The Lemon Index2016 Ford Fusion.
The 2016 Ford Fusion is worse than average by owner complaints: 410 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 148, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 13 recalls, and it gets 25 to 41 mpg combined. The best Ford Fusion year is 2008.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2013–2020 Ford Fusion, 20.9M views. The 2016 is the same generation.
- Gauges, lights & wiring1.6M views
Ford Fusion Headlight bulb replacement 2013-2020 *UPGRADE* // HOW TOThe Driver Mod · 877K views · 5 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical1.1M views
2013-2020 Ford Fusion 4" to 8" Sync 3 Touchscreen Upgrade - Infotainment.comInfotainment · 269K views · 6 videos - Transmission & shifter669K views
2015 Ford Escape or Ford Fusion Shifter ProblemArkland Farm · 212K views · 5 videos - Brakes & ABS617K views
How To Put A Ford Fusion's Electronic Park Brake Into Service Mode (2013-2018)How to Automotive · 235K views · 4 videos
Show 2 more
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors238K views
How To Reset The 2007-2019 Ford Fusion TPMS Light Low Tire Pressure SensorVehicle Freak · 156K views · 2 videos - Steering & suspension82K views
How to Replace Front Lower Control Arms 2013-2020 Ford Fusion 2.0L I4TRQ · 82K views
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Ford Fusion Sedan 2013-2020 2nd Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 232K views
Ford Fusion (2013-2020): A Complete Reliability GuideThe Long Last Expert · 160K views
What You Should Know before Buying 2015 Ford Fusion "Common Problems"Flat Rate Mechanic · 82K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 1,722 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fusion year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 50K to 104K miles on the car (960 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 46K–105K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 58K–102K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 38K–103K miles
Recalls 13
- transmission & drivetrain 2026
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
- back over prevention 2025
The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
- latches/locks/linkages 2023
Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Show all 13 recalls
- brakes 2023
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
- transmission & drivetrain 2022
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
- latches/locks/linkages 2020
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- steering 2019
Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
- transmission & drivetrain 2019
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.
- transmission & drivetrain 2018
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.
- steering 2018
The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
- seat belts 2016
In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
- seat belts 2016
The front driver seat track assembly's rear riser may have been improperly welded to the seat track rail, and as a result, the driver may not be adequately restrained in a crash.
- fuel system, gasoline 2015
The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have insufficent wall thickness.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 153 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some vehicles transmission will experience, after a cold soak or an extended period with…
- Some 2015-2016 f-150, c-max, edge, mks, taurus, and flex and 2016 expedition, explorer,…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedFront brake jounce hose failures2022–2023
- ClosedDoor latch failures2019–2022
- ClosedSteering wheel fastening bolt loosens2017–2018
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fusion 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Fusion 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Fusion Energi 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1550–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
After "service advanced trac" warning light on dashboard, speed of the vehicle drops on highway. Even though accelerator is floored, speed keeps dropping. Experienced twice this morning and yesterday on freeway.
2016 Ford Fusion owner · NHTSA complaint 10994630
More owner reports
Traveling south bound on florida rt 54 in heavy traffic, engine shut down,restarted after 15 min,took vehicle to park Ford in wesley chapple fl.got veh. Back 3 different times same problem in different locations t
NHTSA complaint 10978659
While driving to work my engine light came on and then the loud vibration/horn type sound ensued. It sounds like it's coming from the gas tank.
NHTSA complaint 11206551
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Ford Fusion reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 148; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fusion year by this measure since 2010 is 2018.
What are the most common 2016 Ford Fusion problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (31%), engine (23%) and steering (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Fusion have?
13 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford Fusion get?
25 to 41 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Ford Fusion safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Fusion problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 50,000 and 104,400 miles. The middle report was at 77,000 miles, from 960 complaints.
Does the 2016 Ford Fusion have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 31% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Ford Fusion cost in fuel a year?
About $1550 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Ford Fusion have?
1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Ford Fusion year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works