2016 Ford Fusion: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Ford Fusion: 13 recalls, 1639 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.
Recalls
13 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #15V618000 · 2015 · 658 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: A fuel tank that cracks May leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015.
Seat belts, Seats Vehicle recall #16V250000 · 2016 · 39 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: An improperly welded driver seat riser May fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #16V875000 · 2016 · 603,392 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Steering Vehicle recall #18V167000 · 2018 · 1,301,986 vehicles
What's wrong: The steering wheel retaining bolt May loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
Why it matters: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #18V471000 · 2018 · 504,182 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #19V362000 · 2019 · 259,182 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2019.
Steering Vehicle recall #19V632000 · 2019 · 116,160 vehicles
What's wrong: Road salt or other contaminants May corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #20V177000 · 2020 · 288,110 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #22V413000 · 2022 · 2,925,968 vehicles
What's wrong: The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission May degrade or detach.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #23V162000 · 2023 · 1,280,726 vehicles
What's wrong: The front brake hoses May rupture and leak brake fluid.
Why it matters: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #23V775000 · 2023 · 45,173 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: 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.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #25V695000 · 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles
What's wrong: The rearview camera May display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Why it matters: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional…
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #26V376000 · 2026 · 5,252 vehicles
What's wrong: The clutch May fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
Why it matters: A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 6 mention a fire, 31 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (443): the most common themes are warning light on (188), leaks (170), fire / smoke (98).
- Transmission & drivetrain (311): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (198), warning light on (65), stalls / loses power (33).
- Other / unknown (211): the most common themes are warning light on (21).
- Steering (176): the most common themes are steering problems (155), warning light on (46).
The 2016 Ford Fusion has 1639 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 15 Fusion model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 1494). Complaints peaked in 2023 (248 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 78,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (994 complaints, 13 recalls), 2017 (1112 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 36 | 29 | Regular |
| 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 36 | 28 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 33 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 33 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Ford Fusion.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Ford Fusion have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 13 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Ford Fusion. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Ford Fusion problems?
Owners have filed 1639 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (443), transmission & drivetrain (311), other / unknown (211).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford Fusion get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (1.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Ford Fusion repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.