2016 Ford Fusion · symptom sheet

Check engine light or misfire

335owner reports
92,000median miles
$7,000median quote
2involved a crash

Newest report Sep 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

704 of the 1,629 complaints on this car are about the engine. 335 of those describe misfire. Only overheating is reported more often on this car.

Narrower sheets: Engine misfire (117 reports)

1 recall on this systemcovering the 2016 model year

2 crashesin 335 reports

2 people hurtin these reports

Tick what matches of 335 reports

rough idle or shaking

a P0300-series code

a catalytic converter code

the light flashes

coils or plugs were replaced

it came back after repair

Misfire on other Fusion years

201496 reports 2015190 reports 2016335 reports 2017340 reports 2018189 reports 2019121 reports 202025 reports

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.

What this problem usually is

These reports start with the check engine light. Many describe the engine running rough or shaking at idle, a P0300-series code, or a catalytic converter code. A worrying number say the light was flashing. Owners often list ignition coils or spark plugs already replaced, and the light coming back afterward.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the spark plugs (62 reports), the ignition coils (38 reports), the injectors (11 reports) and the sensor (11 reports).

Recalls and investigations

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

15V-618Oct 1, 2015

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage

The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have insufficent wall thickness.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 15V-618

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

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Fusion

PE13-003opened Feb 21, 2013

Engine · model years 2010 to 2013

Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 28, 2014.

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

What owners paid

59 of the 335 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,500 to $10,000.

$1,500$7,000$10,000

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 70,000 and 120,000 miles, from the 226 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 11 service bulletins or notices 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.

Service bulletinSSM 54366Nov 12, 2025
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
Service bulletinSSM 50067Aug 27, 2021
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
Service bulletinTSB 19-2172Jun 13, 2019
Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2015-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
Service bulletinSSM 47850Apr 26, 2019
Some 2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function and/or a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A0 in the powertrain control module (PCM).

7 more on the 2016 Ford Fusion page.

What owners wrote

“Exhibited signs of a coolant leak followed by throwing a code about cylinder 4 misfiring. Took my car to the dealer who confirmed that there is coolant leaking into cylinder 4, and it is similar to other defects found in many 1.5 liter ecoboost engines from this model line. Was told that my VIN did not qualify for the recall that is only for the ecoboost 2.0 liter engines even though they have the same defect.”
Filed Sep 17, 2026

“Coolant leaked into a cylinder due to a failed head gasket at 61,000 miles. Ford replaced head gasket, but the issue is due to poorly manufactured engine, and I had the same issue starting again at 99,000 miles. Ford refuses to fix engine since it is out of warranty, but the issue is due to poor manufacturing, not customer negligence.”
Filed Jul 21, 2024 · 61,000 miles

“Head gasket and block cracked and caused coolant to leak into cylinder and caused misfiring and over heating and check engine light with smoke coming out of tailpipes”
Filed May 2, 2024 · 126,118 miles

“The engine cooling failed inside the block on cylinder #2. The cooling system is not operable and resulted in blue smoke under acceleration. The car is no longer under warranty and only has 65K miles on it and is otherwise in good working order. I am told the whole engine needs to be replaced.”
Filed Apr 15, 2024 · 65,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 335 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. 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.

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