Bad bearings in hybrid transmission
2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 65.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Fusion Hybrid years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
27 reports with mileage · 32 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
10 reports1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - The transmission has failed twice. The first time it was replaced by a licensed dealer. The second time is current. It is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? …
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1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - The transmission has failed twice. The first time it was replaced by a licensed dealer. The second time is current. It is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -We were stranded on the highway in Missouri. The second time the car failed was during winter weather with two small children, putting us at significant risk due to exposure to extreme cold and the dangers of being stuck on the side of the highway. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes, the problem was confirmed by a dealer/service center after the first failure, and it has occurred again. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? - Yes, it has been inspected by a dealer, but not by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - Yes, the first time it failed we got an engine overheating error. The second time it failed we got the "wrench" error code. These warning signs occurred as the problem occurred and did not give us any time to get the car to safety.
The contact's mother owns a 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated while his mother was pulling into a parking space, the vehicle abruptly stopped independently. The driver noticed that the vehicle had shifted to park(P) independently, and the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). An unknown warning light was illuminated. The …
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The contact's mother owns a 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated while his mother was pulling into a parking space, the vehicle abruptly stopped independently. The driver noticed that the vehicle had shifted to park(P) independently, and the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). An unknown warning light was illuminated. The driver turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the gear shifter remained stuck in park(P). An independent mechanic arrived on the scene but was unable to correct the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
In Mid-August I was sitting at a stop light about to turn left. I was about the 3rd car in line. The light turned, and the first car turned left, and we inched up the car in front of me was able to turn, and the traffic was clear enough for me to also make the turn. However, in the middle of the turn my car didn’t stall out but …
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In Mid-August I was sitting at a stop light about to turn left. I was about the 3rd car in line. The light turned, and the first car turned left, and we inched up the car in front of me was able to turn, and the traffic was clear enough for me to also make the turn. However, in the middle of the turn my car didn’t stall out but lost all acceleration. I was pushing the gas, but while the car coasted forward it didn’t begin the drive. However, I never lost power. It was like the car jumped from “Drive” into “Neutral” and I coasted through the turn. I hesitated slightly and then pushed on the gas. The engine made sound but no movement other than coasting. Finally, I felt a small jolt and the car started moving forward. I was able to clear the intersection and was back in Drive mode. At that time the “Engine Warning” light came up on the dash. The car was able to move, nothing else seemed to have a problem, breaks still worked, I pulled into a parking lot. I pulled over, parked, but did not turn the car off immediately. I was able to drive forward and back-up while in the parking lot, as well as make turns. After about a minute I turned the car off to see if the car would automatically “fix itself”. I waited about three minutes and then started the car again, and it started without any problem, but the Warning light was still on. I left the parking lot and was able to drive with the Engine Warning light was still on, but no problem with anything else. I drove about five miles toward home when the Warning light turned OFF. I drove to Oxmoor Ford for service, but the service department was closed. I then drove to AutoZone where they did an initial plug into see if they could find what caused the problem. They were not able to determine anything. I returned home and made the appointment for the Oxmoor Ford service center. The car service cost me $7371.17.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted with the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission fai…
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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted with the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Driving down the road and suddenly all the lights came on and lost power steering there was no warning. Nothing. It stopped working. I then see something today in regards to this being an issue and when I contact ford about it was nothing we can do. Ford did not make this very public and I bet if you people expanded this to oth…
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Driving down the road and suddenly all the lights came on and lost power steering there was no warning. Nothing. It stopped working. I then see something today in regards to this being an issue and when I contact ford about it was nothing we can do. Ford did not make this very public and I bet if you people expanded this to other newer models and made it public you might find more people that have had the same issue and thought it was just their car.
My car has to replace the TRANSMISSION with 54.275 miles . The reason for chance was , when accerating car maked a loud ratlling/screeching noise, from internal noise from transmission. Santa Monica Ford Lincoln Dealer did the job. Then after about driving 35.000 miles, againg The same noise. I tool The car back to SANTA MONI…
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My car has to replace the TRANSMISSION with 54.275 miles . The reason for chance was , when accerating car maked a loud ratlling/screeching noise, from internal noise from transmission. Santa Monica Ford Lincoln Dealer did the job. Then after about driving 35.000 miles, againg The same noise. I tool The car back to SANTA MONICA FORD LINCOLN DEALER, and they (Car had 96000 miles, that time) and they refused to fix it again. They Cheked it, and found the same problema with this transmission. My car is Parking for over a year. FORD never help.
2 weeks ago I went to drive my car and an error code popped up on my screen stating Shift SYS Fault Service Required. I took my car to a mechanic I have been using and he checked the codes to diaganose it. He stated that it needs a Range Control Module, Range Sensor. According to the mechanic this is located inside the transmiss…
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2 weeks ago I went to drive my car and an error code popped up on my screen stating Shift SYS Fault Service Required. I took my car to a mechanic I have been using and he checked the codes to diaganose it. He stated that it needs a Range Control Module, Range Sensor. According to the mechanic this is located inside the transmission and will require quite a bit of time to replace. This sensor controls what gear the car is in. On top of this the mechanic called the ford dealer for the part and I was told the part was on back order with no date yet on when it will come in. Since this happened I have received an update on the part, they were saying possible 08/09 but now as of today has been backed up to 08/19. From my understanding this car has had a recall for the model years 2013 to 2016 for this same error code coming up, but in the past this has dealt with the actual shifting mechanism not the module inside. So at any rate this is definitely a safety issue since I can't drive my car due to it possibly popping out of gear or not staying in park. While it still functions currently I am hesitant to drive it anywhere due to the possiblity of not being able to get it into or out of drive.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO GIANT FORD (4600 BRANCH AVE, TEMPLE HILLS, MD 20748, (240) 685-2274) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO GIANT FORD (4600 BRANCH AVE, TEMPLE HILLS, MD 20748, (240) 685-2274) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,326.
