2018 Ford Fusion: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 428 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
428
Complaints
2
Recalls
8
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
5
Injuries
18.2
Severity index
Severity index 18.2 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 121 2018 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2018 Ford Fusion ranks 112 of 121 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 7% of its model-year peers. See the full 2018 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 197 | 46.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 103 | 24.1% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 86 | 20.1% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 47 | 11.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 26 | 6.1% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 22 | 5.1% |
| STEERING | 19 | 4.4% |
| WHEELS | 11 | 2.6% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 197 of 428 complaints (46.0%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 40 |
| 2023 | 98 |
| 2024 | 124 |
| 2025 | 88 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 34 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 4.3x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V167000 | 12/03/2018 | STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 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. |
| 23V162000 | 10/03/2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.