YearToAvoid

2016 Ford Fusion Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 92 Fuel System complaints for the 2016 Ford Fusion, 6% of its 1,627 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 62,000. A related recall (15V618000) covers fuel tank replacement, though owners more often describe stalling and hesitation tied to the throttle body.

Fuel System complaints
92
6% of 1,627
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
62,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power or stalling while driving on the highway, sometimes forcing the car to coast to the shoulder.
  • Several describe the throttle body failing and causing the engine to stop accelerating or maintaining speed in traffic.
  • Some report hesitation or a stumble when accelerating from a coast, especially in the 40-50 mph range, which they say feels like the car is about to stall.
  • A few describe the car stalling repeatedly at stops in city traffic before the problem escalated to stalling on the highway with loss of power steering and brakes.
  • One owner reported the engine shutting off without warning at a stop light with no dashboard codes or warning lights present.

When 2016 Ford Fusion fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 14, 2016, latest Jul 29, 2026.

2016 Ford Fusion fuel system complaints: complaints filed per quarter62016 Q22018 Q12019 Q32020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q1
92 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q2 (6).

Fuel System recalls for the 2016 Ford Fusion

  1. NHTSA 15V618000Oct 1, 2015Fuel System658 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:storage

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 13, 2015, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have insufficent wall thickness. As a result, the fuel tanks may crack in the event of a crash and thus the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

    Risk: A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C11.

Fuel System complaints by Fusion model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010704 (14%)
  2. 2011237 (9%)
  3. 201265 (3%)
  4. 2013141 (8%)
  5. 201482 (6%)
  6. 201567 (7%)
  7. 201692 (6%)
  8. 201737 (3%)
  9. 201830 (7%)
  10. 201917 (5%)
  11. 202012 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2016 Ford Fusion have?
NHTSA lists 92 Fuel System complaints for the 2016 Ford Fusion, which is 6% of the 1,627 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a fuel system recall for the 2016 Ford Fusion?
Yes. Recall 15V618000 covers certain 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles built in September 2015; Ford replaces the fuel tank free of charge.
At what mileage do fuel system problems tend to appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 62,000 miles.
Did the fuel system issue cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2016 Fusion lists 2 crashes and 1 fire, with 0 injuries reported.
How does the 2016 Fusion compare to other years for fuel system complaints?
The 2016 Fusion's 92 fuel system complaints (6% share) is lower than the 2010 model's 704 complaints (14% share), but higher in raw count than several later years like 2018's 30 complaints.

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.