2016 Ford Fusion problems & reliability
1,620 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Fusion, alongside 13 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
21 complaints report injuries (29 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles were involved in 237 fatal crashes with 136 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine → | 441 | 27% |
| Power Train → | 310 | 19% |
| Unknown / Other | 207 | 13% |
| Steering → | 176 | 11% |
| Electrical System → | 147 | 9% |
| Back Over Prevention → | 115 | 7% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling → | 108 | 7% |
| Service Brakes → | 84 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion System → | 83 | 5% |
| Air Bags → | 50 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 31 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 891 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 78,348 miles (middle 50% between 53,323 and 106,000 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“I own a 2016 Ford Fusion that is included in NHTSA Recall Campaign 25V695 and Ford Recall Campaign 25SA9 concerning rearview/backup camera failure. The backup camera intermittently fails to display video when the vehicle is shifted into Reverse. Instead of showing the view behind the vehicle, the display shows an…”
Unknown / Other · filed Sep 17, 2026
“Exhibited signs of a coolant leak followed by throwing a code about cylinder 4 misfiring. Took my car to the dealer who confirmed that there is coolant leaking into cylinder 4, and it is similar to other defects found in many 1.5 liter ecoboost engines from this model line. Was told that my VIN did not qualify for the…”
Engine · filed Sep 17, 2026
“1. System / Component Failed: The rearview camera system displays a blank, distorted, or black screen while the vehicle is in reverse, completely eliminating rearward visibility. 2. Safety Risk: The loss of backup camera functionality directly impairs critical rearward visibility while reversing, significantly…”
Back Over Prevention · filed Sep 15, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures
Recall Query RQ22004 · opened Aug 8, 2022 · closed Mar 24, 2023 · led to recall 23V162000
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering Analysis EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open
- Door Latch Failures
Recall Query RQ19005 · opened Dec 19, 2019 · closed Feb 7, 2022 · led to recall 20V331000
- Steering Wheel Fastening Bolt Loosens
Preliminary Evaluation PE17007 · opened Oct 23, 2017 · closed Apr 23, 2018 · led to recall 18V167000
Technical service bulletins
153 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Fusion. The 10 most recent:
Certain 2014-2016 Model Year Fusion Vehicles Equipped With 1.5L Engine - Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
25E01 · Emissions · issued May 2, 2026
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated…
SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 24, 2026
Certain 2013-2014 Model Year Escape and 2013-2016 Fusion Vehicles Equipped with a 6F35 Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Inspection and Protective Service Cap Installation
25B61 · Other · issued Feb 17, 2026
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in…
SSM 54366 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 12, 2025
The affected vehicles have an emissions control system that may not control tailpipe emissions effectively over time.
25E01 · Emissions · issued Oct 16, 2025
While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024…
SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 10, 2024
Certain 2014-2015 Model Year Fiesta, 2014-2016 Model Year Fusion, MKZ and 2014-2016 Model Year Transit Connect Vehicles Not Covered in Safety Recall: 20S15 or 23S36 Door Latch Replacement and Inspection
20R01 S1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 8, 2024
All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the…
SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2024
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford has…
SSM 52335 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 6, 2024
For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle…
SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 4, 2023
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2016 Ford Fusion has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2016 Ford Fusion?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 78,348 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.