2016 Ford Fusion Problems and Recalls (1,714 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2016 Ford Fusion is Engine (26% of 1,714 owner reports). There are 13 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 1,714 complaints · 13 recalls
What problems show up on the 2016 Ford Fusion?
450 of 1,714 filings named Engine (26% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Transmission / driveline (271 reports).
There are 13 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system, Seat belts, Steering, Transmission / driveline, Brakes, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2015 has 1,058 reports on file; this year has 1,714. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Engine 450 complaints · 26.3% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 62
- Fires 6
- Injuries 32
- Deaths 1
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine (ENGINE) | 450 | 26.3% | 1 crashes · 2 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 271 | 15.8% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 159 | 9.3% | 10 crashes · 0 fires |
| Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) | 131 | 7.6% | 7 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 95 | 5.5% | 8 crashes · 1 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 73 | 4.3% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 71 | 4.1% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Wheels (WHEELS) | 43 | 2.5% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 41 | 2.4% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 412 | 24.0% | 13 crashes · 2 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 18V167000 was reported 714 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V471000 was reported 1,060 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V362000 was reported 1,361 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V632000 was reported 1,249 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V177000 was reported 1,650 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V413000 was reported 2,485 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 23V162000 was reported 2,207 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 23V775000 was reported 2,984 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 25V695000 was reported 2,369 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V376000 was reported 3,945 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 47 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 51 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 59 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 37 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 75 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 44 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 70 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 92 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 84 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 57 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 44 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 70 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V618000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V250000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V875000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V167000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V471000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V362000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V632000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V177000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V413000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 23V162000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 23V775000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 25V695000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V376000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE17007 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ19005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ19005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ19005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ22004 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ22004 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 |
Safety Recalls (13)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system, Seat belts, Steering, Transmission / driveline, Brakes, and Rear camera / backup safety.
-
Recall campaign 15V618000
Fuel system
- Report date
- Component:
- Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 16V250000
Seat belts
- Report date
- Component:
- Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
- Consequence:
- An improperly welded driver seat riser may fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 16V875000
Seat belts
- Report date
- Component:
- Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
- Consequence:
- If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 18V167000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 18V471000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 19V362000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 19V632000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 20V177000
Safety recall 20V177000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 22V413000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 23V162000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 23V775000
Safety recall 23V775000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 25V695000
Rear camera / backup safety
- Report date
- Component:
- Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 26V376000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Showing 9 of 1,714 complaints · page 1 of 69
CrashFireInjuryDeath
We are having issues with the 2.0 ecoboost engine overheating and going into limp mode and i had it looked at and was told it has the defective engine that FORD knows about and should fix because we can’t afford to buy a new engine and it’s not my fault that the engine is defective
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera displayed an inverted image, causing the vehicle to crash into another parked and unoccupied vehicle on one occasion. The other vehicle sustained minor paint scratches. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank image. The message "Camera Unavailable - Contact Dealer" displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding an incomplete and dangerous repair under Ford Safety Recall 23S12 (NHTSA Campaign 23V162000) for my 2016 Ford Fusion SE AWD. Prior to the service, the vehicle suffered a massive brake fluid leak caused directly by the ruptured front brake hoses covered in this recall. This defect completely drained my master cylinder dry. While operating under these failed hydraulic conditions, the severe fluid loss and abnormal pedal pressure internally compromised the master cylinder seals and destroyed the internal vacuum diaphragm of the brake booster. I took the vehicle to Campbell Ford in Niles, MI to have the recall performed. The dealership replaced the brake hoses, but they flat-out refused to address or troubleshoot the dead power braking vacuum system and the rock-hard brake pedal. The service manager explicitly admitted to me that they did not run a single diagnostic test to rule out how the recall defect caused this booster failure. Instead, the dealership counter staff used the threat of an out-of-pocket diagnostic fee—which they knew I could not afford—to force me to sign a liability waiver and drive an actively unsafe, heavily compromised vehicle off their lot. The dealership fixed a leaking hose but left the catastrophic secondary damage caused by the recall completely unremedied, forcing a vulnerable driver recovering from [XXX] to operate a heavy vehicle with zero power brakes. I am requesting a federal review of this franchise's post-recall safety protocols and an immediate corporate escalation to resolve this vehicle's failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CrashFireInjuryDeath
It's been 1 year and there is still no resolution to this recall. when does this become a priority for the car manufacture to find a solution sooner rather than never?
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Backup camera recall remedy not available. Been over a year of it not working.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed an image with lines. Additionally, the rear-view camera screen was excessively hot to the touch and the rear-view camera display flashed on and off. The contact later became aware that the rear-view camera display failed to power up. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was requested to pay for a diagnostic test. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); 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 contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera displayed a black screen. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but was unable to provide a timeline for when parts would be available. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Coolant intrusion in cylinder 2 code p0302
Ford Fusion Complaints and Recalls by Year
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2016 Ford Fusion?
Owners named Engine most often — 450 of 1,714 reports (26%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2016 Ford Fusion?
NHTSA lists 13 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system, Seat belts, Steering, Transmission / driveline, Brakes, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2016 Ford Fusion?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.