Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2016 Ford Fusion — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2026 to Dec 2022
The most reported issue is engine problems (310 complaints). 55 complaints involved crashes. 6 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (12)
NHTSA Campaign: 19V632000
Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
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 effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 18V471000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
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 risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V362000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter engines. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
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 risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V875000
Component: SEAT BELTS:FRONT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 18V167000
Component: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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.
Risk: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V250000
Component: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured from March 10, 2016, through March 16, 2016. The front driver seat track assembly's rear riser may have been improperly welded to the seat track rail, and as a result, the driver may not be adequately restrained in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 207, "Seating Systems" and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Risk: An improperly welded driver seat riser may fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V618000
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 13, 2015, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have insufficent wall thickness. As a result, the fuel tanks may crack in the event of a crash and thus the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Risk: A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V177000
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V413000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
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. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 23V162000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 23V775000
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.
Risk: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 25V695000
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. 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.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 1597)
Back Over Prevention →8 issues
Your car's back-over prevention system may not be functioning properly. This system is designed to help detect objects or people behind your vehicle when backing up. You should have this system inspected and repaired to ensure it works as intended for safety.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2016 Ford Fusion is subject to a recall (Campaign 25V695000) for the back-over prevention system, but the repair parts aren't available yet. You've noticed that your rear-view camera display goes blank when you put the car in reverse, making it harder to see what's behind you. Ford has taken longer than expected to make the necessary parts available for this repair.
Parts you may need:
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Your rear-view camera stops working or displays a blurry image when you put your car in reverse. This is part of a safety recall (Campaign 25V695000), but dealers have told you the replacement parts aren't available yet, and multiple dealers haven't been able to diagnose or fix the problem. The repair will likely involve replacing the rear-view camera module or its wiring.
Parts you may need:
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Your rear-view camera system is showing an error message saying it's unavailable, and sometimes the camera image appears upside-down when you're backing up. This makes it harder to see what's behind your vehicle safely. Ford has issued a recall (Campaign 25V695000) for this issue, but the replacement part hasn't been available yet. The repair will likely involve replacing the rear-view camera module or its wiring harness.
Parts you may need:
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Your backup camera displays a completely black or distorted image when you put the car in reverse, making it hard to see behind you safely. This is a known issue covered by a Ford recall (Campaign 25V695000), but the repair has taken longer than expected. The problem started at 45,000 miles and the dealer can help you get it fixed under the recall program.
Parts you may need:
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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rear-view camera image was blank.
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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 local dealer was not contacted.
Parts you may need:
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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 rearview camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R).
Parts you may need:
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Steering →3 issues
Your steering gear failed completely, causing your steering wheel to lock up and become immovable. This is a serious safety issue that has left your car unable to be steered. The repair is expensive, costing over $3,000, and involves replacing the steering gear assembly.
Parts you may need:
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Your steering wheel shakes at slower speeds but stops shaking at higher speeds. A "Steering Fault - Service Now" warning appears on your dashboard. A mechanic found that both your ABS and power steering system have failed, and your power steering rack needs to be repaired or replaced. This issue may be related to a known Ford recall.
Parts you may need:
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My 2016 Ford Fusion SE had a prior safety recall repair in 2020 involving replacement of the steering wheel retaining/attachment bolt with a longer bolt. The bolt now appears to be loosening again. This seems like a recurrence or failure of the prior recall remedy.
Parts you may need:
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Engine →2 issues
Your car is showing signs of coolant leaking into the engine cylinders, which your technician says could cause serious damage, corrosion, and engine failure over time. You've noticed low coolant levels, white smoke from the exhaust when starting in cold weather, and rough running especially during acceleration. The recommended fix is a complete engine replacement or purchasing a new vehicle.
Parts you may need:
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A plastic component on your transmission melted, requiring a complete transmission rebuild. This appears to be a known issue affecting multiple Ford vehicles with this engine type. The repair will likely involve replacing or rebuilding the transmission assembly.
Parts you may need:
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Unknown Or Other →2 issues
Your backup camera has been recalled, but Ford hasn't yet provided a fix or remedy for the issue. This lack of a solution puts you at risk when backing up your vehicle. You've been waiting since October 2025 without resolution. The fix will likely involve Ford providing a replacement camera or updated camera module once the remedy becomes available.
Parts you may need:
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Transmission valve body w/solenoid, diagnostic
Parts you may need:
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Power Train →1 issue
Your car is experiencing coolant leaking into the engine cylinders, causing rough idling, overheating, and potential engine damage. You may notice engine warning codes and rough running even after replacing coils and spark plugs. Ford has issued recalls for similar issues on 2017-2019 models but not your 2016, and the company has declined to replace your engine despite knowing about the defect. Fixing this typically requires engine block replacement or major internal engine repair.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,service Brakes,visibility/wiper →1 issue
Your 2016 Ford Fusion has multiple active safety recalls that haven't been repaired yet. The front brake hose recall is particularly serious — it could rupture and leak brake fluid, reducing your braking power and increasing stopping distance. Your rear view camera also isn't working properly and may show a blank or distorted image when you're reversing. You've contacted the dealership multiple times but haven't been able to get these repairs scheduled or completed. Fixing these issues will require the dealership to replace the brake hose and repair or replace the rear view camera.
Parts you may need:
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Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat Or Vehicle),other/i Am Not Sure →1 issue
You're concerned that your car's lower anchor and tether attachment points for your child's car seat may not be working properly or securing the seat as intended. You want to make sure your child is fully protected in a crash or sudden stop. Additionally, your vehicle has open recalls that the dealership has delayed completing, even though the manufacturer said the repairs should be free.
Parts you may need:
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Unknown Or Other,visibility/wiper →1 issue
Your backup camera turns off while you're using it and only works intermittently—it won't stay on for a complete backing-up operation. Ford has tried replacing the camera and updating the software, but the problem persists. This issue will likely require further diagnosis of the camera wiring, power supply connections, or the display unit to identify what's causing the intermittent power loss.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,vehicle Speed Control,unknown Or Other →1 issue
I was driving my car one day and as I was coming down the road the car jerked and picked up speed like on its on and I had to really stop abruptly to stop the car.
Parts you may need:
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Related Vehicles
Other Ford Fusion years: