 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, the same as midsize cars, and a 12% chance that a repair is major, also the same as the class.

Ford ended Fusion production on July 31, 2020, at its plant in Hermosillo, Mexico (Ford Authority, August 2020), so every Fusion on the market is a used car, and the newest is a 2020 model.

No model year is a guaranteed avoid, but the recall record separates the years. This table shows how many recall campaigns NHTSA lists for each Fusion model year. Some campaigns apply only to certain engines or trims, so a count is a pointer and not a defect total.

Three patterns stand out. The 2013 and 2014 years list the most campaigns, and several involve the 1.6L engine overheating. Power steering is a repeat theme: NHTSA opened an investigation in October 2014 into loss of steering assist on 2010 to 2012 Fusions (with the Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ), and later campaigns cover corroded steering motor bolts on 2013 to 2016 models. The 2010 to 2012 years also carry airbag inflator recalls, some of them serious, so check those first on any car from those years.

RepairPal rates the Ford Focus 4.0 out of 5 and ranks it 27th of 36 compact cars. Its average annual repair cost is $569, compared with $526 for compact cars. It makes 0.33 unscheduled shop visits a year, and 13% of repairs are major, compared with 11% for compact cars. Ford ended U.S. Focus production in May 2018 (Ford Authority, July 2018), so every Focus on the market is used.

The Focus’s best-known problem is the six-speed PowerShift automatic, called the DPS6, in 2012 to 2016 Focus models and 2011 to 2016 Fiestas. A federal judge approved a class action settlement covering those cars in 2020 (TFLcar, March 2020). In August 2019, Ford extended warranty coverage on the clutch to seven years or 100,000 miles, and on the transmission control computer to 10 years or 150,000 miles, for 2014 to 2016 Focus models built before November 5, 2015 (WLOS, August 2019).

Those extended terms are limited by time and mileage, so many vehicles may now be outside them. If you are looking at a 2012 to 2016 Focus with the automatic, ask a Ford dealer to check the VIN for open campaigns and ask for records of any clutch or transmission control work.

Outside the PowerShift years, look up recalls by VIN the same way, and ask for service records. The original basic and powertrain warranty periods on these model years have generally expired, although recall remedies or specific extended car warranty coverage programs may still apply.

RepairPal rates the Ford Ranger 4.0 out of 5 and ranks it third of seven midsize trucks. Its average annual repair cost is $615, compared with $548 for midsize trucks. It makes 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year, the same as the class, and 12% of repairs are major, compared with 13% for midsize trucks.
The Ranger’s history matters when you shop. Ford sold the Ranger in the U.S. through the 2011 model year, then brought it back for 2019 and redesigned it for 2024 (J.D. Power model history). That means a used Ranger is either 2011 or older, or from the 2019 and later generation. RepairPal’s figures blend those eras, so look at the specific truck: its recall status, its mileage, and its service records.

The Maverick compact pickup went on sale for the 2022 model year, so long-term data is limited. The best-documented issue so far is a recall. In April 2024, Ford recalled more than 53,000 Mavericks from the 2022 and 2023 model years, built between February 2021 and October 2022, along with about 403,000 Bronco Sport vehicles. The body and powertrain control modules could fail to detect changes in battery charge, which can cause a sudden loss of drive power, including stalling or being unable to restart (Associated Press, April 2024). Dealers recalibrate the modules at no cost.

If you are shopping for a Maverick, check the VIN for open recalls and ask whether the software update was installed. Because the truck is new to the used market, a clean service history and a recent inspection count for more than they do on an older model.

Ford brought the Bronco back for the 2021 model year. RepairPal does not show a separate reliability rating for it. Its page lists an average annual repair cost of $502 for the Bronco, compared with $775 for Ford overall. RepairPal’s Bronco data covers the 1990 to 1996 models as well as 2021 and newer, so treat the figure as a rough guide.

With a model this new, what matters most is the individual truck. Check the VIN for recalls, and ask how it was used. Heavy off-road use can wear a vehicle faster than commuting, and a seller who can document the truck’s maintenance is giving you useful information.

RepairPal rates the Ford Expedition 3.0 out of 5, which it labels average, and ranks it seventh of 14 full-size SUVs. Its average annual repair cost is $861, compared with $784 for full-size SUVs and $652 for all models. It makes 0.2 unscheduled shop visits a year, compared with 0.4 for full-size SUVs, and 15% of repairs are major, the same as the class and above the 12% for all models. Repairs are infrequent, but they cost more than average when they happen.

For a large, heavy SUV, the practical advice is to look closely at the drivetrain, cooling system, and suspension service history and to confirm all recall work was done.

A vehicle protection plan (VPP), also called a vehicle service contract (VSC), is a contract that can pay for certain covered repairs after the manufacturer’s warranty ends. People often call it an “extended warranty,” but it is a contract, not a warranty. The written contract controls what is covered.

A plan does not make a vehicle more reliable, and it does not replace recall repairs, which Ford dealers perform at no charge. What a plan can do is help with the cost of covered repairs when the factory warranty is over. If you are weighing one for a Ford, compare these points:

In California, autopom! offers mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI).

A manufacturer warranty comes from the vehicle maker. Plans sold by dealers or by independent sellers are contracts with a provider or administrator. Some dealers sell plans backed by the manufacturer, and many sell third-party plans.

Availability depends on the vehicle’s year, make, model, mileage, eligibility requirements, and the state where it is located.

autopom! is an independent broker. It is not a manufacturer, warranty provider, claims administrator, or claims decision-maker. Coverage, exclusions, deductibles, waiting periods, and claims handling vary by plan, administrator, vehicle, mileage, location, and contract.