CmelChappy

I have a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid that is a wonderful car in all respects except one, it is the worst riding car ever. I wouldn't consider putting anyone in the rear seat, big or little. I start out driving it in a good mood, but after a number of stiff, harsh jolts, I start gritting my teeth. The dealer tells me that it is designed that way because of the 250 lb battery pack behind the rear seat. The Ford Fusion Form is full of people who experience the same hard riding characteristics, but most of them accept it as the norm nowadays. I am going to check with several other Ford Dealers and if they agree with my local dealer, guess I am stuck with it. Started up a dirt road with some washboard surface and the suspension is so stiff that it jolted and hammered so hard that I had to stop, turn around and leave. This is really sad as the car is as good as any made when going down a smooth highway, but driving on bad road or in town where the recession has caused many bad spots in need of repair to get worse, it is awful. Tar strips, manhole covers and minor potholes must be avoided as well as rough road surfaces. I would buy a 2011 model if Ford would get their act together and soften the suspension a bit, but never another like the 2009. The Fusion Hybrid is a high mileage family car and why in heaven's name is Ford putting a stiff, racing suspension on it. PHOOEY!

Do you think the lower pressure could lead to possible rim damage. I have read of 17" and larger rims having to be replaced due to severe bumps bending them.

I would be afraid to drop my tires much under the recommended 33 lbs. as it would seem that with sidewalls with such little room to flex, it would be easy to damage the aluminum rims on sharp bumps. When I purchased my Hybrid, the salesman told me a customer with a car with 17" tires and aluminum wheels hit a patch of bad road at highway speeds and came in for four new rims and tires. I never carry anything in my trunk except for an extension cord. The later production model I tried was dealer serviced to 33lbs tire pressure and an empty trunk. I don't think the dealer wants to start replacing rear shocks or coil springs unless they had no choice. I am going to drop by some other Ford dealers within 150 miles and get their opinions. h

You are not only a stupid, nasty person but a world class liar!

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH........there is one like you in every forum, offensive, viscious and ignorant. It is obvious that you turn off what little brains you have when you open your big mouth. I have never complained about anything but the ride quality. Quit drinking the coolaid and get a life.

No, I'm not the guy complaining about dashboard lights. You sir, are an ignorant, garbage mouth lout that sounds as though you dropped out of kindergarten and never went back! It's clowns like you that stink up forums. You should quit drinking the coolaide and get a life.

I was considering the Mustang six, but most of the reviews of the 2010 were uncomplimentary, citing low horsepower and rather poor gas mileage for a six cylinder of around 21 miles per gallon average, not much better than the GT. I often wonder if the testers were wrong or biased against sixes. Actually, I am in a quandry as I find that in my many years of driving, my Fusion Hybrid is the greatest of all except for the harsh ride. Was thinking about getting a set of Fusion 16 inch wheels and tires and moving them to my next Fusion Hybrid. I understand that there are 17 inch tires that would fit my Fusion that have bigger sidewalls, but might rub on some part of the car. Ford had a solution to the ride problem in the old days, offering an optional heavy duty suspension for a few dollars more for the performance lovers. My '71 T-Bird that my dad purchased new came that way and is not a floater, but feels like a garbage barge after driving my Hybrid. I still marvel at how tight and quiet the hybrid is and in town, I can corner with the best of them. Wonder what my insurance company would charge me if I bought a 2011 Mustang 5.0. I read where the front bumper of the Ford Hybrid costs $2,245 to replace, so I really keep my distance. Thanks for your input!

I purchased a '65 Mustang hatchback that was great riding and handling at 3200 lbs. It was not sprung like the modern GT's, but most pleasing to drive. I have learned a lesson about buying cars after finding that companies like Ford are taking family sedans and giving them rock hard suspensions. If that was my preference I would have purchased a Mustang to start with. At age 83, I enjoy a more pleasant ride like the Toyota Avalon, which ranks #1 for full sized family sedans, and does not have a super firm suspension. It comes down to a matter of choice! I will drive the 2011 5.0 Mustang and if it is worse riding than what I've got, I'll walk away talking to myself. Anyway, the styling of most new cars is so radical that I'll probably go to a car show/auction and buy a fully restored auto from the sixties and seventees. Thanks for your imput, especially about the 16 inch Fusion S tires.

My Ford Fusion Hybrid is really super in all respects but one. I waited six months for my local dealer to get another so that I could compare it to mine. It has a softer ride and no severe jolting like mine. My hybrid was manufactured in June of '09 and the new one, this January, so it appears that Ford has made some changes to the suspension, or else I have a problem with my rear suspension. The new car was more pleasant to drive as all the bumps and surface imperfections could be felt, but less severely. When I drive over a repair running across the road that has sunk down a bit, my rear suspension bounces and when coming down, feels as though the chasis is hitting the road. I tried driving up a washboard dirt road and had to stop and turn around because the shaking and jolting was terrible. Manhole coverers, sometimes three or four to a block are very disagreeable and tar strips almost the same. I am sure that something went amiss when they put my hybrid together. I was told the suspension would loosen up after a few thousand miles, but it hasn't, it has gotten worse. My tires are at 33 lbs. My mileage is 3,500 miles. My problem is how to complain! The local service department pushed me out the door with "don't call us, we'll call you," and FOMOCO's custormer satisfaction department told me, "better luck next time! I doubt if I could qualify under the "Lemon Law" and am in doubt as to whether Ford can make mid season changes without correcting earlier production models. I really enjoy driving my hybrid but weary of having to avoid a number of streets that have surface imperfections. The January '10 Hybid has the same Michelans as mine, so it must not be the tires. As of now, my only recourse is to grit my teeth and buy a 2011 5.0 Mustang this spring, it couldn't possibly ride any harder and would be a lot more fun to drive. Sure would appreciate any and all imput. The new Fusion Hybrid I drove is really great and with a very comfortable ride.

