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
440 reports, newest first.
Engine, Jul 14, 2025
Engine failure due to coolant leaking into cylinders. This is a known issue. Also Ford has issued a bulletin on this. but no recall yet! I still own 10k on my car and now a blown engine.
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2025
My dashboard cover is peeling, it is made from leather, it is interfering with the heads up diplat, automatic lighting system and forward braking safety components, I have brought this to Ford to try to have them repair it dash but I am always told that the piece is considered trim and is not under warranty, I have also checked with Ford Fusion message boards and it seems there is a TSB on the exact 2017 model. Ford has basically told me to have it repaired at a automobile leather restoration company, I have gone to 2 different repair shops and was told it can’t be repaired it has to be replaced. I called Ford Corporation customer service and because they have no outstanding recalls on my vehicle they told me to report this to you
Other or unspecified, Jul 13, 2025
Leaking coolant
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the low coolant warning light had illuminated prematurely. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact was unable to find a coolant leak. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle overheated while driving, which required the contact to pull over temporarily and to resume driving after the vehicle had cooled down. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, which caused the engine to slowly fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Power train, Jul 10, 2025
UNKNOWN
Power train, Jul 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle started shuddering. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant leaking into the cylinder. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer for parts; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Engine, Jul 4, 2025
Coolant intrusion into engine cylinder #2 causing misfire and low coolant levels and overheating and stalling. See Ford TSB 22-2229
Engine, Jun 20, 2025
The engine cooling system and engine block failed due to coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. This issue has been diagnosed by an independent mechanic and is available for inspection upon request. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by an independent service center, which diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine block, a known issue on this engine. The shop recommended full engine replacement and stated this is a common failure in this vehicle. Not yet by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. The issue has only been inspected by a certified independent mechanic. Yes, a check engine light appeared along with a coolant temperature warning message. The vehicle also began to idle roughly, produce heavy exhaust, and consume coolant. These symptoms began appearing shortly before diagnosis in June 2025. I own a 2018 Ford Fusion with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle recently began experiencing coolant loss, heavy exhaust, and check engine alerts. A certified mechanic confirmed that coolant has intruded into the engine block, causing internal misfires and risk of major engine failure. I was told this is a common and well-documented issue with this engine design, yet there has been no official recall from Ford despite similar problems affecting other models (referenced in Ford TSB 19-2208). The mechanic has recommended a full engine replacement with an estimated cost of $13,000. This is a serious safety concern, as the engine can overheat, stall, or seize while driving.
Engine, Jun 19, 2025
2018 fusion AWD Titanium, less than 70,000 miles, no warning, no reason. Driving 70mph on interstate when low coolant light comes on, check engine light comes on, car starts losing power and running rough, finally full stall in middle of freeway with catastrophic engine failure due to coolant leak and faulty design. Car was not low on any fluids as they were checked everyday before it was driven. This could have gotten me and my children killed and quite frankly I dont know how it didn't. I bought this car with 44k miles on it. Drove it less than 30k miles and had catastrophic engine failure. This was AFTER I had it in the shop several times for crank shaft position sensor, wouldn't start, and several other problems. The car was taken care of and in immaculate condition. Ford knew these engines would fail prematurely and continued to manufacture them and sell them.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle shuddered. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "Coolant Overheating" was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Power train, Jun 13, 2025
Transmission shift linkage bushing failure and torque converter shudder shudder been on going problem for approximately 12months90000
Steering, Traction control system, Engine, Jun 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure persisted, and the contact stated that the steering wheel was loose while operating the vehicle. The contact stated that the traction control warning light flashed on the instrument panel during one of the failures. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure of the vehicle. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
Engine, Jun 7, 2025
Vehicle has a loss of coolant but no visible leaks think may be due to a engine leak.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the contact heard a sound like running water coming from the engine. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant leaking into the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact related to the failure of the Customer Satisfaction Program: 19B37 (Engine - Powertrain Control Module Reprogramming). The contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the fuel tank. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a coolant sensor failure. The coolant sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the coolant sensor. The contact stated that recently, the failure had recurred. The vehicle was taken to a different independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine block was cracked and 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 contact related to the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12; however, the vehicle was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the message "Engine Overheating" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was internal coolant intrusion into the cylinders, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Other or unspecified, May 28, 2025
