The 2016 Fusion is a mixed bag — the naturally aspirated 2.5L is bulletproof, but the 1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost engines suffer catastrophic internal failures, while all models share transmission cooler leaks and door latch problems covered by recalls.
1.5L EcoBoost Coolant Intrusion into Cylinders (Engine Failure)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: white smoke from exhaust on cold start, coolant loss with no external leaks, rough idle or misfire codes, milky oil on dipstick in severe cases, catastrophic failure leading to hydrolock
Fix: Head gasket failure allows coolant into cylinder #2 or #3. Requires head removal, decking, new gasket, and often short block if damage has occurred. 18-24 labor hours for full engine replacement if pistons/rods are damaged. Many shops won't attempt head gasket-only due to high re-failure rate — full longblock or short block is standard.
Estimated cost: $5,500-8,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leak at Crimped Fitting
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid puddle under vehicle, burnt transmission smell, slipping or delayed engagement when fluid is low, check engine light with low pressure codes
Fix: Crimped steel lines corrode at the cooler connection and burst. Requires replacement of cooler lines and often the auxiliary cooler itself. Drain and refill transmission fluid. 3-4 labor hours. This was subject to a TSB but not a full recall until transmission damage occurred in many vehicles.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Door Latch Failures (Recall 16S30 / 16S41)
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: door will not latch closed, door appears closed but opens while driving, interior light stays on, warning chime and dash message about door ajar
Fix: Pawl spring tab in door latch mechanism fractures due to design flaw. Covered under recall — dealer replaces door latch assemblies. 1.5 hours per door. If out of recall window at indie shop, same labor, aftermarket latches available.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $250-400 per door
Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Wear
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: gear indicator does not match actual gear position, hard to shift out of park, cannot shift into park reliably, vehicle rolls in park
Fix: Plastic bushing at transmission end of shift cable wears out or breaks. Related to recall 18S17 for earlier model years but affects 2016s outside recall scope. Replace shift cable assembly or repair bushing if accessible. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $350-600
2.0L EcoBoost Piston Ring Land Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 1,000 mi), blue smoke on acceleration, carbon buildup on intake valves causing rough idle, eventual loss of compression and misfire
Fix: Ring lands crack due to high cylinder pressures and carbon buildup. Requires short block replacement or full engine rebuild with upgraded pistons. 20-26 labor hours. Ford extended warranty coverage to 10 years/150k for some VINs under customer satisfaction program 19N03, but not all 2016s qualify.
Estimated cost: $6,000-9,000
Rear Transmission Mount Collapse
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk when shifting from park to drive or reverse, vibration at idle in gear, excessive engine movement visible from engine bay
Fix: Rubber isolator in rear transmission mount deteriorates. Easy replacement from underneath. 1.5 labor hours. Often done with oil cooler line repair since access is similar.
Estimated cost: $200-350
Electric Power Steering Fault (Recall 23S16)
Rare · high severity
Symptoms: sudden loss of power steering assist, red steering wheel warning light, manual steering effort required, intermittent assist cutting in and out
Fix: Faulty steering gear motor or wiring harness chafing causing short circuit. Covered under recall 23S16 — dealer replaces steering gear if affected VIN. 3-4 labor hours. Outside recall requires steering gear replacement or pigtail repair if wiring issue isolated.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $1,200-1,800
Owner tips
If buying a 1.5L EcoBoost, check service records for coolant top-offs and request a cold-start observation — white smoke is a death sentence.
Check under the car for signs of transmission fluid leaks before purchase; the cooler line issue leaves evidence.
All door latches should be verified to latch firmly and stay closed — even if recall was performed, clips can fail again.
The 2.5L naturally aspirated engine avoids all the catastrophic internal failures and is the safest choice for longevity.
Change transmission fluid at 60k intervals regardless of 'lifetime fill' marketing — the 6F35 transmission will thank you.
Buy only if it has the 2.5L engine and documented transmission service; avoid the EcoBoost engines unless you enjoy financing engine replacements or have extended warranty coverage.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 25V695000
2025-10-13
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 23V775000
2023-11-17
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.
Consequence: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 23V162000
2023-03-10 · RQ22004
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Consequence: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) · 22V413000
2022-06-10
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 20V177000
2020-03-23 · RQ19005
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.
Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: 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.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 19V632000
2019-08-29
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT · 19V362000
2019-05-13
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT · 18V471000
2018-07-16
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR · 18V167000
2018-03-12 · PE17007
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.
Consequence: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT · 16V875000
2016-12-05
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.
Consequence: If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE · 16V250000
2016-04-27
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."
Consequence: An improperly welded driver seat riser may fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE · 15V618000
2015-10-01
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."
Consequence: A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
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