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2018 Ford Fusion

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Ford Fusion do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 1,109.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

188 reports with mileage · 250 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.

  • Engine. Review the 201 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Power Train complaints

106 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2026
Power Train

CVT transmission completely failed at 150k miles and is not covered by Ford

NHTSA ODI #11709493

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2025
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

Shift actuator wouldn’t go into gear I was stranded a few times had to be towed twice. I’ve found a plastic bushing that showed a $4.00 part could be responsible. Deadly for us disabled Vietnam veterans . I can’t walk. Maine has 200 vehicles with the same issues nationwide who knows supposedly the actuator will not be made by fo…

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Shift actuator wouldn’t go into gear I was stranded a few times had to be towed twice. I’ve found a plastic bushing that showed a $4.00 part could be responsible. Deadly for us disabled Vietnam veterans . I can’t walk. Maine has 200 vehicles with the same issues nationwide who knows supposedly the actuator will not be made by ford motors until February 2026. I’m 76 years old this is a hazard I can’t afford to buy another car. Please help us. Or get stranded in the middle of nowhere freezing cold Thank you

NHTSA ODI #11703498

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2025
Power Train

Car started running rough then white smoke was coming out the exhaust. Took it in to have it checked out by Ford and they said it was coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Now they want $9,000 to replace an engine that has less than 60,000 miles. I see online that this is not new and definitely a design flaw with this engine and…

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Car started running rough then white smoke was coming out the exhaust. Took it in to have it checked out by Ford and they said it was coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Now they want $9,000 to replace an engine that has less than 60,000 miles. I see online that this is not new and definitely a design flaw with this engine and many others.

NHTSA ODI #11696170

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2025
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

At approximately 67,180 miles, a Ford dealership performed a multi-point inspection on my 2018 Ford Fusion SE with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine due to a check engine light on. The Ford dealership diagnosed the vehicle with a coolant intrusion into cylinder 2. The Ford dealership recommended the replacement of the short block and gas…

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At approximately 67,180 miles, a Ford dealership performed a multi-point inspection on my 2018 Ford Fusion SE with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine due to a check engine light on. The Ford dealership diagnosed the vehicle with a coolant intrusion into cylinder 2. The Ford dealership recommended the replacement of the short block and gasket kit, with an estimated repair cost of $7,465. This type of issue diagnosed for my vehicle is a known failure issue for 1.5L Ford EcoBoost engines documented in Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, which covers coolant intrusion and engine damage in this engine type. Despite the Ford dealership diagnosis of my vehicle matching what is described in Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, I was informed that my vehicle is not eligible. The Coolant intrusion into cylinder 2 is an issue that poses a safety risk due to engine misfires, stalling, overheating, and possible sudden loss of engine power while driving. In my case, my vehicle has become unreliable and unsafe for regular driving. A Ford dealership inspected the vehicle, confirmed and documented the issue, and the repair quote, diagnostic report and diagnostic payment receipt are available upon request. Ford has declined assistance despite the vehicle’s low mileage and clear alignment with known engine defects. I mailed a formal appeal letter to Ford Motor Company and I am filing a complaint with my state attorney general. This widespread issue affects customer safety, and vehicle safety standards and deserves further investigation, as many other Ford owners of vehicles with 1.5L EcoBoost engines have reported similar failures.

NHTSA ODI #11678219

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2025
Power Train

Coolant intrusive. New motor needed

NHTSA ODI #11677990

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2025
Power Train

Shifter cable bushing degraded and fell off. Causing a condition where the car could not be shifted into or out of gear, and car applied park brake as a safety precaution and could not be disabled until the shifter was manually put back into park by mechanic. This bushing has been under recall for other year fusions but has not …

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Shifter cable bushing degraded and fell off. Causing a condition where the car could not be shifted into or out of gear, and car applied park brake as a safety precaution and could not be disabled until the shifter was manually put back into park by mechanic. This bushing has been under recall for other year fusions but has not been extended to this one. Research on forums shows this is a very common problem. Could be a real safety issue if car cannot be shifted and it needs to be driven away in an emergency. This part should not fail in this short of time, it is made of inferior materials and does not last. No warnings given prior, part fails catastrophically.

NHTSA ODI #11677650

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2025
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

The car issued no warning, lights or messages prior to the damage. My [XXX] son was driving and the car started shaking which really scared him as he’s a new driver. I would say the safety of him and other drivers on the road were definitely put in danger. The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford dealership. They stated it had …

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The car issued no warning, lights or messages prior to the damage. My [XXX] son was driving and the car started shaking which really scared him as he’s a new driver. I would say the safety of him and other drivers on the road were definitely put in danger. The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford dealership. They stated it had a broken flex plate and short block. Broken Flexplate; Diagnostic $210.00 Parts $1,345.86 (Flexplate, transmission fluid pump, filter, one time use parts) Labor $2,600.00 ($200.00 x 13.0hrs) Sales Tax $125.84 Total $4,281.70 Short Block replacement; Diagnostic $145.00 Parts $2,193.64 (Short block engine/kit, spark plugs, one time use parts) Labor $4,480.00 ($200.00 x 22.4hrs) Alignment $159.95 Sales Tax $205.11 Total $7,183.70 Tow Bill $140.00 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11677427

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2025
Power Train

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the gear shifter could not immediately be shifted out of park(P). The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was unknown…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the gear shifter could not immediately be shifted out of park(P). The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11674212

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2025
Power Train

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ODI #11672504

72,000 miles · Jul 9, 2025
Power Train

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replace…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #11672304

Official recalls

2

23V162000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Mar 10, 2023

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.

18V167000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Mar 12, 2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S08.

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

1

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.