Diagsheet

2016 Ford Fusion · symptom sheet

Brake fluid leaks or a brake line bursts

  • 35owner reports
  • 101,000median miles
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Mar 23, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026

35 of the 133 reports of brake wear on the 2016 Fusion describe brake fluid leak.

Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (133 reports) · also: brake light on, soft brake pedal

1 recall on this systemcovering the 2016 model year
1 crashin 35 reports
NHTSA investigation1 covering the 2016

Tick what matches of 35 reports

6
8
15
10
15

Brake fluid leak on other Fusion years

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020.

What this problem usually is

This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports of fluid loss: an empty reservoir, fluid at a wheel, or a brake line or hose that let go. The wider sheet covers brake complaints in general, and this one is for cars that lose the hydraulics themselves.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the brake hose (20 reports) and the brake line (15 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the brakes covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

23V-162Mar 10, 2023
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 23V-162

All 13 recalls on the 2016 Ford Fusion, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Fusion

RQ22-004opened Aug 8, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 2013 to 2018

Front brake jounce hose failures. Closed mar 24, 2023, led to recall 23V-162.

EA18-002opened Apr 18, 2018
Service Brakes, Air · model years 2007 to 2009

Extended braking distance. Closed jan 15, 2021, led to recall 19V-904.

PE16-017opened Dec 20, 2016
Brakes · model years 2007 to 2009

Extended braking distance. Closed may 4, 2018.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 80,000 and 110,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.

Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2018: 1, 2020: 2, 2021: 1, 2022: 7, 2023: 20, 2024: 2, 2025: 1, 2026: 11'182'201'217'2220'232'241'251'26

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2016 Ford Fusion that deal with this problem. Newest first.

Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

What owners wrote

“I had a recall on my car for brake hoes was leaking i fixed it but now brake fluid is leaking from right passenger side calliper after recall was done on my car and the recall done by Purvis Ford Inc 11335 Patriot Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 and they are not taking the responsibility that it happened after the recall done by them”

Filed Sep 30, 2025

“The left rear caliper has been replaced 3 times in the last 6 months and is currently in the shop for a 4th. This locks up for no reason and ruins the brake pad and the rotor and I have now replaced all of that 3 times as well and the brake hose line.”

Filed Aug 27, 2024

“My brakes failed. Pedal went to the floor. Brake fluid leaked out. Extremely terrifying.”

Filed Aug 13, 2023

“The brake lines ruptured and the pedal went to the floor on the drivers side front wheel. It is in for service right now at Auto ER at 2383 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608.”

Filed Nov 25, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 35 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works

Other problems on this car