How common are engine problems on the 2018 Ford Fusion?

NHTSA lists 273 engine complaints for the 2018 Fusion, which is 62% of the 439 total complaints filed for that model year, the highest engine share among all Fusion years on record.

Is there a recall for the 2018 Ford Fusion engine?

No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the 2018 Fusion engine complaints.

At what mileage do 2018 Ford Fusion engine problems usually appear?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 96,000 miles, though some complaints describe issues appearing much earlier.

What are the main engine symptoms owners report?

Owners commonly report internal coolant leaks, misfire codes on cylinder 2, rough idling, loss of power, and in some cases full engine replacement.

Did the 2018 Fusion engine issues cause any crashes or fires?

NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires associated with the 439 total 2018 Fusion complaints.

2018 Ford Fusion Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 273 engine complaints for the 2018 Ford Fusion, which is 62% of all 439 complaints for the model year, the highest share of any Fusion year on record. Median mileage at failure is 96,000 miles, and there are no related engine recalls on file.

Engine complaints: 273; 62% of 439
Crashes reported: 1
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 96,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

Owners report internal coolant leaks with no visible external leak, later diagnosed by dealers as coolant entering the cylinder bores or engine oil, often requiring full engine replacement.
Several complaints describe check engine lights tied to a cylinder 2 misfire code, sometimes with rough idle, white exhaust smoke, or dark spark plugs.
Owners describe sudden loss of power or rough idling while driving, in one case linked to internal coolant leakage on the interstate.
One complaint describes a throttle body actuator control system that stuck closed, triggering a drivetrain warning and check engine light around 41,000 miles.
A separate report describes harsh and delayed gearshifts, including a jump from neutral to reverse without engaging drive.
One owner referenced a technical bulletin describing a bad engine head casting on the EcoBoost engine that allows coolant to leak into the oil.

When 2018 Ford Fusion engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 29, 2018, latest Sep 20, 2026.

273 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (29).

Engine recalls for the 2018 Ford Fusion

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Fusion model year

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

20101,320 (26%)
2011451 (16%)
2012181 (7%)
2013468 (26%)
2014247 (19%)
2015318 (32%)
2016564 (35%)
2017509 (46%)
2018273 (62%)
2019203 (64%)
202060 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2018 Ford Fusion?: NHTSA lists 273 engine complaints for the 2018 Fusion, which is 62% of the 439 total complaints filed for that model year, the highest engine share among all Fusion years on record.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Ford Fusion engine?: No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the 2018 Fusion engine complaints.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford Fusion engine problems usually appear?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 96,000 miles, though some complaints describe issues appearing much earlier.
What are the main engine symptoms owners report?: Owners commonly report internal coolant leaks, misfire codes on cylinder 2, rough idling, loss of power, and in some cases full engine replacement.
Did the 2018 Fusion engine issues cause any crashes or fires?: NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires associated with the 439 total 2018 Fusion complaints.