2016 Ford Fusion · symptom sheet
Doors, latches or locks fail
- 46owner reports
- 83,000median miles
- $500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
84 of the 1,629 complaints on this car are about the structure. 46 of those describe door latch.
Tick what matches of 46 reports
Door latch 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: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.
What this problem usually is
Door complaints sound minor until you read them. The most common is a "door ajar" warning with every door shut. Others describe a door that won't open from inside, one that won't latch at all, locks that cycle on their own, and occasionally a door that opened while the car was moving.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the latch (44 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the structure cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.
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.
All 13 recalls on the 2016 Ford Fusion, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the structure on the Fusion
Door latch failures. Closed feb 7, 2022, led to recall 20V-177.
Extended braking distance. Closed jan 15, 2021, led to recall 19V-904.
Door latch failure. Closed nov 13, 2015, led to recall 15V-246.
What owners paid
6 of the 46 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $400 to $500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 70,000 and 100,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
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.
Under Safety Recall 20S15, in some of the affected vehicles, the door latches have a pawl spring tab that may break. This condition will typically prevent the door from latching.
What owners wrote
“My drivers side door will not latch closed due to cracking from extreme heat. When I try and shut my door it doesn't latch and pops open.”
Filed Jun 24, 2024
“ON 23OCT2023 I opened the Driver's side rear door in my garage. When I went to close the door it would not latch. After several failed attempts I taped the door closed and drove the car to the local FORD dealership for service. The latch mechanism was replaced on 27OCT2023. On 01DEC2023 I received an email notice from NHTSA regarding a possible recall for the door latches in my vehicle (2016 Ford Fusion), 23V775.”
Filed Dec 4, 2023
“2 car door latches unresponsive and wont lock. Known issue with ford this VIN isnt covered by recall but same issue”
Filed Jul 27, 2023
“Right passenger door came open while driving and without warning. The door will not latch to secure the door to the car frame in a closed or secure manner. The door has to be secured with a strap until it can repaired appropriately.”
Filed Jun 28, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 46 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
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 364 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 335 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 186 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 161 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 133 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 123 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 100 reports
- Rolls away in Park or will not shift out of Park 63 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 50 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 47 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 40 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 29 reports