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
1,705 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 10, 2022
All the exterior lights went out. None of them will come on.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle was experiencing rough starts and would overheat while driving at various speeds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that engine cylinder #2 was misfiring and coolant was leaking into the engine block and cylinders. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer who provided the same diagnostic information and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Engine, Oct 7, 2022
Car not starting, engine light on. Took to shop, and was a #3 cylinder misfire error. Shop replaced spark plugs and topped off coolant. Over next few days noticed coolant was disappearing. No leaks. Car running rough, loosing coolant. Took to shop again, after several weeks they came back saying coolant is getting into combustion chamber. Decided to take to dealership, they said I need a new engine. Took to dealership I purchased car from and they said the same, new engine. The car only has 77,000 miles on it. Now it is essentially a paperweight. After researching problem, found out this is a known manufacturers defect (grooves in the head that trap coolant and degrade gasket). 2012 Ford ordered a do not drive notice for the exact same problem. I have wrote to Ford and asked for assistance with the repairs, as this is a manufactures defect, but have been unsuccessful.
Power train, Oct 5, 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 local dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated that the check manual warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she made a left turn and the vehicle started to decelerate. The message “Transmission not in Park” warning light was illuminated with the gear shifter in drive(D). The contact stated that the drive(D) icon was intermittently blinking on the instrument panel. The contact was able to coast to a stop at a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. 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 failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was approximately 68,833.
Engine, Oct 4, 2022
The vehicle started leaking coolant into the engine at just under 100k miles. I took my vehicle to Sunrise Ford in North Hollywood, California, and they want just over $10,000 to replace my engine. I've taken care of this vehicle since I purchase new and have always taken care of it. I do not have the money to replace the engine for more than the car is worth. I've spent money on replacement parts, such as, spark plug coils, spark plugs, and valve cleaning. All this seems to be associated with the coolant leaking into the cylinders. At this point, I continue to add coolant to ensure that I do not overheat the engine. I've also stopped driving the vehicle.
Power train, Engine, Oct 3, 2022
Car engine lost power on interstate potentially causing a serious and life-threatening accident. Upon inspection by mechanic, car is losing coolant into the engine cylinder due to design flaw in engine long block and head gasket. Only warning light was immediate and "engine overheating". Ford Motor Company has confirmed acknowledgement of this issue on 2016 to 2019 Ford Fusion and other Ford models but have not issued a recall for this problem. Car has 72K miles with no history of engine failure, overheating, etc. This problem has been reproduced by Ford dealership and inspected with camera to confirm engine coolant within cylinders. Ford also confirms that they've seen this several times and it is due to engine design flaw for ecoboost models 2016-2019.
Service brakes, Oct 1, 2022
The front brake hoses broke. We received a Customer Satisfaction Program notice from Ford the week before this happened. I called the dealer to get information and wanted them to check my car, but they said it was not necessary. The car was driven on a major highway, the brake fluid came out and not even a mile later, the brake fluid light came on, and i could not stop the car. The brake pedal was to the floor! Luckily, and I mean luckily, I was able to turn into a parking lot. The car was towed to the dealer, where they determined the above. The car has been repaired with "newly designed" hoses. Ford was surely aware of the problem, but did not issue a recall. Truly unbelievable!
Air bags, Sep 29, 2022, crash
On August the 17th, 2022 at approximately 1 pm our vehicle was rear-ended and was pushed into another vehicle from a dead stop in a traffic jam by a Chevy Van traveling between 45 and 50 mph until impact. Not a single airbag had deployed during or after the accident.
Wheels, Sep 29, 2022
Lug nut shattered and unable to remove the nut to safely replace
Engine, Sep 28, 2022
antifreeze loss that allows coolant to enter into the cylinders of the engine.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Sep 26, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated with DTC: P301 (Cylinder #1 Misfire). The contact stated that he replaced the spark plugs however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine and that the engine and the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not under recall and advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 64,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 22, 2022
Purge valve, fuel filler neck/vacuum neck and air grill issues - check engine lights on for engine and inject issues.
