2018 Ford FUSION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
437 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 188 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 201 of 437 complaints (46.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 76 | 17.4% |
| Engine operation | 34 | 7.8% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 201 |
| Power Train | 103 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 85 |
| Unknown Or Other | 47 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 22 |
| Steering | 19 |
| Wheels | 10 |
Engine: 201; Power Train: 103; Engine And Engine Cooling: 85; Unknown Or Other: 47; Electrical System: 23; Fuel/Propulsion System: 22; Steering: 19; Wheels: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 53 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 68 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 53; 100,000 to 149,999: 68; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (68). 249 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 40 |
| 2023 | 98 |
| 2024 | 124 |
| 2025 | 88 |
| 2026 | 43 |
2017: 1; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 12; 2021: 20; 2022: 40; 2023: 98; 2024: 124; 2025: 88; 2026: 43
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 76 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 34 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11386925 · 2021-01-07 (January 7, 2021)
2018 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, SIDE ROADS, AND THROUGH TOWN A ORANGE/ YELLOW WRENCH SYMBOL WOULD POP UP WITH 'SEE MANUAL.' LOOKED IN MANUAL AND SAID POWERTRAIN/ ENGINE FAULT. GOT THE VEHICLE SCANNED AT A SHOP AND CAME UP BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK(BTSI). THE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. BEEN TOLD MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS COMPLAINT AND STILL NO RECALL. GUY AT THE SHOP TOLD ME THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THEM AS HE THOUGHT IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS THEIR WAS. LOOKED IT UP AND BY WHAT IT SAYS ONLINE, THAT IT BASICALLY KEEPS IT FROM S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11386925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413506 · 2021-04-23 (April 23, 2021)
I FIRST NOTICED HARSH SHIFTING AND DELAYED SHIFTING. THEN I WAS PULLING OFF FROM THE CAR WASH AND MY GEARSHIFT JUMP GEARS FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE BUT NOT DRIVE HOWEVER THE CAR DID MOVE FORWARD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WINNER GORD WHERE THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BECAUSE THEY SAID ITS COMMON. WHEN I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK THE HARSH/DELAYED SHIFTING WAS STILL AN ISSUE. WEEKS LATER THE CAR IN ADDITION TO HARSH AND DELAYED SHIFTING IT NOW SHAKES REALLY BAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354366 · 2020-09-11 (September 11, 2020)
COOLANT LEAKED INTERNALLY. ROUGH WHILE IDLING. LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11355165 · 2020-09-15 (September 15, 2020)
2018 FORD FUSION SE 1.5L ECOBOOST 66K MILES- 8/27/2020 I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL OUT, VERY ROUGH SHAKY IDLE, AND IDLING AT 800 OR LESS RPMS. ON GREEN, I ATTEMPTED TO GO AND MY CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING, AGAIN FEELING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL DUE TO LITTLE POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING THEN WOULD STAY LIT, FLASHING EVERY SO OFTEN. AIR CONDITIONING WOULD GO IN AND OUT WARM TO COLD AND IT WAS ROUGH AND SHAKY TRYING TO GET THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 66 miles reported. Look up ODI 11355165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10966363 · 2017-03-16 (March 16, 2017)
ABS PUMP FAILURE. ABS PUMP FAILS DURING AN ANTI-LOCK EVENT CAUSING PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR AND NO STOPPING POWER. OCCUR SPORADICALLY WHEN ON ICE/SLUSH/SNOW OR WHEN BRAKING ON A ROUGH RODE.
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10966363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11143804 · 2018-10-29 (October 29, 2018)
ON OCTOBER 17, 2018, I DROVE INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND PROCEEDED TO PARK IN FRONT OF THE SHOPS. I HAD ENTERED THE PARKING SPACE AT A VERY LOW SPEED AND WAS ALMOST AT A DEAD STOP WHEN MY 2018 FORD FUSION SPORT LURCHED FORWARD WITH SUCH A POWERFUL BURST OF SPEED, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING A WINDOW AND BRICK WALL DIVIDING THE SHOPS. NO FLOOR MAT ISSUE WAS INVOLVED AND I DID NOT STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND INSURANCE NOTIFIED. THE CAR IS STILL AT FORD DEALER FOR …
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 11143804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11123622 · 2018-08-31 (August 31, 2018)
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GOES OVER 70 DEGREES, THERE'S CREAKING NOISES UNDERNEATH, SOMETIMES VERY LOUD WHEN TURNING, EVEN WHEN PARKED, MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES THE NOISE. LOOKING ONLINE, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM, MY CAR HAS ONLY 72K MILES AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALL SUMMER THIS YEAR AND IT'S GETTING LOUDER. THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11123622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11246222 · 2019-08-24 (August 24, 2019)
STEERING WHEEL LOSE
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11246222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315596 · 2020-03-02 (March 2, 2020)
AT A RENT-A-CAR FACILITY IN ABSECON, NJ, CUSTOMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE COMPLAINING THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY LOCKED. CAR WAS PARKED, NO DOORS WERE AJAR (RENTAL AGENT MADE SURE OF IT), LOCKED VEHICLE, AND TRIED THE HANDLES. FOUND AFTER ONE OR TWO PUMPS ON ANY HANDLE THE VEHICLE WOULD UNLOCK ITSELF. EVEN TRIED TO LOCK WITH THE EJECT KEY IN THE FOB ITSELF AND THE SAME RESULT OCCURRED. CHECKED BACK LOG ON VEHICLE FOR KEY CODE ON THE DRIVER DOOR TO FIND NO SUCH CODE AVAILABLE. THIS MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL/FUSE ISSUE REGARDING THE DOOR LOCK ACTUAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11580810 · 2024-04-02 (April 2, 2024)
I PURCHASED THE CAR [XXX], FEW WEEKS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN DISAPPEARED, I WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT COOLING FUNCTION, AS THE TOUCH SCREEN CONTROLS WAS SHOWING THAT THEY WERE BOTH ON AND IT WAS STILL WINTER/RAINY SEASON OUTSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR INNTO FORD DEALER AT SAN BERNARDINO CA, THEY TOLD ME THAT MOST LIKELY IT WAS JUST A DASHBOARD LIGHT MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTICS RESULTS CAME OUT FINE AND AFTER RESEARCHING IN OTHER MANUALS EVEN THOUGH THE SEAT COOLING FUNCTION WAS SWITCHED TO "on", THE CAR DID…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11580810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11582231 · 2024-04-10 (April 10, 2024)
My car has stalled out coming up to a stop sign. It makes a sound coming from gas tank. I can not turn it off while pumping gas because it will not start after pumping gas. It is the purge value according to my mechanic. I know the recall on this issue is on the focus models but the fusion is basically the same car
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11582231 at NHTSA ↗