Ford Fusion
Problems & Worst Years
Every reported problem for the Ford Fusion, model year by model year — ranked from 4289 federal NHTSA complaints across 2010–2020.
Coolant finding its way into the engine is the Ford Fusion complaint that refuses to go away. It appears in every model year from 2015 through 2020 in this data — as coolant leakage into engine cylinders (53 reports in 2015), then coolant intrusion (33 in 2016, 39 in 2017, 62 in 2018, 15 in 2019, 5 in 2020) — usually traveling with engine overheating and misfire reports. 2018 shows the pattern most plainly: overheating leads its file at 105 reports, with coolant intrusion and an engine block defect (59 reports) right behind. Any Fusion purchase should start with a cooling system inspection, a misfire check, and pointed questions about coolant loss.
The single heaviest year is 2016 at 746 occurrences, but for a different reason: 552 of them are safety-rated rearview camera failure. 2017's 535 occurrences are led by another electrical item, dead batteries, at 276 reports, plus transmission shift cable complaints. 2015 (466 occurrences) is the most varied — a steering wheel that becomes loose tops it at 90 reports, an unnerving complaint worth checking by hand on any example. 2019 and 2020 drop to 188 and 74; the 2020 list is led by flex plate failure (25) and repeated battery issues (17).
The recall history is extensive. Campaigns include 14V736000 and 15V250000 on the 2015 car, 17V427000 on 2017, 18V167000 spanning 2015–2018, 18V471000, 19V362000, and 19V632000, later campaigns 22V011000, 22V413000, and 23V162000, then 23V440000 and 25V685000 on 2019–2020, and 26V376000 dated 2026 — recent enough that many cars won't have had the work done. Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup before you buy; owners' complaints about recall repair delays in 2016 suggest confirming completion rather than taking it on faith.
Later years look cleaner on volume, but complaint counts are owner filings, not measured failure rates, and newer cars have had less reporting time. Weigh the individual car's service history — especially cooling system work — and a pre-purchase inspection above the model year.
Ford Fusion problems by year
Complaint volume by model year (bar = relative to the worst year). Theworst yearsare the most-complained-about, weighted by safety-risk problems.
| Year | Complaint volume | Problems | Safety / High | Most common problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010worst | 2436 | 42 | 18/12 | Air bag recall issues Electrical · 1109 complaints |
| 2015worst | 364 | 29 | 3/13 | Steering Wheel Becomes Loose Steering · 90 complaints |
| 2016worst | 671 | 30 | 3/12 | Rearview Camera Failure Electrical · 552 complaints |
| 2017 | 413 | 20 | 1/8 | Dead battery issue Electrical · 276 complaints |
| 2018 | 193 | 7 | 0/5 | Engine Overheating Engine · 105 complaints |
| 2019 | 150 | 23 | 0/13 | Engine Misfires and Overheating Engine · 33 complaints |
| 2020 | 62 | 11 | 1/5 | Flex Plate Failure Transmission · 25 complaints |
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls, 2010–2020. Problem clustering and year rankings are derived from the complaint record; complaint volume reflects reports filed, not total incidence or fault rate. Vehicle image is illustrative.