Is the 2016 Ford Fusion a bad year?
1,660 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 536, 9.2× a quiet Fusion year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2016 Ford Fusion were filed between 65k and 120k miles. You're at 90,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Fusion owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 90,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 535 (32%) | 65k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 311 (19%) | 60k–103k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 176 (11%) | 42k–103k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Backup cameraSTANDS OUT | 141 (8%) | 66k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 134 (8%) | 50k–114k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bags | 50 (3%) | 29k–94k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 35 (2%) | 71k–104k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 26 (2%) | 48k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 150 (9%) | 22k–83k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 92 (6%) | 18k–81k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 50 (3%) | 39k–69k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 47 (3%) | 13k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| WheelsSTANDS OUT | 43 (3%) | 31k–62k miles · mostly behind | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Visibility and wipers | 26 (2%) | 5k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 90,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,660 complaints: 60 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 22 report an injury · 151 say the car was towed.
206 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Put the vehicle in park and it proceeded to continue to drive. Had to use the emergency break to stop car from moving.
My car will shut down and lose all power without notice when I'm at highway speeds. A comment comes on the dash that says something like " Transmission is not in gear" Or something like that.
My 2016 Ford fusion has a coolant is leaking in the cylinder due to head gasket causing miss firing, overheating and sputtering.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 90,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Ford Fusion: 13
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak. 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 rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse. 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.
A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving. Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid. 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 bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. 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.
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. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts. 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 bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. 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 bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. 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 steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving. A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. 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 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. An improperly welded driver seat riser may fail to adequately restrain the driver during crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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." A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 143
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Ford Fusion. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain 2013-2014 Model Year Escape and 2013-2016 Fusion Vehicles Equipped with a 6F35 Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Inspection and Protective Service Cap…
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
Some vehicles may be equipped with a 1.5L Ecoboost engine that uses a 50-tooth variable camshaft timing…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Door Latch Failures
Steering Wheel Fastening Bolt Loosens
Neighbouring years
2015 Fusion: 996 complaints, consider selling · 2017 Fusion: 1,116 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford Fusion year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All Fusion years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Ford Fusion a bad year?
1,660 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 536, 9.2× a quiet Fusion year. At 90,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2016 Ford Fusion were filed between 65k and 120k miles. You're at 90,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Fusion?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (535), transmission and drivetrain (311), steering (176), backup camera (141), brakes (134). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 65k–120k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Fusion have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-376), Backup camera (NHTSA 25V-695), Latches and locks (NHTSA 23V-775), Brakes (NHTSA 23V-162) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.