Ford
Ford Fusion years to avoid
Years to avoid: 2016. Best years: 2018, 2019 and 2020.
The 2016 Ford Fusion draws the most owner complaints for its age: 1,629, or 148 for each year on the road, against a median of 83 a year across the 7 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2016 is overheating (364 reports).
- 5,959complaints
- 29recall campaigns
- 7model years with a page
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Pick your model year
Owner complaints on file for each year.
Years to avoid
2016
Most reported: overheating (364 reports, median 100,000 miles) and misfire (335 reports, median 92,000 miles).
Best years
2018
Most reported: overheating (215 reports, median 98,207 miles) and misfire (189 reports, median 94,000 miles).
2019
Most reported: overheating (136 reports, median 85,003 miles) and misfire (121 reports, median 84,000 miles).
2020
Most reported: stalling (25 reports, median 49,118 miles) and misfire (25 reports, median 87,127 miles).
Complaints for each year on the road
Each model year's NHTSA complaints divided by the calendar years it has been on sale, counting this one (a 2018 model has had 9). Older cars have had longer to collect complaints, so raw totals flatter the new ones. Blue bars are the years to avoid.
Within one model, sales change less from year to year than they do between models, so a jump here is mostly a jump in problems. The call: the years to avoid are the (up to three) highest at 1.5 times the model's median rate or more, and the best are the (up to three) lowest at two thirds of it or less, from 2016 on.
Guide How much should a years-to-avoid list decide? What these lists get wrong
At a glance
- Where the complaints sit
- The 2016 has the most complaints of any Ford Fusion year here: 1,629 of 5,959 (27%).
- Problem across the years
- The top problem moves around from year to year. Overheating leads in 4 of the 7 model years and has the most reports overall, 1,381. Pooled across the years, half of the 873 owners who gave a mileage for overheating were under about 88,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 4% of Ford Fusion complaints report a crash, a fire or an injury, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The highest share is on the 2020, 13 of its 183 complaints.
- Recalls on the top problem
- 3 of the 7 model years where owners report overheating have a recall on the same system: 2014, 2019 and 2020. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2023 at 874 and have dropped every year since, to 686 in 2025. So far in 2026, 407 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
Photo: Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Second generation
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1,289 | 99 | 19 | Power steering cuts out or goes heavy (203) | 77,600 |
| 2015 | 992 | 83 | 13 | Check engine light or misfire (190) | 75,000 |
| 2016 avoid | 1,629 | 148 | 13 | Engine overheats or leaks coolant (364) | 79,000 |
| 2017 | 1,111 | 111 | 4 | Engine overheats or leaks coolant (365) | 72,000 |
| 2018 best | 440 | 49 | 2 | Engine overheats or leaks coolant (215) | 89,000 |
| 2019 best | 315 | 39 | 3 | Engine overheats or leaks coolant (136) | 78,000 |
| 2020 best | 183 | 26 | 3 | Engine stalls or loses power while driving (25) | 70,000 |
Year by year
2020 Ford Fusion best
183 owner complaints, 26 for each year on the road (0.3 times the model median). Most reported: stalling (25 reports, median 49,118 miles), misfire (25 reports, median 87,127 miles) and transmission shudder (16 reports, median 47,000 miles). 10 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 25V-685 on the equipment and 23V-440 on the electrical system.
2019 Ford Fusion best
315 owner complaints, 39 for each year on the road (0.5 times the model median). Most reported: overheating (136 reports, median 85,003 miles), misfire (121 reports, median 84,000 miles) and engine failure (53 reports, median 80,000 miles). 5 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 25V-685 on the equipment and 25V-442 on the backup camera.
2018 Ford Fusion best
440 owner complaints, 49 for each year on the road (0.6 times the model median). Most reported: overheating (215 reports, median 98,207 miles), misfire (189 reports, median 94,000 miles) and engine failure (59 reports, median 93,451 miles). 9 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. 2 recalls, including 23V-162 on the brakes and 18V-167 on the steering system.
2017 Ford Fusion
1,111 owner complaints, 111 for each year on the road (1.3 times the model median). Most reported: overheating (365 reports, median 78,850 miles), misfire (340 reports, median 78,850 miles) and engine failure (140 reports, median 72,000 miles). 37 reports involved a crash and 30 people were hurt. 4 recalls, including 23V-162 on the brakes and 18V-167 on the steering system.
2016 Ford Fusion avoid
1,629 owner complaints, 148 for each year on the road (1.8 times the model median). Most reported: overheating (364 reports, median 100,000 miles), misfire (335 reports, median 92,000 miles) and infotainment (186 reports, median 85,000 miles). 59 reports involved a crash and 31 people were hurt. 13 recalls, including 26V-376 on the transmission and drivetrain and 25V-695 on the backup camera.
2015 Ford Fusion
992 owner complaints, 83 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: misfire (190 reports, median 84,000 miles), overheating (184 reports, median 88,900 miles) and stalling (125 reports, median 78,000 miles). 34 reports involved a crash and 17 people were hurt. 13 recalls, including 26V-376 on the transmission and drivetrain and 23V-162 on the brakes.
2014 Ford Fusion
1,289 owner complaints, 99 for each year on the road (1.2 times the model median). Most reported: power steering loss (203 reports, median 78,000 miles), stalling (125 reports, median 76,000 miles) and brake wear (118 reports, median 84,000 miles). 48 reports involved a crash and 44 people were hurt. 19 recalls, including 19V-632 on the steering system and 18V-167 on the steering system.
Recalls that cover several model years
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
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.
Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
Questions
What Ford Fusion years should you avoid?
The 2016 Ford Fusion draws the most owner complaints for its age: 1,629, or 148 for each year on the road, against a median of 83 a year across the 7 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2016 is overheating (364 reports).
What are the best years for the Ford Fusion?
The 2018, 2019 and 2020 draw the fewest complaints for their age: 2018 has 440 (49 a year), 2019 has 315 (39 a year) and 2020 has 183 (26 a year). Model years before 2016 aren't called best, because complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads and their counts run short.
What is the most common problem on the Ford Fusion?
Overheating, with 1,381 reports across the 7 model years that have a page here. It's the single most reported problem on the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
How many recalls does the Ford Fusion have?
29 recall campaigns cover the Ford Fusion model years 2014 to 2020 on this site. The widest, 18V-167 on the steering system, covers 5 model years.
How many Ford Fusion complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
4% of them, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The 2020 has the highest share.
Is there a recall for overheating on the Ford Fusion?
On 3 of the 7 model years where owners report it: 2014, 2019 and 2020.