2016 Ford Fusion engine problems
572 of the 1,709 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Fusion name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 76 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database6 of the 572 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 25 · 2017: 19 · 2018: 16 · 2019: 37 · 2020: 66 · 2021: 43 · 2022: 67 · 2023: 101 · 2024: 110 · 2025: 63 · 2026: 25
Half of the 323 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 62,000 and 120,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,709 complaints in all about the 2016 Ford Fusion, 25 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Fusion engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
My vehicle is currently overheating. As I started checking and inspecting my car I noticed leaks into my cylinders. I went online and notices many forms of discussion as Ford owners requesting a class action to resolve this issue. This can be very expensive as I may have to repair my motor
I was driving on the highway, suddenly the check engine light was on along with sudden lose of engine power. The car enter some kind of safe mode that can only drive under 25 MPH. Steering wheel was very heavy. It returned to normal after several restart. Check engine light still on. Went to the dealer the next day.
Two days after getting gas my engine light came on. It stayed on for about a wee and turned off. This kept happening everytime I got gas s I took it to the dealership and was told sometimes the cap sticks and it's a common thing that doesnt require any repairs and they reset it. This happened for almost a year.
While under normal operation at highway speed (65-70mph with cruise control on) the car alerted me to an error ("service advancetrac") and immediately deactivated: cruise control, traction control, emergency brake assist, and a couple other systems. The check engine light also came on.
06/13/2017 - vehicle suddenly decelerated in high traffic situation when exiting highway 101 in los angeles. "check powertrain" warning and wrench light illuminated. Unable to accelerate to safe driving speed even with accelerator pedal pushed all the way to the floor. Vehicle went into "limp mode".
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications76 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0316 P0300 P1299 P0217 P1285 P0302 P0301 P0011
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Ford Fusion names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Ford Fusion
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 315 complaints
- steering problems 186 complaints
- electrical problems 164 complaints
- brake problems 140 complaints
- backup camera and parking sensor problems 132 complaints
- fuel system problems 92 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Ford Fusion?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 572 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (33% of everything owners filed about it), and 76 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Ford Fusion?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 13 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Ford Fusion?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 85,000 miles; half of them between 62,000 and 120,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.