NHTSA lists 13 safety recalls and 1,737 owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Fusion. Most complaints involve engine (468) and power train (317). The EPA rates it 25–29 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Fusion model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 730 |
| 2007 | 1,064 |
| 2008 | 1,353 |
| 2009 | 1,023 |
| 2010 | 5,129 |
| 2011 | 2,795 |
| 2012 | 2,617 |
| 2013 | 1,957 |
| 2014 | 1,433 |
| 2015 | 1,066 |
| 2016 | 1,737 |
| 2017 | 1,114 |
| 2018 | 444 |
| 2019 | 378 |
| 2020 | 185 |
“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.”
“The flexplate has failed twice since a dealer-performed transmission replacement in June 2024, once in August 2025 and again in August 2026. A flexplate failure causes sudden loss of the ability to move the vehicle under power, which is a safety hazard, particularly while merging, accelerating onto a highway, or in traffic. A Ford service bulletin covering the closely related Escape with the same engine and transaxle architecture documents that flexplate cracking is linked to engine-to-transaxle alignment issues that arise whenever the engine and transmission are separated, which is exactly the service performed during a transmission replacement. This report is filed because the recurrence of an identical failure mode, on a known-affected platform, without resolution by the servicing dealer, appears to reflect an unresolved and potentially widespread mechanical defect rather than an isolated incident."”
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost power steering functionality and nearly crashed. The contact swerved and slammed on the brake pedal abruptly, causing the contact to strike the left side of the head against the upper side of the driver's side window. The contact sustained a headache, a bump and dizziness and sought medical attention. The power steering warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (STEERING). The contact resided in Wisconsin, which was one of the States listed in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that no assistance would be provided because the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo, SIDI; Stop-Start · Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 36 | 29 | $2,200 | 307 |
| Fusion FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo, SIDI · Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 36 | 28 | $2,300 | 321 |
| Fusion FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, SIDI · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 33 | 26 | $2,450 | 341 |
| Fusion FWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 33 | 26 | $2,450 | 340 |
| Fusion AWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | $2,550 | 357 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
13 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 1,737 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (468), power train (317), steering (184). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2016 Ford Fusion at 25–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Ford Fusion 5 out of 5 stars overall.