Electrical system, Sep 21, 2022
Soon after purchasing this vehicle the Bluetooth and phone links quit working. I researched and found an abundance of complaints regarding this issue. After contacting dealer and manufacturer I was basically told tough luck on this $1100.00 repair. In my opinion this is a safety issue since not being able to talk hands free can increase driver distraction. Furthermore; several states have enacted laws against hand held phone calls. Since this is an advertised feature, Ford should step up and correct this issue!
Engine, Sep 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and jerked with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that she pulled the vehicle over and checked under the hood where she noticed that the coolant reservoir was empty. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone where it displayed codes: P0302, P0131, P1299, P1450, P0300 and P0303. The contact then stated that she replaced the spark plugs, coils, coolant reservoir, thermostat, and coolant; however, the failure recurred. Additionally, the contact stated that white smoke was coming from the exhaust and the engine became overheated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that coolant had intruded into the engine cylinders, causing the engine to overheat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Steering, Sep 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel loosened and wiggled from side to side. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Service brakes, Sep 17, 2022
On September 13, 2022, car was parked and idling. Heard/felt small pop. Pressed brake pedal to put vehicle in gear and pedal felt much softer than usual and was able to press to floor without effort. Noticed that AC air warmed up was well. Eventually noticed smoke wafting up from engine compartment on passenger side. inspected right front tire and saw oily spots on to inner side of wheel rim. popped hood and oily substance all over inside passenger side of engine compartment, particularly on serpentine belt, explaining the warming air from AC. While I could build up brake pedal pressure it never lasted long and pedal would become soft and press to the floor. Carefully drove car to local dealership and was informed about a "Customer Satisfaction Program" for the vehicle allowing for a one-time replacement of the front brake flexible hoses. Vehicle is currently being repaired.
Power train, Sep 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion with a Salvage Title. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle was scheduled for the recall repair appointment at the local dealer; however, the dealer then called the contact to cancel and informed that the manufacturer would not cover the costs due to the vehicle having Salvage Title. The manufacturer was then contacted and confirmed they would not cover the costs due to the Salvage Title and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical system, Sep 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the horn had malfunctioned and no audible sound was present when the horn was pressed. The contact indicated that the failure was intermittent initially but eventually became a permanent failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the local dealer who were both unable to determine the cause of the failure. The local dealer recommended that the vehicle be taken to an electrician. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 83,700.
Power train, Sep 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine revved while the vehicle hesitated during acceleration. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Power train, Sep 13, 2022
Vehicle is suffering from coolant intrusion into cylinders. This is a widely know and reported issue. Vehicle is overheating which is a serious fire hazard. There is no way that vehicles with the affected powertrain should not be recalled! These cars aren’t lasting 60k-70k miles! Total Ford rip off! They should be held accountable for a repair due to their fault costing over $6k!
Power train, Sep 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with a defective shifter cable bushing. The contact was then informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V362000 (Power Train) and the vehicle was repaired. Recently, the contact stated that the vehicle would lunge forward while in park(P). Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The contact called the dealer and the manufacturer and was informed that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and stalled. The check engine warning light and the coolant temperature warning light were illuminated. The contact's wife veered to the side of the road. The contact's wife was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts however, the failure persisted and there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking into the cylinder head of the engine. The independent mechanic then towed the vehicle to an unknown dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the vehicle was not included in an unknown recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 100,382.
Service brakes, Sep 8, 2022
Ford dealer has the part but refuse to repair it for me claiming FORD manufacture hasn’t issued the official recall letter. It has been 3 months that I am not able to use my car. Please let me know when I can get this recall repaired. Thank you!
Power train, Sep 8, 2022, crash
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that she placed the vehicle in the park position and then exit the vehicle, when without warning the vehicle inadvertently rolled in reverse and crashed into another vehicle. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a Ford dealer for diagnosis but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Power train, Sep 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after parking on a slight incline with the engine still running, the vehicle began to roll backward while the transmission shifter was in the park position. After being alerted the vehicle was rolling backward the contact stopped the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. The contact then discovered that the transmission could not be shifted into drive(D), rendering the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission shifter cable bushing had detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The contact also indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V362000 (Power Train) for the same failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.