What 1,455 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Fusion Energi

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 80 MPH while driving. The vehicle started jerking and failed to exceed 60 MPH. The vehicle jerked and then failed to exceed 40 MPH. After refueling, the vehicle was slow to start. The contact had to pump the accelerator pedal for the vehicle to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who retrieved DTC: P02, P0087, P0131, P0302, and P1450. The mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle would not pass State inspection. The local dealer was contacted, who confirmed an unrepaired recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11653155

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the transmission was in park(P), but the vehicle rolled backward. The contact depressed the brake pedal, to stop the vehicle, but after releasing the brake pedal, the failure recurred. The contact depressed the brake pedal again and attempted to shift gear, but the transmission seized. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. A transmission message was displayed. The contact activated the parking brake and pressed the manual shift button from reverse(R) to drive(D) to move the vehicle. After shifting into park(P), the transmission seized again. A bystander helped to push the vehicle into a parking space and then activated the parking brake, preventing the vehicle from rolling. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V362000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652472

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front door failed to latch closed securely. Additionally, the messages “Hood Ajar" and "Door Ajar" were displayed. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V775000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The manufacturer referred to contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652108

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, an abnormal sound was coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #2, causing engine failure. 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 referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11651895

I take good care of the car, went in for a check up with engine light on, said I needed new spark plugs, they replaced those. Then it didn’t go off, so then brought it to a master mechanic and he said I have a coolant intrusion and need a new engine. This happened out of nowhere.

NHTSA ODI 11651559

Car has white smoke coming from exhaust smells sweet. Coolant continues to be low, even after filling up check engine light for misfire. This is due to coolant intrusion common with the 1.5 L engines on the fusion. There was a recall for the 2017 but mines a 2016 and has the same issues. This is an ongoing issue with this car. There is a This is an ongoing issue with this car. There is a class action lawsuit and it’s been acknowledged by Ford that this is an issue

NHTSA ODI 11651465

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that his wife informed him that upon starting the vehicle and attempting to shift to drive(D), the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the shifter cable bushing was missing. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V362000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable bushing had rotted away. The dealer recommended the shifter cable bushing be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was concerned that the repair was temporary because the dealer repaired the vehicle with the same part. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 145,068.

NHTSA ODI 11651296

I have had road salt contamination with the electrical wiring to the power steering causing the wires to become brittle and break causing a power steering failure in a right curve which caused the steering wheel to jerk the car to the left nearly causing a collision. The power steering failed again due to high friction inside steering gear and has a broken bolt on the EPAS motor to the steering gear.

NHTSA ODI 11651419

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11650994

The car apparently leaked coolant into the engine was given an estimate of $9425.09 to replace the long block assembly. Apparently this is a no issue from Ford Motor Company. I did write a letter to Ford as well as spoke to someone on the phone. He acknowledged that this was unknown issue and that they were in no position to do anything financially to help.

NHTSA ODI 11651206

I was sitting at a red light and thought I felt my car very lightly shift out of gear. The light changed, I took my foot off of the break and pressed on gas car revved slightly but didn’t move. I placed it in park went back through the gears to drive pressed on the gas and the vehicle went into limp mode was able to pull over to the side of the road. Vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic who advised I need a new transmission. There were no warning indicators no messages NOTHING!

NHTSA ODI 11650659

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a code reader retrieved information for a defect with the EVAP system. The EVAP system was replaced by another independent mechanic; however, the check engine warning light returned several months after the repair. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where it was discovered that coolant was leaking into the spark plugs. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

NHTSA ODI 11650161

Our 1.5 EcoBoost engine overheated on 3/20/25, my daughter was driving and the vehicle started shaking and it slowed way down, for a moment she feared for her life, she said it had a message and the check engine symbol was illuminated and the vehicle would not accelerate, when she got it was leaking coolant and white smoke, I took my OBDII scanner, one code was P1299 Cylinder Over temp Protection Active, it now emits white smoke and overheats and looses fluid. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 1.5L EcoBoost - Low Coolant, White Exhaust Smoke And/Or Illuminated MIL - Built On Or Before 10-Jun-2019 20- 2100 01 April 2020 This bulletin supersedes 19-2375. Reason for update: Replace Awareness/Interim Message Model: Ford 2014-2019 Fusion Engine: 1.5L EcoBoost 2017-2019 Escape Engine: 1.5L EcoBoost Summary This article supersedes TSB 19-2375 to update the Service Procedure and Parts List. Issue: Some 2014-2019 Fusion vehicles built on or before 10-Jun-2019 and 2017-2019 Escape vehicles built on or before 08-Apr-2019 equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) with only diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300, P0301-P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285 and/or P1299 stored in powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to coolant intrusion into the cylinder. To resolve the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the short block and head gasket. Action: Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition on vehicles that meet all of the following criteria: • One of the following vehicles: - 2014-2019 Fusion built on or before 10-Jun-2019 - 2017-2019 Escape built on or before 08-Apr-2019 • 1.5L EcoBoost engine • At least one of the following conditions: - Low coolant level - White exhaust smoke - Runs rough condition with or without an illuminated MIL with only DTCs P0300, P0301- P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285 and/or P1299 stored in PCM