A frozen rear-view camera display image while in reverse
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, May 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated and the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust, and the engine was running abnormally rough. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #1, 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. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Engine, May 27, 2025
My vehicle has had the check engine light come on intermittently. I took a look under the hood to see if I could spot any issues. The only issue seen was the coolant level was low. After refilling the coolant and a short time driving, perhaps 50-60 miles, the light went out. Then the light came back on a couple days later. Without making any changes the light went out a couple days later. It has done this several times and I thought it may be a faulty sensor or something. I have recently taken it to the dealership for a tune-up, emissions test, multipoint inspection and a transmission flush. I informed the service person that the check engine light will come on and go out and the only thing I have done to the vehicle was add coolant. He suggested the complimentary diagnostic to further identify the issue. During the diagnostic process the auto tech discovered that the coolant has been leaking into the number 2 cylinder. This is the reason for both the fluid loss and the check engine light. From my understanding this is a known issue with my vehicles engine type and has been for some time now. The only fix is to replace the engine. My overall issue is that the safety light (CEL) will say that there is an issue and then it goes away signifying the issue is resolved. The potential hazards of this could possibly lead to an individual unknowingly putting themselves and others at risk with an engine that is prepped for failure. An engine that could overheat, catch fire, throw a rod, or simply lose power in a very dangerous location. For example the freeway, a bridge with heavy traffic, or on train tracks…etc. I believe the risk of failure and potential to lose a life should be considered heavily against the cost of a recall. I don’t believe during the buying process it has ever been disclosed that this specific engine is prone to this problem. I know I would not have made my purchase knowing the engine would need to be replaced within the first 10 years of ownership.
Power train, May 23, 2025
At 68,000 miles, the transmission began experiencing symptoms of a failed transmission. I took it to the dealer and they confirmed that there was a CONCERN HARSH SHIFT ON 3RD GEAR AND DIAGNOSE DIRECT DRUM CAUSING CUST CONCERN AND SHUDDER CONCERN TORQUE CONVERTER. This diagnosis caused the vehicle to hard shift everytime i would take off and often time cause a kick on the transmission. Because of this, the rear main seal of the engine also gave out prematurely. While driving on the freeway, the engine began leaking oil suddenly from the rear main seal causing the entire bottom of the engine to get soaked with oil. This also caused the oil to fall in to the brake pads and rotors. While driving on the freeway, i lost braking power and could not stop safely. I had to pull to the shoulder and attempt to stop the vehicle. Fortunatelly, there were no cars on the soulder and was able to stop the vehicle. This is where i discovered the vehicle full of oil in the bottom of the vehicle along with the brake pads and rotors. The vehicle was towed to the house about 130 miles. Once discovered, it was taken to Sunrise Ford where they discovered all of the issues. The service tech told me that it is a common problem for those transmissions to fail prematurely and cause other problems. This is a safety issue because after 7 years of the vehicle being on the road with under 100k miles, it is posing a safety hazard not only for the customers but also the public. Please investigate the transmission issue that is leading to other safety issues. This is the 6F35 transmission that is installed on these vehicles. These transmissions are famous for failing prematurely. This was one of those cases. No check engine light comes on to indicate that there is trouble with the transmission. This problem is putting others and oneself at risk because it lead to other failed components. The problem first appeared at 55k miles and around january 2023.
Engine and engine cooling, May 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Low Engine Oil Pressure” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion); however, the vehicle was not covered. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
Air bags, Service brakes, May 10, 2025, crash
Accident caused by brakes slipping and failing to stop even when pushed all the way down to the floor. Air bags failed to deploy. Resulting in a total loss estimate after accident.
Engine and engine cooling, May 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the message that the engine was overheating was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted after the contact added coolant to the reservoir. The contact stated that after adding coolant to the reservoir, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the cylinders, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was referred to the dealer for further assistance. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,000.
Steering, May 5, 2025
I was driving as normal I went to make a turn and out of nowhere my car would not turn and almost got smashed on the side of the car would not have swerved out of the way. There was no warning signs lights symptoms or anything one minute it was normal the next was what could have been a deadly situation. After getting a mechanic to diagnose it after removing the steering wheel, because initially was thought the steering column went out or broke, it was found out to be the middle of the steering wheel where it connects to the column that is suppose to be the shape of an Alan wrench was almost completely worn down to almost a flat circle. I cannot stress enough how scary and deadly this could have been to me and other motorist. This was verified by mechanics this is not normal wear and tear this has to be a defect.