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 and engine cooling, Apr 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Engine, Apr 4, 2025
Engine throws misfire code on cylinder accompanied by loss of coolant with no visible leaks. Coolant intrusion into the cylinder has begun due to Ford’s engine block design flaw.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a warning light indicating that the engine was overheating was illuminated. The contact added coolant to the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an excessive coolant consumption. The vehicle was taken to Advance Auto, where it was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #3. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #3. The dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 24, 2025
My car had a bad shifting linkage which I paid for out of pocket. My 2.0 Ecoboost engine is leaking coolant into my oil and makes a very loud concerning ticking noise, along with reduced engine power and sporadic/random loss of brakes. There has been recalls for these issues on most other Ford Fusion models and this one NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. My engine is going to blow any day now and I will be stuck paying for the rest of my car loan for a vehicle I cannot drive. All of the Ecoboost engines should be recalled for poor design.
Engine, Mar 15, 2025
While driving about 60 miles per hour the vehicle started to buck and loose speed. The check engine light came on and I pulled over. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where I was told that I have a coolant leak. The leak caused a break in cylinder 2 and the engine would have to be replaced.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 13, 2025
Was driving and car started overheating. Looking at coolant levels, they were low. Refilled coolant and car started fine. Next day driving the vehicle, the engine shut down completely. Took the vehicle to Parks Ford dealership in Hendersonville NC to find the problem. I received a call from a service representative and he said there is a coolant intrusion into the cylinder or cylinders and the engine needs to be replaced. I asked to check for recalls and he stated none were found. I did my own research and found many vehicles with the 1.5 liter Ecoboost engine have had this issue and have had a recall in the past. I. Short, Ford has said they will not have my vehicle fixed due to the fact the 3 year warranty has expired and or 85,000 miles have been passed. I have financed this vehicle starting [XXX]. As of now my vehicle has almost 110,000 miles. Doing more research into this Ford has offered a fix for this. A new midi small block replacement and head gasket replacement. Doing more research into this, I have found the vehicle engine could possibly catch on fire if the coolant intrusion is not corrected. The Ford dealership quoted me $9,000 without tax to replace the engine. This just isn't doable. How can this not be a safety issue if the vehicle can and will shut off while driving and potentially catch on fire? Ford should replace the flawed engine design that they have been very well aware of. I am still making payments on this vehicle to own and I cannot risk driving it because it is used to transport my children and my wife, not with the safety factors involved. Help to have the manufacturer flawed design fixed to the updated design, that has no issues of the same, would help blue collard individuals a tremendous amount. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Engine, Mar 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the "WRENCH" symbol was displayed. The contact was unable to shift the transmission into drive(D). The contact had to wait for approximately 15 to 20 minutes before attempting to restart the vehicle before shifting into drive(D). The contact stated that the failure recurred, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Power train, Engine, Mar 3, 2025
At 135,815 miles, my 2018 Ford Fusion SE experienced a sudden transmission failure while driving, with no prior warning signs. The vehicle was towed to Certified Transmission, where technicians confirmed: Transmission fluid level was correct but black/degraded. Multiple failure codes were present. Transmission pump whined and stopped functioning. Diagnosis: Internal transmission failure (6/17/2024). The shop stated this issue is common in these transmissions. The entire transmission had to be replaced. At 141,164 miles, just 5,349 miles later, the engine shut off on the highway while driving, again with no warning lights. After pulling onto the shoulder, it restarted after 10 minutes but was smoking heavily. Coolant was critically low in the reserve tank. Diagnosis: Cracked cylinder head due to coolant intrusion, a known defect in 1.5L EcoBoost engines. I contacted Ford Customer Care about CSP 21N12, but they refused assistance since my vehicle exceeds 84,000 miles, despite this well-documented defect. Safety Concerns: Unexpected transmission & engine failure while driving creates a serious risk. Engine shutoff on the highway could have led to an accident. Coolant intrusion in 1.5L EcoBoost engines is a known issue, yet Ford has failed to notify all owners. This issue affects many owners and creates major safety risks. I urge the NHTSA to investigate and consider a mandatory recall to prevent further incidents.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. A dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the failure was a known issue and that the engine needed to be replaced; however, there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 5, 2025
On 4 occasions, the car has shut off while moving and in traffic. A dashboard message appears, saying "full accessory mode". After coming to a stop, the car will immediately restart. My obd reader shows no error codes. The car has 18,000 miles on it and this problem occurs randomly. It happened first when the car was a few weeks old. I took it to dealer and they found no problem. Ot has happened 3 times since then. This problem has been reported at least 15 times on the ford fusion sport forum.
