2016 Ford Fusion · symptom sheet
Rolls away in Park or will not shift out of Park
- 63owner reports
- 85,582median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Jun 9, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
1210 of the 1,628 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 63 of those describe rollaway.
Tick what matches of 63 reports
Rollaway 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 sheet covers cars that roll after the owner puts them in Park, and shifters that won't come out of Park. The first is the more dangerous. Owners describe stepping out to check the mail, or to move a trash can, and watching the vehicle roll into a garage door or another car.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the shifter assembly (41 reports) and the shift cable or bushing (38 reports).
Recalls and investigations
7 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
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.
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.
All 13 recalls on the 2016 Ford Fusion, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Fusion
Front brake jounce hose failures. Closed mar 24, 2023, led to recall 23V-162.
Door latch failures. Closed feb 7, 2022, led to recall 20V-177.
Extended braking distance. Closed jan 15, 2021, led to recall 19V-904.
Extended braking distance. Closed may 4, 2018.
Door latch failure. Closed nov 13, 2015, led to recall 15V-246.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 28, 2014.
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 70,000 and 115,000 miles, from the 47 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“This recall should apply to my VIN but the dealer say it does not. NHTSA ID: 19V362 My car did exactly this issue thought I had put the vehicle in Park by the shifter but when I went to get out of the vehicle it started to roll away. I have found this part in the recall notice is what the problem but they won't replace it. So now I have a unsafe vehicle.”
Filed May 2, 2022
“Placed car in park and turned if off. When I took my foot off the brake it started rolling away. The vehicle would not start saying it was not in park.”
Filed Apr 22, 2022
“I put my car in park and it stayed in drive even though I remove the key and there was no chime or warning. It would roll away unless the emergency break was applied. it seems to be the same exact issue as recall numbers: 18S20, 19S16 and 18V471.”
Filed Feb 16, 2022
“Plastic bushing broke off transmission linkage. This cause the car to be unable to change gears. Luckily for us it happened when we parked the car, therefore it was stuck in park and had to be towed to the dealership. If it happened while driving, might have been more dangerous. There is a recall for this, but only for 2.5l engines for some reason. I have the 1.5l engine.”
Filed Jul 23, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 63 reports involved a crash and 1 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.
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 185 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
- Airbag warning light or recall 50 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 47 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 46 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 40 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 29 reports