2016 Ford Fusion
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,705 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 15 Fusion model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 61 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 32 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, manual transmissionJun 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
Campaign 26V376000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraOct 13, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Campaign 25V695000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchNov 17, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.
Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-177.
Campaign 23V775000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMar 10, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.
Campaign 23V162000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Jun 10, 2022
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
Campaign 22V413000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchMar 23, 2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15.
Campaign 20V177000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemAug 29, 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.
Campaign 19V632000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, floor shiftMay 13, 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter engines. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S16. Note: Owners are directed to use the parking brake until the recall remedy repairs can be made. This recall is an expansion of 18V471.
Campaign 19V362000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, floor shiftJul 16, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S20. Note: Owners are directed to use the parking brake until the recall remedy repairs can be made.
Campaign 18V471000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, steering wheel/handle barMar 12, 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S08.
Campaign 18V167000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, frontDec 5, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began May 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S42.
Campaign 16V875000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, anchorageApr 27, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured from March 10, 2016, through March 16, 2016. The front driver seat track assembly's rear riser may have been improperly welded to the seat track rail, and as a result, the driver may not be adequately restrained in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 207, "Seating Systems" and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
An improperly welded driver seat riser may fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Ford quarantined the affected vehicles at dealerships prior to their sale. Dealers will replace the front driver seat track rail, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2016. Ford's number for this recall is 16C05.
Campaign 16V250000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storageOct 1, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 13, 2015, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have insufficent wall thickness. As a result, the fuel tanks may crack in the event of a crash and thus the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C11.
Campaign 15V618000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
551 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Feb 28, 2025
I believe this car falls under the coolant leak recall that is still under investigation. The car started losing coolant and had white smoke coming from exhaust. I believe the coolant channels have cracked and caused the leak. It needs a new motor to be drivable again. I have been waiting for the recall to cover my vin. The recall currently covers similar vehicles.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 18, 2025
Kept getting a misfire on cylinder 2 after ford preformed a “recall” on the power train control system well the car now has coolant leaking into the number two cylinder causing it to shake violently and complete loss of power luckily my wife was able to pull safely off the roadway with my [XXX] son present before losing control and having an accident INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine overheated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer informed the contact that it was a known failure, and that the failure had occurred due to the design of the engine block. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 22-2322. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
Engine, Feb 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle occasionally stalled and hesitated to restart. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where the canister purge valve was replaced several times however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the canister purge valve was replaced, and the engine was flushed. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket; however, the failure reoccurred. In addition, the vehicle was taken to a local service center where it was scanned. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 17, 2025
The canister purge valve in this vehicle repeatedly goes bad. I had a 2015 and now 2016 both with the same issue. It throws the check engine light on and will just about die everytime putting gas into the car or when stopped for random periods of time. The vehicle uses more gas and you can literally smell the fumes escaping from the flapping gas tank lid. In order to start the car you have to pump the gas petal and occasionally the car will stall out while driving.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was white exhaust smoke coming from the exhaust pipe while inspecting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion); however, the vehicle was not included in the Ford Customer Satisfaction program. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000.
Engine, Jan 8, 2025
Engine failed while driving on the highway due to a known defect with a coolant leak into the engine. My safety, and the passengers that were in the auto were put into danger when the engine malfunctioned due to the fact that we were on the highway, traveling at 65-70 mph, when the car suddenly started shaking, emitting white smoke from the exhaust and eventually stalling and not drive able. The only indicator that came on was the check engine light. There was no low coolant light to indicate that the auto was low or leaking coolant. There was no messages or codes to indicate a low coolant level in the car. The vehicle has been inspected and diagnosed by my a certified mechanic.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the engine RPMs would sporadically increase and decrease between 500 and 2,000 RPM and the vehicle would not properly accelerate when pressing the accelerator pedal. Also, the check engine light began to intermittently blink on and off. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the engine coolant was present inside engine cylinder number two. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 111,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the engine was misfiring, causing the vehicle to stall occasionally. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact became aware that the coolant level was abnormally low. The contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled to be towed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,700.
