YearToAvoid

2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

70/100

#4 most-complained of 11 Fusion Hybrid years

The 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid has 59 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 70, ranking 4th worst among 11 model years and earning a Caution verdict. No recalls are on file, but electrical, transmission, and brake issues stand out.

Complaints
59
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
8 / 1
Injuries / deaths
7 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
42
43 city / 41 hwy

Top 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System10 (17%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain10 (17%)
  3. Brakes9 (15%)
  4. Engine8 (14%)
  5. Other8 (14%)
  6. Steering7 (12%)
  7. Airbags6 (10%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (10%)
  9. Fuel System3 (5%)
  10. Seat Belts3 (5%)

What owners report

  • Some drivers report the steering wheel jerking and the wheels seizing when trying to avoid a collision, leading to a loss of control off the road.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during rear-end and side-impact crashes at highway speeds, even when the impact caused injuries.
  • Owners describe the brake system not grabbing as expected, with the ABS failing to activate and the car lunging forward when slowing down.
  • A brake malfunction warning reportedly appeared during sharp turns, along with a tire pressure monitoring system that stopped working.
  • One owner reported a front passenger seat belt locking up on its own after about a month of ownership.
  • Windshield wipers were described as too slow to clear the glass even at the highest setting during moderate to heavy rain.
2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month5Apr 2018Jul 2019Oct 2020Aug 2021Jun 2022Aug 2023May 2024Dec 2024
78 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Jun 2023 (5).

2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
43 MPG
Highway
41 MPG
Combined
42 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,550
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Fusion Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Best1053041
2017Caution6069042
2018Caution7059042
2019Good4035041.5
2020Best08041.5

All Ford Fusion Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid reliable?
NHTSA lists 59 complaints for the 2018 Fusion Hybrid, giving it a Complaint Index of 70 and a Caution verdict. It ranks 4th worst out of 11 model years, so it has more reported problems than most other years but no active recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid?
Electrical system and transmission/powertrain issues each account for 17% of complaints, followed by brakes at 15% and engine problems at 14%. Steering, airbags, and suspension complaints also appear.
Does the 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid have any recalls?
No. NHTSA data shows 0 recalls for the 2018 Fusion Hybrid, including 0 do-not-drive recalls.
What year Ford Fusion Hybrid should I avoid?
Based on Complaint Index, 2010 (100), 2011 (90), and 2013 (80) rank worse than the 2018 model. The 2018 Fusion Hybrid sits in the Caution range with a Complaint Index of 70.
How is fuel economy on the 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2018 Fusion Hybrid at 42 mpg combined (43 city / 41 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,550.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.