Is the 2016 Ford FUSION reliable?

The 2016 Ford FUSION has 2028 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.2x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2016 Ford FUSION?

Top problems: ENGINE (541 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (308 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (210 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2016 Ford FUSION?

Yes, there are 13 recall(s): STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Ford FUSION?

The 2016 Ford FUSION gets 25 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1920. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2016 Ford FUSION?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2016 Ford FUSION is approximately $1,473/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2016 Ford FUSION

Q: Is the 2016 Ford FUSION often stolen?

The Ford FUSION was the #14 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 7,100 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: above-avg.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford FUSION has 2028 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 1748. The most common issue is engine problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: 2016 ford fusion received from dealer on dec 2015. at 39 miles on the odometer, fusion would not start, and all alarms came on (low tire pressure, engine overheat, parking brake, parking sensors, etc). car started after hitting ok and several more cranks. feb 2015 - at about 2500 miles, the c. There are 13 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 53 crash reports 18 injuries

2028

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

541 complaints

27%

• 2016 FORD FUSION RECEIVED FROM DEALER ON DEC 2015. AT 39 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, FUSION WOULD NOT START, AND ALL ALARMS CAME ON (LOW TIRE PRESSURE, ENGINE OVERHEAT, PARKING BRAKE, PARKING SENSORS, ETC). CAR STARTED AFTER HITTING OK AND SEVERAL MORE CRANKS. FEB 2015 - AT ABOUT 2500 MILES, THE C
• LAST WEEK MY CAR ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND IDLE ABOUT TO TURN ONTO ROAD. THIS HAPPENED TWICE SO I TOOK MY CAR WHERE I PURCHASED AT RYAN FORD SEALY AND THEY HAD IT 4/6-12/2016. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING BECAUSE NO CODES OR LIGHT CAME UP. RAN VEHICLE HEALTH
• THIS CAR HAD APPROX 2400 AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN A STEEP GRADE ON 4/23/16 THE CAR CHIMED 4 0R 5 TIMES . I ASKED MY WIFE IF SHE KNEW WHAT THE SOUND WAS AND SHE SAID NO. ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS LATER I TOLD MY WIFE THAT THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. AND I LOOKED AT TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“2016 FORD FUSION RECEIVED FROM DEALER ON DEC 2015. AT 39 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, FUSION WOULD NOT START, AND ALL ALARMS CAME ON (LOW TIRE PRESSURE, ENGINE OVERHEAT, PARKING BRAKE, PARKING SENSORS, ETC). CAR STARTED AFTER HITTING OK AND SEVERAL MORE CRANKS. FEB 2015 - AT ABOUT 2500 MILES, THE C”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2016 Ford FUSION

Based on 1,143 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 75K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

189

30-60K

195

60-100K

429

100-150K

258

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Earlier than typicalmedian 58K mi · 69 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

Earlier than typicalmedian 41K mi · 34 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Earlier than typicalmedian 54K mi · 30 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

Earlier than typicalmedian 43K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

Earlier than typicalmedian 34K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 63K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (13)

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM29/08/2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.

Risk: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.

Above-average theft risk

#14 most stolen in 2025

The Ford FUSION was the #14 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 7,100 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Sedan with widespread availability

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2016 Ford FUSION

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,920

Per month

$160

Per mile

16.0¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,182/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,549/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Ford FUSION

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,473

Full coverage / month

$123

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-12%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1473

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford FUSION Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2016 FUSION, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2028 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2016 FORD FUSION RECEIVED FROM DEALER ON DEC 2015. AT 39 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, FUSION WOULD NOT START, AND ALL ALARMS CAME ON (LOW TIRE PRESSURE, ENGINE OVERHEAT, PARKING BRAKE, PARKING SENSORS, ETC). CAR STARTED AFTER HITTING OK AND SEVERAL MORE CRANKS. FEB 2015 - AT ABOUT 2500 MILES, THE C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHEN SHIFTED INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I PURCHASED A 2016 FORD FUSION SE BRAND NEW AND AFTER A WEEK OF OWNING THE CAR I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR JERKED VERY HARD, I HAD TO CHECK MY REARVIEW MIRROR THOUGHT SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME BUT NO THE CAR BEHIND WAS SOME DISTANCE AWAY. IT SLOWED SOME WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS BUT PIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE STEERING ASSIST, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, HAD A "FAULT" AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START/CRANK. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED THE STEERING WAS STRANGE, IT WAS LIKE THERE WERE STRING WINDS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD SWAY SIDE TO SIDE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 13 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)