2016 Ford Fusion Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 310 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Ford Fusion, about 19% of all 1,627 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure is 83,000 miles. Four related recalls cover a degrading shifter cable bushing and clutch issues.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 310
- 19% of 1,627
- Crashes reported
- 10
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 4
- Median mileage
- 83,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 4
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Vehicle placed in park rolls away unexpectedly, sometimes striking another vehicle or dragging a passenger who was exiting.
- Transmission shifter cable bushing deteriorates, letting the shifter slip into reverse while the driver believes it is in park.
- Transmission slips or clunks when shifting into second or third gear at highway speed, accompanied by an abnormal noise from the front of the vehicle.
- Vehicle placed in drive unexpectedly moves in reverse instead, or moves after being parked and left unattended.
- Owners report the transmission problem persisted or recurred even after dealer service tied to the shifter cable bushing recall.
When 2016 Ford Fusion transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Aug 21, 2015, latest Sep 13, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Ford Fusion
- 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 22V413000Jun 10, 2022Transmission & Powertrain2,925,968 vehicles
Power train:shift linkage/cable/rod
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
- NHTSA 19V362000May 13, 2019Transmission & Powertrain259,182 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter engines. 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 condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
Risk: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S16. Note: Owners are directed to use the parking brake until the recall remedy repairs can be made. This recall is an expansion of 18V471.
- NHTSA 18V471000Jul 16, 2018Transmission & Powertrain504,182 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. 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 condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
Risk: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S20. Note: Owners are directed to use the parking brake until the recall remedy repairs can be made.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Fusion model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are transmission problems on the 2016 Ford Fusion?
- NHTSA lists 310 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Fusion, about 19% of all 1,627 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Ford Fusion transmission?
- Yes. Four separate NHTSA recall campaigns (26V376000, 22V413000, 19V362000, and 18V471000) address transmission and powertrain issues on the 2016 Fusion, mainly a degrading shifter cable bushing and clutch damage.
- At what mileage do 2016 Fusion transmission problems usually show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 83,000 miles at the time of failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on this model year.
- Have transmission issues on the 2016 Fusion caused crashes?
- NHTSA records 10 crashes and 4 injuries tied to complaints filed under Transmission & Powertrain for the 2016 Fusion, including vehicles rolling away after being placed in park.
- Do the shifter cable bushing recalls fully fix the problem?
- The recalls call for dealers to replace the shifter cable bushing and add a protective cap, but some owners in NHTSA complaints reported the rollaway or reverse-shift issue recurring after the repair.