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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

438 reports
84,000 miles · Jun 18, 2024
Engine

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was sputtering, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was sputtering, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed the vehicle has experienced the failure listed in Customer Satisfaction Program: 19B37 and 21N12. However, the Customer Satisfaction Programs had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #11595163

164,000 miles · Jun 18, 2024
Power Train

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to shift between gear. The contact also stated that the vehicle automatically shifted into neutral and rolled backwards. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the transmission shift cable …

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to shift between gear. The contact also stated that the vehicle automatically shifted into neutral and rolled backwards. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the transmission shift cable bushing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

NHTSA ODI #11595128

78,891 miles · Jun 12, 2024
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low coolant warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a safe location and the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to a coolant leak. The contact was informed that th…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low coolant warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a safe location and the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to a coolant leak. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not eligible to be covered under TSB: 22-2333. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,891.

NHTSA ODI #11593992

119,107 miles · Jun 12, 2024
Electrical System

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a failure with the spark plugs. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. While the…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a failure with the spark plugs. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. While the mechanic attempted to replace the spark plugs, the contact was informed that the spark plugs fuse had detached and the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 119,107.

NHTSA ODI #11593900

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2024
Engine

2018 Ford Fusion 2.0L ecoboost engine coolant intrusion issue at around 76000 miles. Took to dealer today to check for needing constant coolant topoffs and rough idle and check engine light. Dealer diagnosed as coolant intrusion in cylinders and into the engine, asked for full engine replacement (long block) at $7200 + tax bill.…

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2018 Ford Fusion 2.0L ecoboost engine coolant intrusion issue at around 76000 miles. Took to dealer today to check for needing constant coolant topoffs and rough idle and check engine light. Dealer diagnosed as coolant intrusion in cylinders and into the engine, asked for full engine replacement (long block) at $7200 + tax bill. I called Ford customer service, they said no recall or customer satisfaction program to get a discount on the repair bill. Very disappointed at Ford quality, a whole engine replacement needed at less than 80k miles on a well maintained car. Requesting NHTSA to force Ford to issue a recall and cover the repairs since its a wide spread issue.

NHTSA ODI #11591817

123,846 miles · May 31, 2024
Engine

Losing coolant in the engine. No apparent leaks on ground or around engine. Rough running when first started but smoothed out after a few miles. Engine overheats if close watch isn't done on the coolant reservoir. I am worried the engine may catch fire if it gets too hot. Taken to mechanic who could not repair. Codes found P 3…

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Losing coolant in the engine. No apparent leaks on ground or around engine. Rough running when first started but smoothed out after a few miles. Engine overheats if close watch isn't done on the coolant reservoir. I am worried the engine may catch fire if it gets too hot. Taken to mechanic who could not repair. Codes found P 3002 & P1299.

NHTSA ODI #11591694

79,000 miles · May 22, 2024
Fuel System, Gasoline

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a failed EVAP purge system. The contact was informed that the EVAP purge system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was …

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a failed EVAP purge system. The contact was informed that the EVAP purge system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the fuel tank made a vibrating sound before the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart immediately. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted after several attempts. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #11590156

90,000 miles · May 21, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact's wife owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle; there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact then stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal with the coolant and check engine warning light…

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The contact's wife owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle; there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact then stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal with the coolant and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test showed that there was coolant intrusion into one of the cylinders. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact provided the same information. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #11589883

102,000 miles · May 17, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle briefly vibrated before returning to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined there was a misfire in cylinder #2, requiring the spark pl…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle briefly vibrated before returning to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined there was a misfire in cylinder #2, requiring the spark plug to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the engine block, requiring the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 102,000.

NHTSA ODI #11589360

50,000 miles · May 16, 2024
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, The check engine warning light illuminated off and on and the vehicle was driving rough. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the engine coolant level was very low. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed a cylinder …

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, The check engine warning light illuminated off and on and the vehicle was driving rough. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the engine coolant level was very low. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed a cylinder misfire caused by coolant intrusion in cylinder #2. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle did not qualify for the Extended Warranty coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11589028

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.