Engine, Jan 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate and lose motive power; symptoms of which the contact attributed to a cylinder misfire, prompting him to discontinue driving the vehicle. After reaching the residence, the failure persisted for several weeks until the vehicle ceased to start and run. Upon a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed that the engine was almost completely without engine oil. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 20–2132. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 171,000.
Engine, Dec 23, 2024
Unknown, but believe that is it coolant leak related as the vehicle has been losing coolant. We have been needing to fill with coolant. The fan was running occasionally. The vehicle has no power. This is dangerous because the vehicle could have shut off while driving. The vehicle has not yet been seen by the dealership but will been getting an appointment to do so. There were no warning lights or any other warnings.
Engine, Dec 18, 2024
Car had to be towed to dealer due to engine failure. The car was diagnosed with coolant leaks into two cylinders, which could have caused a fire. The engine failure happened as I was driving the vehicle, putting my safety and the safety of others at risk. The problem has been confirmed by a Ford dealer. Error codes for misfire appeared right before. Vehicle was inspected shortly before malfunction and was told everything was great with the vehicle.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the vehicle experienced rough starts and failed to properly accelerate. The contact self-diagnosed a cylinder misfire in the engine and replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was later taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that coolant was present inside the engine and advised the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under an Extended Warranty for the failure. The failure mileage was 75,380.
Engine, Nov 29, 2024
I was told by the Suburban Ford of Ferndale dealer that I have a coolant intrusion problem in the engine. The repair is $13,000. I was advised that there could be engine fire, failure, etc. Prior to my taking the vehicle to the dealer, the check engine light illuminated, then the temperature gage climbed to indicate overheating.
Engine, Nov 25, 2024
Engine failure at 80,000 miles. Crack between #3 and #4 cylinders causing a rough idle, loss of coolant and check engine light for a #4 cylinder misfire.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the engine was overheating, and the vehicle started to shake with the coolant warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
Structure, Engine, Nov 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal slushing sound coming from the dashboard and doors. Additionally, after adding coolant, the coolant level was low again two days later. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 247,700.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 15, 2024
The contact's daughter owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe after starting the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Engine, Nov 14, 2024
Technical Service Bulletin 22-2134. coolant intrusion into the cylinder. P0302 code
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. While the contact’s son was operating the vehicle, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed, with white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that the vehicle started shaking before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted and later driven to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant inside the engine cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 77,000.
Engine, Nov 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking erratically with an engine misfire. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact parked the vehicle, opened the hood, and noticed that the engine was shaking erratically. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a detached piston skirt inside the engine. The contact was informed that the piston and the piston skirt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,780.
Engine, Oct 31, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the following day while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was shaking erratically like the engine was going to fall out of the vehicle. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The code indicated an engine misfire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall repair to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with the recall. In addition, the contact stated that for the past six months, the vehicle had been diagnosed with a coolant leak, an engine misfire, and a water pump failure. The contact stated that the previous repairs and parts replacements failed to fix the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 18, 2024
The contact's mother owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while her mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the driver noticed a strong coolant odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that there was a coolant intrusion into the oil reservoir. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 132,646.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while parked with the engine running the vehicle's "overheating" warning chimed and he observed that the heat gauge was in the "red zone." The contact turned the vehicle off, checked under the hood, and observed that the coolant reservoir was low. The contact filled the reservoir, however the failure reoccurred. The contact refilled the reservoir and checked for any coolant leaks under the vehicle and did not observe any puddles. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that coolant had intruded into the cylinders. The mechanic referred the contact to a dealer. The contact called a dealer and was told that he needed to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer advised the contact that there was a TSB Number: 19-2346 but that he would have to pay for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
Engine, Oct 16, 2024
1.5 turbo engine is having a coolant intrusion. had miss fire code and all systems of the recall/service bulletin 22-2134 and was not included in a recall. available to be looked at risk of engine failure diagnosis was done at a independent shop has not been looked at by manufacture started about 4 months ago had a few codes including engine miss fire but replace several components plugs, coils and fuel injectors. had to top off coolant. engine light would come on interment. and engine would run rough but will turn off