2018 Ford Fusion
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 440 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 15 Fusion model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 9 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 6 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
Representative owner complaints: engine
271 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, May 11, 2022
I was driving to work one day and my car's engine light came on and then the overheating light signaled and would drop and then signal again randomly one morning, with no sign of smoke or overheating. Unfortunately, I was crossing a bridge when this happened. My car started to slow down and eventually just stopped moving ON THE BRIDGE. I finally got it to a mechanic who thought that the codes ran could be fixed with a tuneup. Got a tuneup and the Engine light came right back on. He then looked further into the issue and found out about the eco engine issue. I could not drive my car for two weeks until ford could fit me in their schedule because they were booked two weeks out. I get it to the dealer and they tell me the car is leaking coolant into my engine and now my engine needs to be replaced and that this is a common issue but I must pay for this fix myself. This is wrong and completely unsafe to put people on the road in these cars knowing this can happen.
Engine, May 3, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in the cylinder and the engine block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Engine, Mar 5, 2022
Never had a problem with car no leaks nothing than starting to overheat checked coolant was empty refilled next day was empty again yet no leaks had it looked at all coolant is in engine block but no blown head or other way saw in other complaints lots with same car had same problem and said it’s a flaw engine where coolant gets into cylinder still owe more money then car is worth now and can’t drive
Engine and engine cooling, Other or unspecified, Mar 3, 2022
Ford issued a recall in 2020 for my car for coolant leaks. My vehicle was under warranty at the time (28k miles), and in the same week had white smoke emissions, engine stalling on the interstate and overheating in idle. The smoke never went away even after extensive, month long repair. The vehicle again had the same issues in august 2020 (76k miles), taken to Ford dealership with $3,000 in out of pocket expense. It is now March 2022 (82k miles) and my vehicle is still showing signs of coolant leak with no help from any Ford dealership.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 17, 2022
Cylinder 2 Misfire. Told engine needs to be replaced due to a leak. Car was completely dead overnight with no other symptoms leading up to it.
Power train, Engine, Dec 10, 2021
Upon entering off ramp to highway , upon acceleration car shudders and goes into limp mode, can't accelerate and forced to try and pull over to stop vehicle and re-start. Very dangerous as it is random, can't re-create and has happened at highway speeds, very unsafe. Took it to dealer, Ford could not recreate and said there were no codes present and subsequently found nothing wrong.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 30, 2021
Electrical: My car’s radio was going out and I took to Ford for a check while getting oil change. They said normal don’t worry about it. At this time I was still in warranty. When taken to Ford the 2nd time,they “reset” my SYNC & then the radio/touchscreen complete stopped working within 48 hours. When I told them, I just happened to be out of warranty then. Touch screen is completely blank! It will not turn on or allow controls for heat nor a/c. Cannot see backup camera nor can I hear the beeps. The USB plugs and outlets are also not working! This began in January 2020. I have a 7 month old at the time and it was a very cold winter. Engine: Fast forward to August 2020, my car just shut down in the middle of the highway and started shaking with my then 15 month old! Pulled over and had it towed to Ford. Ford told me it needed a new Engine and would cost $7500 to get it fixed. I had never issues before and each oil change received the multi point inspection and I was never informed of any issues prior to.
Engine, Oct 13, 2021
Head gasket failure
Engine, Oct 13, 2021
Blown head gasket at only 85k miles.
Engine, Sep 20, 2021
My check engine light came on. It was diagnosed as a misfire in cylinder 2. Today I was told the entire engine needs to be replaced
Engine, Jul 30, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into reverse, the vehicle misfired. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The failure became worse after driving for a while. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired however, the repair was pending. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,700.
Engine, Jun 18, 2021
Check engine light (#2 cylinder misfire) was generated, rough idle on start, cold start is prolonged, high temperature indicated, coolant quickly emptied on its own (within minutes, it was half full) and white smoke exiting the exhaust. NHTSA has a TSB related to this year model vehicle: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10169807-0001.pdf I believe this issue is related to the above link.
Engine, Apr 17, 2021
45,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ENGINE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDERS
Power train, Engine, Mar 10, 2021
DRIVETRAIN WARNING LIGHT THEN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD THE CODES READ (P2119) CAME UP TOOK TO FORD SHOP AND WAS TOLD MY THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WAS STUCK CLOSED AND HAD FAILED. MY VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 41000 MILES ON IT. LUCKILY IT IS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY.
