2018 Ford Fusion Problems, Recalls & Reliability
574 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Ford Fusion, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 8/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports, typically around 96,500 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2018 Ford Fusion has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2018 sits among all Fusion years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in the cylinder and the engine block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Fusion
“The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the transmission inadvertently shifted into a lower gear. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed to shift. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Fusion
“Shift sys fault message appeared on screen. Car will not go out of park. Shifter bushings are no good. Was told if this had happened while driving my car could not be put in park and could result in a crash.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Fusion
“When I stop to get fuel/gas for my car, I am unable to turn the ignition off because if I do, the car will not restart immediately or at all. There is also a jerking motion immediately after fueling and while driving. There is a "wailing" noise immediately proceeding the car shutting down. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Fusion
“The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to restart due to the battery failing to retain a charge. The contact recharged the battery. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Fusion
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 230 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 89,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 69,000 and 113,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
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…
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.
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…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 23V162000.
Technical service bulletins
160 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2018 Ford Fusion. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2018 Fusion TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2018 Ford Fusion reliable?
The 2018 Ford Fusion drew 574 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 8/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2018 Ford Fusion problems?
The top reported problems for the 2018 Ford Fusion are engine (286 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (109), and other (52).
At what mileage do 2018 Ford Fusion problems show up?
Owners most often report 2018 Ford Fusion problems around 89,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 69,000 and 113,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Ford Fusion have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Ford Fusion. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.