I've driven all the new Ford four doors and the Fustion Sport and have reached a final decision. The best call around car bar none is the Fusion Hybrid. The Fusion Hybrid isn't best at everything it does, but is better at most of what it does. None of the other Fords and competitors do so many things, so good. The Taurus rides a little softer, but not that much and can't come close to the Hybrid for quick handling, especially in town driving. The gas mileage doesn't come close and it can't keep up with my hybrid in town. The acceleration below fifty or so isn't all that great. The SHO model burns a lot of gas, rides no better than a hybrid and sure doesn't handle as good around town and the insurance costs are something else. The Lincoln MKZ is just an upgraded Fusion, a gas burner, not anywhere near as good handling as the hybrid and not that great a performer. The Big Lincoln is a barge that couldn't get twenty miles per gallon except downhill, and isn't in the same league as the hybrid, whether in town or on the road. My hybrid will cruise silently at any reasonable speed and gives me great confidence in the corners plus I can push it pretty hard and still get mileage in the upper thirties. Finally, the Taurus and the Lincoln's are so high in back that I can't see over them and to me, look ungainly. Parked along side my ice blue hybrid, they look like barges. OK, so I'm biased, but I really love my hard riding Fusion Hybrid, particularly knowing that I can soften the ride a little by going to sixteen inch wheels. Note: what will they ride like with nineteen and twenty inch " rubber band tires? I did notice that the 2010 Taurus has a higher sidewall eighteen inch tire, higher than the hybrid, a concession to comfort.

I've tried finding used 16" rims for my Fusion and have come up empty. I have been searching for Fusion rims with no results, perhaps I should search by rim size...perhaps there are a number of older ford rims that would fit. I am going to purchase a 2011 Ford Hybrid and will insist on the dealer involved ordering me 16" wheels and tires or else give me full credit for the 17" that come with the car. The local Avalon dealer refuses to special order 16" for the top of the line model. It's confusing, all he would have to do is pull the new 17" off and install a set of 16", but he can't figure it out! Have decided to do nothing and wait for the next model FFH to come out and then try to find a dealer willing to accomodate me. If the economy continues on or gets worse, there should be a few hungry Ford Dealers around! I understand the new model year should start by this coming April. I purchased my FFH the end of June and it had been on the market for a few months before then.

We have a number of old state highway sections that are still maintained, are in excellent repair, but narrow as old highways used to be. My Fusion Hybrid goes around the many sharp corners like it is on rails. I never had as much confidence when driving my '71 T-Bird with heavy duty suspension as I do with the Fusion, it couldn't stay within miles of the Hybrid. Guess one can't have it all in one car. I read about all the six's hitting 0-60 in 6 secs, but wonder where they're at. I can more than hold my own in town and out on the highway up to seventy plus. Love the torque of the electric motor and hope for it ups it's horsepower in 2011. The secret to quick starts with the hybrid is not to floor the go pedal...start out with about half pedal for a few yards and then get on it. Thanks for your input.

I decided to change the factory shocks to softer riding aftermarkets and the best mechanics in Wenathcee, WA stated they had never done it on a late model fusion, particularly a 2010 Hybrid and didn't know how. One seasoned mechanic put my car up on his lift and attempted to remove a rear shock and claimed that he could not get the top shock nut without removing other vehicle parts in the way and that would be most expensive. Les Schwab claims they can replace the rear shocks and coils if needed, but will not install any competitor equipment. I can't ask the Ford dealer to do it as it would probably kill my warrantee, which is worth quite a bit to me. I can sell the 17" wheels and tires and go to 16" for a softer ride. I ran an add locally to sell the wheels and tires or swap with a Fusion with 16" wheels, but not a single reply. I am running a 38 mpg average and in the winter yet, and I like to get on it once in awhile. My dealer tells me he might have a hybrid coming in next week and that he will compare to mine to decide if I have a suspension problem or just an old geezer with a soft bottom.

I have driven my Ford Fusion Hybrid for six months and 3,400 miles and although the local service department assured me that the riding qualities would increase and the stiff suspension would loosen up a bit, the ride has actually stiffened up noticeably, especially since the weather has dropped into the low thirties. I would like as much imput from other Fusion Hybrid owners as possible so that I can determine if it is just my Hybrid or if all share the same harsh ride. My local dealer hasn't had another hybrid in since I bought mine, six months ago. According to FOMOCO, there are only two new Ford Fusion Hybrids in the state of Washington, both across the mountains on the coast. In all other respects, my Hybrid is the greatest Ford I've driven in my 83 years, but the rough ride is causing me to consider going to a Toyota Avalon which is noted for being smooth. There is no doubt in my mind that in all other respects other than the cushy ride, the Avalon can't come close to the Ford Fusion Hybrid. I would like to hear from other Fusion Hybrid owners as to their expericiences. I started up a dirt road with a strip of "washboard" road and my card bounced and shuddered so bad, I had to stop and return to the highway. On smooth highway and crooked roads, it is the greatest. On tar strips, manhole coveres and other surface irregularities it is real unpleasant, one whack after another. The service department won't do anything until they get another like mine in for comparison, as they have only had four in all last year and not too familiar with them. HELP! My tires are all at 33 lbs per square inch!