Engine, Jan 12, 2021
PURCHASED 2018 FORD FUSION TITANIUM USED IN AUGUST 2019. IN DECEMBER 2020 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE. SERVICE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE ECOBOOST ENGINE BECAUSE THERE IS A BAD CAST ON THE HEAD. THIS CAUSES COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE OIL. THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. FORD REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND THE COST OF FIXING IT FALLS ON ME. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SMELT OF BURNING. WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST.
Power train, Engine, Sep 15, 2020
2018 FORD FUSION SE 1.5L ECOBOOST 66K MILES- 8/27/2020 I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL OUT, VERY ROUGH SHAKY IDLE, AND IDLING AT 800 OR LESS RPMS. ON GREEN, I ATTEMPTED TO GO AND MY CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING, AGAIN FEELING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL DUE TO LITTLE POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING THEN WOULD STAY LIT, FLASHING EVERY SO OFTEN. AIR CONDITIONING WOULD GO IN AND OUT WARM TO COLD AND IT WAS ROUGH AND SHAKY TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO GO. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE IMMEDIATELY WHERE I GOT THE P0302 READING INVOLVING IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. WE REPLACED ALL 4 PLUGS AND COIL PACKS THAT NIGHT AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND THE CAR WAS STILL IDLING ROUGH AND HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING. TOOK CAR TO A MECHANIC SHOP 8/29/2020 WHERE IT WAS LOOKED AT 8/30/2020. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FOR SURE CYLINDER 2 MISFIRE AND THAT THE SPARK PLUG WAS COVERED IN OIL (WHICH WAS BRAND NEW COILS, NO OIL WHEN THEY WERE REPLACED JUST DAYS BEFORE). HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT AT 9/1/2020 AND IT WAS INSPECTED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VERDICT WAS VERTICAL SCORING PRESENT ON CYLINDER WALLS IN CONSISTENT WITH PISTON AND PISTON RING CAUSING OIL CONSUMPTION AND PRESSURE LOSS; NEEDS A NEW LONG BLOCK. THIS WAS NOTHING I HAD DONE TO THE VEHICLE, NO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, UP TO DATE ON ALL OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE BUT MY WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY 1.5 L ECOBOOST ENGINES AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE DEFAULT IN THE ENGINE. THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE BEFORE I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR. THERE IS REPROGRAMMING OF SOFTWARE TO BANDAID THE PROBLEM BUT NOW THIS IS MY PROBLEM THEY WANT ME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR.
Engine, Sep 11, 2020
COOLANT LEAKED INTERNALLY. ROUGH WHILE IDLING. LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE.
Engine, May 19, 2020
RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT FORD THAT THE COOLANT COULD BE GOING INTO ENGINE AND COULD DAMAGE ENGINE MIGHT NEED A PART IM IN FLORIDA SINCE 1/2/2020 THE CAR IS ON INSURANCE MODE NOT BEING MOVED OR STARTED SO NO DAMAGE CAN HAPPEN WE WILL BE BACK IN N Y MID JUNE , THE CAR IS A LEASE CAR AND WILL I BSTILL BE ABLE TO BRING IN FOR REPAIRS WITHOUT ANY COST TO ME WHICH I CANT CONTROL DO TO THE VIRUS IN N Y C. *TR
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 22, 2020
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, LOTS OF WHITE SMOKE OUT OF TAILPIPE AND DARK BLACK SPARK PLUGS AT 15,000 MILES! DEALER SAID I GOT BAD GAS OR VANDALISM THEREFORE NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAD TO PAY A LOCAL MECHANIC TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS, PUMP OUT AND REPLACE FUEL. TWO WEEKS LATER I RECEIVE A FORD LETTER STATING COOLANT CAN LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER BORES CAUSING EXACTLY HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. NOW I HAVE TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT.
Engine, Jan 14, 2020
I STARTED LOSING COOLANT AS A I DROVE WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE LEAKS AROUND THE ENGINE OR COOLING SYSTEM. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO MY DEALER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTERNALLY AND THAT THE DEALER IS VERY USED TO SEEING THIS ISSUE ON 2018 AND 2019 FORD FUSIONS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THANKFULLY IT'S UNDER WARRANTY. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON ISSUE THAT THE DEALER IS AWARE OF IT AS SOON AS I BRING IN THE VEHICLE, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE? THEY ARE WARRANTING THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND LABOR...SO I'M ASSUMING THEY HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE.
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 27, 2019
WHILE STOPPED AT A INTERSECTION FOR A RED LIGHT THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. I COULDN'T TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, ROLL DOWN WINDOWS OR UNLOCK DOORS. EVERYTHING WAS DEAD. I WAS IDLING AT THE STOP LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.