2018 Ford Fusion — Known Issues & Recalls

Your car has a known defect where coolant is leaking into the engine's short block, which can cause the engine to overheat without warning and shut off while driving. This issue has required over $1,000 in repairs and created a dangerous situation on the highway. The fix will likely involve replacing or repairing the short block and sealing the coolant leak.

Your car started rumbling and triggering the check engine light. A mechanic discovered coolant was leaking onto your spark plugs and into the cylinder, causing the engine to misfire. Ford has identified this as a known issue (CSP 21N12) but says they can't help because they closed the service program in November 2022. The mechanic indicated the vehicle is unsafe to drive. Fixing this will likely require replacing the spark plugs and diagnosing and sealing the source of the coolant leak.

Your 2018 Ford Fusion is losing coolant internally, which is causing the engine to misfire, run rough, and produce white smoke from the exhaust. This coolant leak can lead to engine failure and loss of power while driving, creating a safety risk. The problem appears to be a design defect in Ford EcoBoost engines rather than normal wear. Fixing this issue requires replacing the entire engine.

After your 60,000-mile service, your check engine light came on with a cylinder 2 misfire code. The dealership found that pressure applied during the service caused coolant to leak into your engine, requiring a complete engine replacement. You had to pay $100 out-of-pocket with your extended warranty, while other owners without extended coverage faced the full replacement cost. The repair may involve removing the old engine, inspecting cooling system components, and installing a replacement engine with updated seals or gaskets to prevent similar coolant leaks.

Your engine is leaking coolant, and coolant is getting into the engine block itself. This can cause overheating and potential engine damage if not addressed. A mechanic will need to inspect the cooling system to find the leak source and may need to flush the system or repair/replace damaged components like hoses, gaskets, or the water pump.

Your 2018 Ford Fusion is experiencing coolant leaking into places it shouldn't be, likely due to a seal or gasket failure in the engine's cooling system. This can cause overheating, poor engine performance, and potential engine damage if not addressed. The repair will likely involve inspecting the cooling system components and replacing the faulty seal or gasket.

Your car started shaking severely and wouldn't accelerate past 35 MPH, with the check engine light flashing. The dealer found coolant had leaked into the engine cylinders, which typically requires replacing the entire engine. This issue is related to Ford's Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, and Ford said they would issue a report about it.

Your 2018 Fusion started running rough with jerking and shaking while driving, triggering transmission and coolant temperature warning lights along with an "Engine Overheating - Reduced Power" message. The vehicle went into limp mode and had to be towed. An independent mechanic found coolant leaking into the engine, a blown head gasket, and a cracked engine block, indicating the engine needs to be replaced. This serious issue will require a complete engine replacement or a major engine rebuild.

Your car started running rough and white smoke came from the exhaust. A Ford dealer diagnosed coolant leaking into the cylinders, which requires a complete engine replacement at a cost of $9,000 despite the engine having fewer than 60,000 miles. This appears to be a known issue affecting multiple vehicles with this engine design. The repair will involve removing and replacing the entire engine.

Your car's continuously variable transmission (CVT) stopped working completely at 150,000 miles. Ford is not covering the repair under warranty, so you'll need to pay out of pocket. The transmission will likely need to be rebuilt or replaced entirely.

Your car's center dashboard screen goes black and won't display when you shift into reverse, which means you can't see the backup camera or warning alerts. The dealer said your vehicle isn't included in the recall for this issue, even though the problem matches a known Ford defect. The screen failure happened at around 117,000 miles and may require replacement of the display unit or its wiring connections.

Your backup camera displayed a black screen while reversing, then showed a 'Contact the Dealer' message. The dealer couldn't diagnose or fix the problem and said your vehicle wasn't under recall. Without a working backup camera, you lose an important safety feature designed to help prevent accidents when backing up.

Your car is mixing antifreeze with engine oil, causing it to overheat and produce white smoke from the exhaust. Three mechanics have indicated you need a new turbocharger and head gasket replacement, which is a major repair costing over $4,000. This type of failure (coolant leaking into the oil) typically requires removing the cylinder head to inspect and replace the failed head gasket, and possibly replacing the turbocharger if it's been damaged by the contaminated oil.

Your car is overheating and losing coolant shortly after startup, with the check engine light showing misfires and sensor codes. You've replaced the camshaft position sensor, thermostat, catalytic converter, and VVT solenoid, but the problem persists—the engine continues to overheat within minutes, misfire badly, jerk when accelerating, and lose power. A mechanic couldn't locate any external coolant leaks, and a head gasket test indicated a faulty cylinder head. The overheating and power loss create a safety hazard, as you cannot maintain speed even at full throttle.

Your car's temperature sensor falsely detected an overheating condition and shut down the engine while you were driving on the highway, cutting power almost completely. This sudden shutdown while driving is a serious safety hazard. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the temperature sensor circuit and either replacing the faulty sensor or repairing the electrical connection.

Your steering wheel is becoming loose, making it difficult to control the car safely. This is a serious issue that affects your ability to steer properly. The fix will likely involve tightening or replacing the steering wheel attachment hardware and fasteners.

Your rear driver's side seat belt won't click or buckle into the receptacle at all, even though nothing appears to be blocking it. The belt has never worked since you've owned the car. This will require inspection and likely replacement of the seat belt buckle assembly or the entire belt mechanism.

Your car's shift actuator may fail to engage gears, leaving you stranded and unable to drive. This problem has affected multiple vehicles and may be caused by a worn plastic bushing in the actuator assembly. Ford reportedly won't manufacture replacement actuators until February 2026, leaving affected owners without a timely factory solution.

Your engine won't accelerate past 25 mph, and when you try to push it faster, the car shakes noticeably. You've also noticed a water-like boiling sound coming from the engine when you put the car in park or turn it off. This suggests the engine may be overheating or have a coolant circulation problem. The fix will likely involve checking the cooling system, thermostat, and water pump to diagnose why the engine is running too hot.

Your car's infotainment system (APIM module) has stopped working completely—the touchscreen is blank and unresponsive. This affects multiple functions including climate control, navigation, hands-free calling, and your backup camera, which can impact your ability to drive safely, especially when reversing or in bad weather. You've tried resets and checked fuses without success. The fix will likely require replacing or reprogramming the APIM module.