2018 Ford Fusion Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Fusion years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 13th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 442 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Fusion. That ranks 13th out of 15 Fusion model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (205 complaints, 46%), typically at around 90,000 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 442owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Ford Fusion problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 205 | 46% | 90,000 | “coolant intrusion” (29%) | $10,050 |
| Power Train problems | 106 | 24% | 81,700 | “cable bushing” (15%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 88 | 20% | 101,000 | “coolant intrusion” (49%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 47 | 11% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 26 | 6% | 40,563 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 22 | 5% | 11,148 | — | — |
| Steering | 19 | 4% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 11 | 2% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 8 | 2% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 1% | 76,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 1% | 64,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 1% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 1% | 30,825 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 1% | 114,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 1% | 20,720 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 0% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 0% | 34,323 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 0% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Ford Fusion recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Risk: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Problem: 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.
Risk: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures (RQ22004) — opened Aug 8, 2022, closed Mar 24, 2023, led to recall 23V162000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My 2018 Ford Fusion suffered a sudden and complete engine failure caused by internal coolant intrusion â coolant leaking into the cylinders and destroying the engine. Pep Boys diagnosed that the failure developed internally over time and could not have been avoided by the owner. This is a known…
Capital Ford of Wilmington diagnosed my vehicle with coolant intrusion into cylinder 2, accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes P0302 and P0316, after check engine light came on. I have been advised that the vehicle requires a complete engine replacement, with an estimated cost of $13,180.89. The…
My 2018 Ford Fusion Titanium FWD (VIN: [XXX]) suffered a catastrophic engine failure while driving, causing sudden vehicle overheating, severe engine misfires, and a dangerous loss of power on the roadway.A certified Ford dealership inspection (Invoice #XXX) confirmed that the vehicle has a…
My engine coolant keeps on overheating, Iâve tried changing the antifreeze tank out for a brand new one and it helped the issue for a while but I have to relieve the pressure myself which is a hazard. Iâve had to change the coolant in the tank more than 5 times and it just seems like itâs…
Got home and vehicle would not go into park. I can get it to drive but its only low range. Upon having it inspected, it was discovered the shift cable bushing at the transmission lever was missing.
Other Ford Fusion years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Fusion | 183 | 3 |
| 2019 Fusion | 316 | 3 |
| 2018 | 442 | 2 |
| 2017 Fusion | 1,112 | 4 |
| 2016 Fusion | 1,642 | 13 |
| 2015 Fusion | 997 | 13 |
| 2014 Fusion | 1,331 | 19 |
| 2013 Fusion | 1,792 | 19 |
| 2012 Fusion | 2,516 | 5 |
| 2011 Fusion | 2,794 | 7 |
| 2010 Fusion | 5,130 | 11 |
| 2009 Fusion | 1,023 | 6 |
| 2008 Fusion | 1,353 | 5 |
| 2007 Fusion | 1,064 | 4 |
| 2006 Fusion | 730 | 4 |
See all Ford Fusion problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
Embed this 2018 Ford Fusion badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Fusion?
Owners most often report engine, power train, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 205 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Ford Fusion?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Ford Fusion a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Fusion model years, the 2018 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.