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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

88 reports
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78,000 miles · May 3, 2023
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing of the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that coolant was leaking in…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing of the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine cylinders. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was given a case number. The manufacturer later was informed that the vehicle would not be covered under warranty or recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000. The consumer stated the vehicle had a coolant leak in the engine which caused corrosion and other damage to the engine.

NHTSA ODI #11520246

100,556 miles · Apr 28, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started to shudder with a large cloud of bluish smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the vehicle was also shuddering and idling rough when started. The contact stated that the check engine warning light …

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started to shudder with a large cloud of bluish smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the vehicle was also shuddering and idling rough when started. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the mechanic retrieved DTC: P0304 and determined that there had been a misfire in cylinder #4. The dealer recommended that the spark plugs be replaced, and the fuel system cleaned. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred and returned the vehicle to the same dealer who diagnosed and found that coolant had intruded into the engine block and recommended that the engine be replaced. The contact researched online and related the failure to manufacturer Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 Coolant Intrusion (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,556. The consumer stated the vehicle is no longer in her possession.

NHTSA ODI #11519433

137,000 miles · Apr 20, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, she observed that a cloud of white smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and stalled; however, the engine started to misfire, and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stat…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, she observed that a cloud of white smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and stalled; however, the engine started to misfire, and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that a message that the engine was overheating was displayed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant had intruded into cylinders #1, #2, and #3. The dealer determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact was informed by the manufacturer that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 - Coolant Intrusion (Engine and Engine Cooling) and that the repair had been a one-time free repair. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

NHTSA ODI #11518151

109,000 miles · Apr 18, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that engine coolant had leaked into the cylinder #3, causing severe damage to the engine. The …

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that engine coolant had leaked into the cylinder #3, causing severe damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was no longer eligible for the Extended Warranty Coverage. The failure mileage was 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #11517599

110,000 miles · Mar 29, 2023
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a sound of liquid present inside the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that engine coolant was present inside the engine cylinders and the engine short block needed to be placed. The engine short b…

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a sound of liquid present inside the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that engine coolant was present inside the engine cylinders and the engine short block needed to be placed. The engine short block was replaced but later the vehicle began to drive sluggishly and would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #11514377

94,000 miles · Feb 28, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact depressed accelerator and the vehicle continued to lose motive power. The contact stated that she observed a large cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated …

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact depressed accelerator and the vehicle continued to lose motive power. The contact stated that she observed a large cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was blinking off and on. The contact pulled off the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant had leaked into the engine block. The manufacturer had issued a Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 21N12 (Engine and Engine Cooling), however the vehicle no longer qualified for the program. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #11509560

112,000 miles · Aug 30, 2022
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated with a message stating "Engine Coolant Over Temperature" displayed. Additionally, the engine sputtered while the vehicle was being started and there was gray smoke coming from the exhaust …

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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated with a message stating "Engine Coolant Over Temperature" displayed. Additionally, the engine sputtered while the vehicle was being started and there was gray smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The contact stated that the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that coolant was leaking into cylinder #1, causing damage to the engine long block. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #11481935

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2022
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

Ford issued a recall in 2020 for my car for coolant leaks. My vehicle was under warranty at the time (28k miles), and in the same week had white smoke emissions, engine stalling on the interstate and overheating in idle. The smoke never went away even after extensive, month long repair. The vehicle again had the same issues in a…

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Ford issued a recall in 2020 for my car for coolant leaks. My vehicle was under warranty at the time (28k miles), and in the same week had white smoke emissions, engine stalling on the interstate and overheating in idle. The smoke never went away even after extensive, month long repair. The vehicle again had the same issues in august 2020 (76k miles), taken to Ford dealership with $3,000 in out of pocket expense. It is now March 2022 (82k miles) and my vehicle is still showing signs of coolant leak with no help from any Ford dealership.

NHTSA ODI #11455121

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.