NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 13 recalls, 1603 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Ford Fusion.
25–41 mpg combined
5.7–9.4 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 6 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2016 Ford Fusion draws complaints spread across three main areas: engine, powertrain, and steering. On the engine and powertrain side, owners report stalling, rough running, and loss of power, sometimes at highway speeds, along with transmission-related hesitation and shuddering during acceleration or gear changes. Steering complaints center on electric power steering cutting out unexpectedly, often accompanied by warning messages for stability control and hill start assist systems going offline at the same time. A recurring secondary thread involves the backup camera failing to display an image when the vehicle is put in reverse, with owners describing a blank or distorted screen that comes and goes inconsistently.
1,603
Total Complaints
54
Crash-Related
6
Fire-Related
20
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Ford Fusion has 13 recalls, the most serious being a steering wheel retaining bolt that can loosen and allow the steering wheel to detach while driving, causing complete loss of steering control.
Two separate shifter cable bushing recalls address the same underlying problem: a bushing connecting the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade and detach, either causing the car to move in an unintended direction or rolling away after the driver exits without setting the parking brake. There is also a fuel system concern on vehicles built during a narrow window in September 2015, where a thin-walled fuel tank can crack and leak fuel, raising the risk of fire. On vehicles with a manual transmission, a clutch that fractured during a prior inadequate repair attempt can leak transmission fluid onto hot engine or exhaust components, also creating a fire risk. Front brake hoses can rupture and leak fluid, increasing stopping distance. Door latch recalls cover two overlapping groups of vehicles registered in warmer, coastal states and territories, where the latches can fail and allow doors to open while moving. On the restraint side, a driver seat track weld can fail in a crash and leave the driver inadequately held, and heat from a seatbelt pretensioner firing in a crash can sever the front seatbelt anchor cable. Vehicles originally sold or registered in northern states may face electric power steering bolt corrosion that causes the steering motor to detach, making steering noticeably heavier. The rearview camera can display a distorted or blank image when reversing.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The clutch may fracture in vehicles that were previously repaired under recalls 18V169 and 18V845. A fractured clutch can damage the transmission assembly and cause transmission fluid to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera may show a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when you put the vehicle in reverse.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component inside the door latches can break, making it difficult to latch the doors or potentially allowing them to open while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect door latch date codes and replace all four side door latches at no cost if necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front brake hoses at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the shifter cable to the transmission can wear down or come loose, potentially affecting shift control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the worn bushing and install a protective cap over the cable bushing at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component inside the door latches can break, making doors hard to close or appearing closed when they actually aren't.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the side door latches at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt and contaminants can corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts, potentially causing them to break or loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts, apply wax sealer to protect them, and install a new steering gear if bolts are broken or missing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the transmission shifter cable to the transmission can wear out and come loose, allowing the shift lever to move to Park without the transmission actually being in Park, with no warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the transmission shifter cable can wear and separate from the transmission. This may let you shift to Park and remove the key while the transmission stays in a different gear, with no warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering wheel retaining bolt can loosen, potentially allowing the steering wheel to detach while you're driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During a crash, heat from the seat belt pretensioner deploying may cause the front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front driver seat track's rear riser may be improperly welded to the seat rail, which could prevent the driver from being adequately restrained during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front driver seat track rail at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank has insufficient wall thickness and may crack during a crash, potentially allowing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel tank at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.