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2008 Ford Fusion SEL

The 2008 Ford Fusion SEL is a 160-hp 2.3-liter inline-4 with a 5-speed manual and front-wheel drive. It starts at $19,785 MSRP and is rated at 23 mpg combined.

It makes 160 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 156 lb-ft of torque at 4250 rpm, spinning to a 6,800 rpm redline. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway (23 mpg combined).

The Fusion measures 190.2 inches long on a 107.4-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 3,101 lb.

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypeSedan
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$19,785 ($29,866 *)
Engine
Engine Type2.3L Duratec 23 I4
Displacement2.3 L
Horsepower160 hp @ 6,250 rpm
Torque156 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm
Redline6,800 rpm
ValvetrainDOHC, 16 valves
Bore and Stroke3.4 in x 3.7 in (86.4 x 94.0 mm)
Compression Ratio9.7:1
Injection TypeSEFI
Drivetrain
Drive TypeFWD
Transmission
Transmission5-speed manual
Fuel Economy
City20 MPG
Highway29 MPG
Combined23 MPG
Recommended FuelRegular unleaded (87 octane)
Tank Capacity17.5 gal
Suspension
Front SuspensionIndependent, short-and-long-arm (SLA), coil springs, gas shocks
Rear SuspensionIndependent, multi-link, coil springs, gas shocks
Front Stabilizer Bar24 mm
Rear Stabilizer Bar16 mm
Tires & Wheels
Wheels Front17" x 7.0"
Wheels Rear17" x 7.0"
Tires FrontP225/50R17
Tires RearP225/50R17
Dimensions & Weight
Length190.2 in
Width72.2 in
Height57.2 in
Wheelbase107.4 in
Front Track61.6 in
Rear Track61.3 in
Ground Clearance5.2 in
Cargo Volume15.8 ft³
Curb Weight3,101 lbs
Interior
Headroom Front38.7 in
Headroom Rear37.8 in
Legroom Front42.3 in
Legroom Rear37.5 in
Shoulder Room Front57.4 in
Shoulder Room Rear56.5 in
Hip Room Front54 in
Hip Room Rear53.3 in
* Amount adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Overall Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated
Frontal – driver ★★★★★
Frontal – passenger ★★★★★
Side crash Not rated
Rollover ★★★★★ (9.2 % risk)
Tested variant: 2008 Ford Fusion 4-DR. w/SAB (Later Release)
Other tested variants (1)
  • 2008 Ford Fusion 4-DR. w/SAB (Early Release): overall not rated

Recalls

6 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2008 Ford FUSION. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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 degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.

NHTSA campaign 21V158000

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 passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

NHTSA campaign 21V081000

Dec 18, 2019 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: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. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly.

Consequence: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the HCU will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the HCU as necessary. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S54.

NHTSA campaign 19V904000

Jan 10, 2017 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE Park it

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, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

NHTSA campaign 17V024000

May 31, 2016 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE Park it

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 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

NHTSA campaign 16V384000

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 October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.

Consequence: The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S07. NOTE: Vehicles built after October 31, 2010, while potentially equipped with the same floor mats, are equipped with a Brake Over Accelerator (BOA) feature that prevents simultaneous accelerator and brake application, allowing the vehicle to be safely stopped by pressing firmly and steadily on the brake pedal.

NHTSA campaign 14E028000

1,353 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2008 Ford FUSION

Owner Complaints

1,353 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Ford FUSION (53 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 21 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Air Bags638
Service Brakes542
Structure82
Hydraulic74
Power Train47
Engine39
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
Jul 21, 2026 · Service Brakes
“I had the Ford brake recall work completed in 2023, but the same brake issue has returned. This appears to be the same HCU problem covered by the recall, and Ford is now refusing to repair it. I am…”
Aug 30, 2025 · Service Brakes
“I have been having issues with my 2008 ford fusion. I did research and found that the is a Ford customer satisfaction program( campaign # 21N11) which also goes along with recall number 19S54 and ford…”
Jul 5, 2025 · Service Brakes
“My brake pedal drops to the floor when braking at times. Mechanics say that is my ABS module. I believe this is a very common issue with these vehicles. This has happened to me several times. Only…”
Feb 8, 2025 · Service Brakes
“HAVE TO PRESS DOWN HARD ON BRAKES TO SLOW OR STOP. HAD LANDMARK FORD INSPECT RECALL ISSUE & THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH BRAKES.”
Oct 21, 2024 · Service Brakes
“took in for two recalls to Serramonte ford, airbag recall fixed, braking issue not fixed due to as dealer put it, issues with computer system and was not given a timeframe to have it completed…”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2008 FORD FUSION. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

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