NHTSA ODI 11649929

The power steering failed suddenly while driving. The vehicle became nearly impossible to steer and control. Our safety and the safety of others vehicles or pedestrians was put at risk because the car could not be steered or controlled properly. The failure could have easily caused a serious and perhaps life threatening accident. Luckily, due to circumstances, we were able to pull over safely without causing an accident. It suddenly became extremely difficult to steer the car to a safe stop. No warning lamps were illuminated until the problem was actually happening. The warning lamps read "power steering assist fault; pull over safely immediately". The car was towed to a auto mechanic. The mechanic was able to "reset" the power steering but could not diagnose the problem. We then took the car to a Ford Dealer for further inspection. The Ford Dealer diagnosed the car and said it needs a new Power Steering Rack. We were told the original part is "failing" from the inside. The repair at the Ford Dealer is priced at $3170. The car is 9 years old and the mileage is approximately 80,000. For about two days before this incident we noticed that the steering occasionally felt slightly "jerky" while making turns but there was no warning lamps until the power steering completely failed.

NHTSA ODI 11649404

I have an engine coolant intrusion so my car is misfiring

NHTSA ODI 11648456

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, the engine started to rev. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact drove into a gas station and the vehicle shut off while parking the vehicle. The contact's brother arrived at the scene and restarted the vehicle; however, the revving persisted. The contact was informed by another owner of a similar vehicle that the failure was related to the fuel system. The vehicle continued to rev, and the contact opened the fuel tank which allowed fumes and air pressure to be released from the gas tank. The vehicle resumed normal operation while the contact drove home; however, the failure returned the next time the contact drove the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic code reader showed a defect with the evaporative canister vent solenoid. The vehicle was advised to stop driving the vehicle and the vehicle was towed back to the residence. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA ODI 11648088

This incident is replicable. When driving in lower speed (parking) and moments after switching into a gear (drive or reverse) the power steering goes out. The dash flashes with 2 errors “service AndvanceTrac” and “Hill Assist” following dash lights illuminate: Airbags, ABS, & Traction control. Once the vehicle is turned off and then back on, the indicator lights go away and power steering works again. This vehicle was made at Flat Rock by FMC on 8/26/15 and was purchased & registered in the state of New York from 2015-2021 but Recall # 19S26 only refers to Vehicles made at Flat Rock between 8/21/13 - 6/14/15 (This vehicle was made 83 days later)

NHTSA ODI 11647138

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was turned; however, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the contact stated that the trunk latch independently unlocked. The contact stated that the trunk failure had started in 2023. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed rack and pinion. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11646723

The transmission failed suddenly. To my understanding there have been reported issues with the transmissions for this vehicle having sudden failures without warning. My car slipped out of gear while driving 60mph. I have had the car towed and checked by a certified mechanic who confirmed that the transmission has failed, and its poorly built. My mechanic used to be a mechanic for FORD and is familiar with the poor build quality of the engine, transmission and turbo. I have not had the component inspected by anyone else. There were no symptoms or warning lights before this failure. The car was driving fine and then, the transmission slipped and failed.

NHTSA ODI 11646172

I believe this car falls under the coolant leak recall that is still under investigation. The car started losing coolant and had white smoke coming from exhaust. I believe the coolant channels have cracked and caused the leak. It needs a new motor to be drivable again. I have been waiting for the recall to cover my vin. The recall currently covers similar vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11645563

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at a slow speed, the steering wheel started to wobble with the "Power Steering Assist Fault Service Now" message displayed. The contact pulled into a parking lot and the “Loss of Power Steering - Pull Over to the Side of the Road for Safety" and "No ABS" messages were displayed. The contact attempted to read the safety manual but found no information about the failure. The contact called her husband who had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic later called the contact and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be serviced because no fault codes were found. The vehicle was later towed to a dealer and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V167000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact called the manufacturer and was provided a case number and the contact was then transferred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11643629

Kept getting a misfire on cylinder 2 after ford preformed a “recall” on the power train control system well the car now has coolant leaking into the number two cylinder causing it to shake violently and complete loss of power luckily my wife was able to pull safely off the roadway with my [XXX] son present before losing control and having an accident INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11643582

My trunk pops open randomly and will not stay shut

NHTSA ODI 11642744

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine overheated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer informed the contact that it was a known failure, and that the failure had occurred due to the design of the engine block. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 22-2322. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.

NHTSA ODI 11641662

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the message steering loss was displayed on the instrument panel and the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the failure was temporary. The vehicle then regained power steering functionality and the contact continued driving. The contact stated that the following morning while starting the vehicle, the failure recurred. The vehicle then became inoperable. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11641266