Engine, Feb 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started hesitating. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #2, and the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB: 20-2100 (Coolant in Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke, And/or Illuminated MIL); however, the VIN was not included in the service bulletin. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the TSB. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the temperature gauge began to indicate that the vehicle was overheating, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion into various cylinders had resulted in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 103,500.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the engine was misfiring with white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The size of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe had increased over time. The “WRENCH” warning light remained illuminated. The check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was hesitating while attempting to start. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the engine block had coolant intrusion in two cylinders and was causing the misfire. The contact replaced the coils and spark plugs; however, the failure persisted. The contact became aware of NHTSA ID Number: 10213732 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which was linked to the failure. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not included due to the mileage. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under the NHTSA ID Number. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was 119,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered with white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant leak into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and filed a complaint. The vehicle remained at residence unrepaired. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Engine, Jan 9, 2025
Engine overheated multiple times during high speed/high traffic situations due to a design flaw within the engine. Ford was aware of these issues in this engine for years and still knowingly sold them to American consumers, myself included. This is wrong and erodes the trust myself and others have in the American auto industry.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 8, 2025
The contact's son owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact's son stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and white smoke emitted from the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions and the coolant level was abnormally low. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Engine, Dec 26, 2024
The car was taken to the repair shop due to reduced speed and shaking. The repair shop mentioned that a bulletin for the car indicated that coolant could leak into the engine. They reported that the coolant had indeed leaked onto the engine, causing the gasket to blow. The dealer was contacted and was informed that it was an extended warranty of up to 84000/ 7 years. so I was referred to NHTSA Case S3H0j5
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinder, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
Engine, Nov 24, 2024
During traffic on the highway, my car had a slight rumble to it but no warning lights were on and there were no weird sounds or smells coming from my car. After I cleared the traffic, the rumbling dissipated but as I accelerated my check engine light turned on and began flashing. I immediately exited and pulled over. After popping my hood, it smelled of burnt oil and the entire engine bay looked like it had been misted with oil. Auto shop scanned the engine light and said I had a cylinder 2 misfire. Another auto shop had said my engine was out of commission and I’d need a new one.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Nov 20, 2024
While waiting at a red traffic light in drive and on a slight incline, engine shut off by itself and car started rolling backward with my foot on the brake pedal. The pedal felt harder than normal to push but didn't stop the car. A car stopped behind me was put at risk of impact with the rear of my vehicle. I could see I was getting closer and closer to hitting the other car. As this was happening, i pushed the start button and managed to restart the engine and put it in drive to pull away just before impact. Problem hasn't been reproduced by anyone. Vehicle or components haven't been inspected by anyone. No warning light lamps or other symptoms of the problem prior or during remaining drive home. I don't know if this is related but the car does have a random no start symptom due to a battery discharge condition while parked overnight. This happens very rarely and is not reproducible when the battery is charged. Ford has a TSB ref.17-2192 on this failure that is applicable to my VIN but they will not cover it since my car is out of warranty (Time and 73K miles). The dealer further stated that there is no guarantee that this re-programming of the PCM will fix the problem. The Ford dealer gave me an estimate of $214 for the re-programming of the PCM and it does not include a new battery if it needs it. I have an appointment to get it done on 11/22/24 but I'm reluctant to pay for something that may not fix the parasitic PCM draw on the battery. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering significantly and the engine overheated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving at 20 MPH. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a coolant intrusion in the engine. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced and related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12 and TSB Number: 22-2134. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance in covering the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced rough idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the spark plugs were replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the fuel injector in cylinder #3 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to Terrebonne Ford (339 St Charles St, Houma, LA 70360), where it was determined that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinder block and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Engine, Nov 5, 2024
On [XXX], My car began attempting to overheat. This caused me to stop, and park the car until it cooled down, multiple times. (Unsafe) All of my fluids have been filled and checked occasionally prior to this. After multiple roadside trips, I presented my car to AutoNation FORD which is located on Philips Highway in Jacksonville, Florida. An inspection was performed on my vehicle over the weekend which proved my car in fact has a coolant intrusion which is the Latest Recall for the Ford Model. The dealership informed me that my car does not qualify under the recall due to the mileage of the vehicle which is currently 130k. This seems so unfair because I did not do anything wrong that led to this. I am unable to drive my car a mile or 2 without it trying to overheat. This is a risk and I do not feel safe operating this vehicle. It was also very displeasing hearing that operating the unsafe vehicle is my only other alternative besides coming out of pocket with 14k. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Nov 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak in the engine and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine and the cylinders needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed of an Extended Warranty Program; however, the contact was informed that the mileage had been exceeded by 9,000 miles. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the extended warranty. 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 93,451.
Engine, Oct 31, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was driving rough. In addition, the contact noticed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of coolant. The failure progressed, and the engine started overheating. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a cracked engine and coolant intrusion. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided no assistance. The contact referenced Technical Service Bulletin: 22-2134; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the program. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,800.