2016 Ford Fusion Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#5 most-complained of 11 Fusion years
The 2016 Ford Fusion has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 5th worst out of 11 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 1,627 complaints, 13 recalls, and 59 crashes, with Engine problems the top complaint area at 35% of reports.
- Complaints
- 1,627
- Recalls
- 13
- Crashes / fires
- 59 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 31 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 26
- 22 city / 33 hwy
Top 2016 Ford Fusion problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine564 (35%)
- Transmission & Powertrain310 (19%)
- Other211 (13%)
- Steering176 (11%)
- Brakes162 (10%)
- Electrical System158 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras128 (8%)
- Fuel System92 (6%)
- Structure & Body92 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires53 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report engine stalling and sudden loss of power while accelerating onto highway ramps, sometimes causing a crash.
- Some describe brakes locking up the rear tires and the vehicle pulling to one side during stops, leading to a collision.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy or only partially deployed in front-end and side-impact crashes.
- Owners describe electrical glitches including delayed dash and radio startup, erratic keyless entry, and static from speakers.
- Some report automatic headlights failing to turn on in a tunnel due to a hidden delay setting, reducing visibility.
- One owner described unintended acceleration while shifting into a parking spot at low speed.
2016 Ford Fusion recalls
13 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V376000Jun 9, 2026Transmission & Powertrain5,252 vehicles
Power train:manual transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
Risk: A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will inspect Focus vehicles and replace the clutch assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S43. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6,2026.
- NHTSA 25V695000Oct 13, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,448,655 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
- NHTSA 23V775000Nov 17, 2023Structure & Body45,173 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.
Risk: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-177.
2016 Ford Fusion fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22 MPG
- Highway
- 33 MPG
- Combined
- 26 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,500
- 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.
2016 compared with other Fusion years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Ford Fusion reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2016 Fusion a Complaint Index of 60, ranking it 5th worst among 11 model years, so it carries a Caution verdict relative to other Fusion years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2016 Ford Fusion?
- Engine complaints make up 35% of all reports for this year, with a median failure mileage of 78,000 miles for the vehicle overall and 85,000 for engine-specific complaints.
- Does the 2016 Ford Fusion have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 13 recalls for the 2016 Fusion, covering transmission shifter cable bushings, steering gear motor bolts, brake hoses, door latches, and a rearview camera issue.
- How does the 2016 Fusion compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 60 is worse than 2015 (30), 2017 (40), 2018 (20), 2019 (10), and 2020 (0), but better than 2010-2013, which range from 70 to 100.