no report yet
Power train: manual transmission
NewRisk. 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.
2016 Ford FusionProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,662 owner complaints about the 2016 Ford Fusion, most often about the engine. It is covered by 13 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-695 the manufacturer reports only 1% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Ford Fusion has problems
1,662 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
447Engine7 crash/fire/injury
311Power train11 crash/fire/injury
176Steering13 crash/fire/injury
150Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
143Back over prevention8 crash/fire/injury
109Engine and engine cooling
85Service brakes
83Fuel/propulsion system
50Air bags
36421 other systems31 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 447 | 7 |
| Power train | 311 | 11 |
| Steering | 176 | 13 |
| Electrical system | 150 | 6 |
| Back over prevention | 143 | 8 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 109 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 85 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 83 | 3 |
| Air bags | 50 | 15 |
| 21 other systems | 364 | 31 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
13 recalls
2016 Ford Fusion recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Sensing system: camera
Risk. 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.
repaired · 2026 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
repaired · 2025 Q1
Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 9 more recalls
repaired · 2024 Q3
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. 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.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
repaired · 2021 Q1
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2020 Q4
Lever and linkage: floor shift
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2019 Q4
Lever and linkage: floor shift
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2019 Q3
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Risk. A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Seat belts: front
Risk. If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Front: anchorage
Risk. An improperly welded driver seat riser may fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Risk. A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
78kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 210 engine complaints. 67% were reported before 100,000 miles.
31under 30k miles141under 100k miles69100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
41 owners mentioned a cost$7,500median
Middle half: $5,000 – $10,000
Unknown or other
9 owners mentioned a cost$570median
Middle half: $300 – $800
Electrical system
8 owners mentioned a cost$805median
Middle half: $674 – $1,025
Steering
8 owners mentioned a cost$2,850median
Middle half: $2,085 – $3,503
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Fusion year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Fusion median. How we score
'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Ford Fusion safety ratings
2016 Ford Fusion 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Ford Fusion, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Steering Wheel Fastening Bolt LoosensLed to recall 18V-167
- Door Latch FailuresLed to recall 20V-177
- Front Brake Jounce Hose FailuresLed to recall 23V-162
In owners' words
What Fusion owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Engine failure due to a faulty design from Ford Motor company. Coolant intrusion is the root cause due faulty engine design on the 2016 Ford Fusion 2.0 ecoboost engine.
2016 Ford Fusion 1.5L Ecoboost engine w/approx. 88,000 miles was just purchased from private owner on 10/7/26. On 10/17/26 the check engine light came on and showed problem with cylinder 1 and 4. Car was running ruff, misfiring, losing power. Safety issue for losing power on highway. New spark…
Ford Ecoboost coolant intrusion. Loss of coolant without noticeable leaks. Loss of power while experiencing cylinder misfire. After cool-down, engine runs rough with white tailpipe smoke and generates check engine light for cylinder misfire.
Own a 2016 Fusion?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.