2007 Ford Fusion

The Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr were introduced in the 2006 model year. The Zephyr was renamed the MKZ beginning with 2007 models. All three cars were restyled beginning with the 2010 model year, and the Mercury Milan was discontinued after the 2010 model year.

Beginning with 2007 models manufactured after January 2007, structural reinforcements were added to the floor ahead of the front seats, and the hard plastic "ramp" bolted underneath the carpeting near the base of the accelerator pedal was modified to improve occupant protection in frontal offset crashes. In addition, the standard side airbags were changed so that they would deploy in severe frontal offset crashes. (Note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door.)

The tested car was manufactured after all modifications had been made.

Injury measures

Measures taken from the head and chest indicate low risk of injuries to these body regions in a crash of this severity. Forces on the neck when the head hit the roof rail indicate that neck injuries would be possible, but head acceleration from this hit was low. Forces on the right tibia and foot indicate that injuries to the lower leg and foot would be possible.

Restraints and dummy kinematics

Dummy movement was well controlled. During rebound, the dummy's head hit deployed side curtain airbag and the roof rail above it.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle	2007 Ford Fusion SE 4-door
Weight	3,384 lbs.
Side airbags	front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
Wheelbase	107 in.
Length	190 in.
Width	72 in.
Engine	3.0 L V6
EPA ratings	20 mpg city / 28 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

The Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr were introduced in the 2006 model year. The Zephyr was renamed the MKZ beginning with 2007 models.

All 2006-07 Fusion, Milan, and Zephyr/MKZ models manufactured after January 2006 include a hard plastic "ramp" bolted above or below the carpeting near the base of the accelerator pedal designed to decrease right leg and foot injury risk in frontal offset crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door).

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of a Fusion with the added part in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier.

Injury measures

Measures taken from the head, neck, and chest indicate low risk of injuries to these body regions in a crash of this severity. Forces on the right femur and tibia indicate that both upper and lower leg injuries would be possible. Also, a steel pin in the dummy’s ankle broke, indicating forces high enough that ankle injuries would be likely. Head acceleration from the roof rail hit was low.

Restraints and dummy kinematics

Dummy movement was well controlled. During rebound, the dummy's head hit the roof rail and grab handle.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle	2006 Ford Fusion SE 4-door
Weight	3,387 lbs.
Side airbags	none
Wheelbase	107 in.
Length	190 in.
Width	72 in.
Engine	3.0 L V6
EPA ratings	21 mpg city / 29 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan were introduced in the 2006 model year. Beginning with 2007 models, design changes were made to the side curtain airbags and door structure and trim to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. Also, side airbags became standard beginning with 2007 models (optional in 2006 models).

Further modifications were made to the front door trim starting with 2007 models manufactured after January 2007 (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door). Both cars were restyled beginning with the 2010 model year.

Two tests of the Fusion were conducted, one manufactured before the January 2007 front door trim changes were made, and one manufactured afterward. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings and rear passenger injury and head protection ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.

The Mercury Milan was discontinued after the 2010 model year.

Injury measures

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Head protection

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof and a side airbag that deployed from the seat.

Passenger — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle	2007 Ford Fusion SE 4-door
Weight	3,389 lbs.
Side airbags	standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags
Wheelbase	107 in.
Length	190 in.
Width	72 in.
Engine	3.0 L V6
EPA ratings	20 mpg city / 28 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan were introduced in the 2006 model year. Beginning with 2007 models, design changes were made to the side curtain airbags and door structure and trim to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. Also, side airbags became standard beginning with 2007 models (optional in 2006 models).

Further modifications were made to the front door trim starting with 2007 models manufactured after January 2007 (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door).

Two tests of the Fusion were conducted, one manufactured before the January 2007 front door trim changes were made, and one manufactured afterward. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings and rear passenger injury and head protection ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.

Note: the car tested first was one of the last 2006 models built and incorporates the design changes included in early 2007 models.

Injury measures

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate that a fracture of the pelvis would be possible in a crash of this severity. The risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low.

Passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Head protection

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof and a side airbag that deployed from the seat.

Passenger — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle	2006 Ford Fusion SEL 4-door
Weight	3,470 lbs.
Side airbags	optional front and rear head curtain airbags and optional front seat-mounted torso airbags
Wheelbase	107 in.
Length	190 in.
Width	72 in.
Engine	3.0 L V6
EPA ratings	21 mpg city / 29 mpg highway

How this test is conducted