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: power train
316 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 24, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact referenced NHTSA Recall Number 22V413000 (Power Train). The contact stated after the gear shifter was placed in drive(D) and she placed her foot on the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that a friend checked under the hood of the vehicle and noticed that the shifter cable bushing had detached. The contact’s friend was able to reattach the shifter cable bushing and the vehicle operated as needed. The contact then stated that the friend had place his foot on the accelerator pedal to engage the vehicle then immediately engaged the parking brake to park the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission shifter cable bushing needed to be replaced; however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Power train, Aug 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she experienced a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was not drivable. The driver towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the transmission linkage needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was unknown.
Power train, Aug 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was stuck in a neutral position. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:22V413000 (Power Train ). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the bushing continued to pop off. The local dealer was contacted and informed the parts were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called another local dealer, Fitts Ford 8000 Auto Dr, Riverside, CA 92504 but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Aug 8, 2022
2016 FORD FUSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE SAFETY RECALL 22S43/22V413. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.
Power train, Aug 5, 2022
i spoke to the Ford dealership service department tech about the recall (22S43/22V413) & was told that Ford stopped making repairs as of the end of July for the problem until the customer has an actual problem and has to have the car towed in - then & only then will parts be sent to the dealership for the repair - Ford repaired some cars in July but notified service departments that Ford will not ship out parts until a customer's car is towed in for repairs to be fixed....Ford will pay for the tow and all parts but cars are not to be repaired until they are broken! I spoke to a rep from Ford and their story was totally different - parts are not available until at least October, so my question is - what happens to cars that exhibit this problem? DOES THE OWNER HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER TO GET A FIX - that seems ridiculous - I asked to speak to a Supervisor and have been waiting for over 30 minutes so will hang up now since no one wants to speak to a customer......
Power train, Aug 5, 2022
My car won’t shift into gear. It’s stuck in neutral
Power train, Aug 4, 2022
Car shifts and jerks between gears
Power train, Jul 23, 2022
When shifting in to any gear (reverse, neutral, drive, or speed), the shifter does not click into place. While shifting, the dash does not illuminate with the corresponding gear. The car stays in park regardless of acceleration being applied or not. This poses a safety hazard while driving as this can switch at any point, posing potential harm to other drivers as well. I am filling out this form prior to contacting the dealership. I am unsure at this time of the specific issue.
Power train, Jul 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon the start of the vehicle, he attempted to shift the vehicle out of park(P) into drive(D); however, the gear shifter seized in the neutral(N). No warning lights were illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to his residence due to the failure. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer had been notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Jul 17, 2022
My 2016 Ford Fusion Titanium with the 2.0 EcoBoost has 75k miles. A couple of days ago, it started misfiring on cylinder 1 while driving. The vehicle started jerking when trying to accelerate onto the interstate. White smoke started pouring out of the exhaust and the vehicle was violently shaking. The check engine light illuminated and started flashing. I was stranded on the interstate waiting for a tow truck as the vehicle wouldn't start after I turned it off. The shop the vehicle was taken to stated the was a crack on the engine block causing coolant to get into the cylinder. Now I have to pay over $6k out of pocket for a long block replacement. This is a common issue with EcoBoost engines, and now the consumers are stuck forking the cost of a replacement. Ford knows this is an issue... More importantly, the fact I was stranded on the interstate with people passing me doing 85 mph and the hazard that it caused it what infuriates me the most. I really hope somebody is able to get Ford to remedy this.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 10, 2022
When we put the car into reverse there are times the transmission jerks a bit.
Power train, Jul 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted into park(P) however, the instrument panel displayed that the vehicle was shifted into Reverse(R). Additionally, the vehicle was unable to restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) was associated with the VIN; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
Power train, Jun 30, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to move out of park(P) without warning. The vehicle was towed to her residence where a mechanically inclined relative inspected the vehicle. A code reader determined that power steering was defective. The DTC codes were reset however, the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that her vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The dealer was notified and the contact was informed that parts for the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer suggested that the contact could pay out-of-pocket for the repair and be reimbursed once the part became available. The contact declined the offer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Jun 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in park(P), the vehicle inadvertently moved. While shifting into gear, the shifter moved into another gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
Power train, Jun 17, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced an unstated failure and was informed by the dealer that the vehicle might be repaired in October 2022. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Jun 13, 2022
Was in reverse to enter a parking spot, shifted down to drive (lever moved to D) but car stayed in Reverse. I could freely move the lever from Drive to Reverse but the transmission would not shift out of reverse. I moved car to parking spot, moved lever to park (car never shifted out of reverse), put the emergency brake on, then shut the car off. The car will no longer start now because the transmission is stuck in Reverse (lever is in park). Significant safety issue...I could have unknowingly reversed into anything or anyone at first when I "shifted" to Drive remaining in reverse. Upon inspection the bushing/cap did fall off of the shifting cable, which was recalled on thousands of Fords same model and year. Consumer had to pay for a cap and seal to replace the one that was missing.
Power train, Jun 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated when he tried to shift the vehicle into drive it failed and it would stay in Park gear. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed that the bushing detached from the transmission. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home where he was able to get a temporary repair on the vehicle. The dealer and manufacturer were contacted and both of them stated that the vehicle was not under NHTSA Campaign Number:19V362000(POWER TRAIN) and that he would have to pay for the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 1306
Power train, May 31, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter inadvertently shifted to neutral(N) due to a detached gear shifter cable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 111,966.
Power train, May 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned off, she attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start. A warning message indicating that the vehicle was not in park(P) illuminated. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle successfully, she attempted to shift into gear, but the gear shifter remained stuck in park(P). The vehicle then started reversing. A bystander assisted the contact with stopping the vehicle by engaging the parking brake. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that the shift link cable had fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V362000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was approximately 98,800.
Power train, May 19, 2022
Car is in park but the dash is showing the car is still in drive. Unable to move shifter at all.
Power train, May 13, 2022
Gear bushing issue not included in 2016 Ford Fusion Recall in 2019. Car was in a hand wash car was when the bushing broke and rolled into reverse. The car was turned off and then would not start because the gear shifter would not allow the car to go into park even though the shifter appeared to be in Park.
Steering, Power train, May 11, 2022
The power steering goes out randomly, mostly when it is hot outside or on the interior. It is not included in the current recall for this issue, however it needs to be. It happened in 2021 and now is still happening in 2022. No issues prior to the failure until power steering alert goes off. I have almost crashed multiple times due to this failure.
Power train, May 2, 2022
This recall should apply to my VIN but the dealer say it does not. NHTSA ID: 19V362 My car did exactly this issue thought I had put the vehicle in Park by the shifter but when I went to get out of the vehicle it started to roll away. I have found this part in the recall notice is what the problem but they won't replace it. So now I have a unsafe vehicle.
Power train, Apr 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 10 MPH independently and emitted abnormal sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred while driving that same day. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts and turned the hazards lights on as she was in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to a used car dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were recalls associated to the failure; however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Power train, Apr 22, 2022
Placed car in park and turned if off. When I took my foot off the brake it started rolling away. The vehicle would not start saying it was not in park.