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S DASHBOARD INDICATES A POWERTRAIN FAULT (VIA AMBER WRENCH SYMBOL). CAR SEEMS TO GO INTO A LIMP HOME MODE THAT HAS SYMPTOMS OF GRABBY BRAKES AND LOWER FUEL ECONOMY. CAR HAS ALSO STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING, LOSING ALL POWER, AND REQUIRES THE OPERATOR TO FULLY STOP, SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK, TURN OFF THE CAR, …
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WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR'S DASHBOARD INDICATES A POWERTRAIN FAULT (VIA AMBER WRENCH SYMBOL). CAR SEEMS TO GO INTO A LIMP HOME MODE THAT HAS SYMPTOMS OF GRABBY BRAKES AND LOWER FUEL ECONOMY. CAR HAS ALSO STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING, LOSING ALL POWER, AND REQUIRES THE OPERATOR TO FULLY STOP, SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK, TURN OFF THE CAR, TURN THE CAR BACK ON, AND THEN SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE BEFORE THE OPERATOR CAN CONTINUE DRIVING. EXTREMELY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECELERATES AND THERE IS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE CAR STALLING. THE POWERTRAIN WARNING LIGHT ORIGINALLY OCCURRED ON 15JUN2018 WHILE LEAVING WORK AND TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED ON. IT STAYED LIT THE ENTIRE DRIVE HOME (ABOUT 50 MILES) AND WAS STEADY FOR SPEEDS RANGING FROM STOPPED TO ABOUT 70 MPH. DURING THIS EPISODE, THE CAR DID NOT STALL. ON 18JUN2018, WHILE LEAVING WORK, THE CAR ONCE AGAIN ILLUMINATED THE POWERTRAIN WARNING, BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY STALLED AND I DRIFTED TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. I STOPPED THE CAR, PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND THEN PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE, WHERE IT FUNCTIONED, BUT WITH THE POWERTRAIN WARNING ILLUMINATED. I DROVE HOME AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM STOPPED TO 70 MPH, BUT WHEN I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AT MY CITY, ON THE SURFACE STREETS THE CAR STALLED OUT 2 MORE TIMES WITH NO WARNING, LEAVING ME TO PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND QUICKLY TRY TO RESTART THE MOTOR. CAR HAD JUST UNDER 5000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED. CAR IS A FORD FUSION HYBRID 2018.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
RQ22004 · Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures
Opened Aug 8, 2022 · Closed Mar 24, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 50 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging front brake jounce hose ruptures on model year (MY) 2013-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A ruptured front brake hose results in a brake fluid leak. As a result, the driver may experience an increase in pedal travel and a reduction in the rate of deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash. It should be noted that the subject vehicles identified fell outside the scope of NHTSA Safety Recall 20V-469, which addressed front brake hoses rupturing on certain MY 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The result causes a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needing to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.On March 10, 2023, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted to NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-162 (Ford Recall 23S12) to address front brake jounce hoses that may rupture. Ford found the rupture occurs from a localized failure of the internal reinforcement braid due to cyclic fatigue through tensile/bending and torsional inputs during suspension and steering articulations. The supplier for the front brake jounce hoses is Hitachi. This recall affects the subject vehicles equipped with non-hybrid engines and the suspect front brake jounce hoses (a total of 1,280,726 vehicles). The recall covers subject vehicles built from February 3, 2012 to July 19, 2017 when the suspect hoses were used in vehicle production. The remedy is for dealerships to replace both front brake jounce hoses with new hoses that have a revised braid material at no cost. The vehicles equipped with hybrid engines are excluded from the recall because the internal hose pressure is much lower due to the regenerative braking provided by the hybrid brake system. No failures of brake hoses on hybrid vehicles have been reported to ODI or Ford.Ford's actions address ODIs concerns at this time. Hybrid vehicles will be monitored for related failures. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by new circumstances.The 103 ODI numbers cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ID numbers:11511014, 11510867, 11510318, 11509030, 11505993, 11504989, 11504400, 11502147, 11502082, 11501820, 11501283, 11498439, 11498296, 11496842, 11496335, 11494931, 11494851, 11494252, 11493001, 11492084, 11492070, 11491444, 11491274, 11488858, 11488027, 11487627, 11487416, 11487233, 11486150, 11484924, 11484526, 11484080, 11483948, 11483926, 11483739, 11483723, 11482773, 11482690, 11481077, 11480788, 11480294, 11480052, 11479338, 11479334, 11479252, 11479247, 11479187, 11479094, 11479048, 11478985, 11478953, 11478729, 11478216, 11476892, 11476282, 11470558, 11468994, 11467109, 11466294, 11462746, 11461217, 11456065, 11455367, 11444848, 11436419, 11436376, 11430685, 11428329, 11425083, 11421026, 11420738, 11420735, 11420298, 11418197, 11403926, 11397549, 11366991, 11366757, 11361016, 11359968, 11354569, 11352165, 11350344, 11348799, 11343929, 11343205, 11331947, 11329020, 11319596, 11310529, 11292271, 11288455, 11254787, 11253479, 11253244, 11234622, 11230669, 11230050, 11228240, 11221111, 11143630, 11129392 and 11120228.
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