2015 Ford Fusion Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Fusion, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine30827.4%
- Steering16014.2%
- Powertrain (other)13812.3%
- Brakes12711.3%
- Electrical1008.9%
- Fuel system676.0%
- Driver assistance484.3%
- Airbags383.4%
- Body & structure312.8%
- Seat belts242.1%
- Other / unspecified232.0%
- Visibility181.6%
- Interior & seats171.5%
- Exterior lighting90.8%
- Suspension80.7%
- Transmission50.4%
- Tires & wheels30.3%
- Heating & air conditioning10.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I have a coolant intrusion into the engine and blew my engine in the middle of driving down the highway. No signs, no warning. Lost control, ended up on side of road. Had husband pull it the rest of the way home.
Engine warning display came on with "cylinder over temperature" immediately after temperature gauge went from normal (slightly under 1/2 way) to "Hot" immediately. Shut off engine - opened hood, coolant was noticed on passenger side just below coolant bottle. After waiting a little bit the tempature on the gauge hadn't dropped any & the radiator was cool to the touch. The day before washer fluid was added, while there the other levels were checked after sitting all night, the coolant was showing within the marked operating zone. Ended up calling for a tow truck.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
IT FEEL AS IF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. RAN CODE REPLACED THE Steering wheel angle sensor AND THAT DIDN’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CANNOT STAIR THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED UP ..
I was driving down the road. And front wheels stopped working suddenly. It’s better that I was on streets. Otherwise I could have met with an accident. My mechanic told me that steering rack had gone. I never get any recall for that. I had driven 1400 miles till now.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving, the car’s acceleration started to slow down an no matter how much I pressed the gas, it wouldn’t go. I was only able to do 5 miles an hour. It was a loud noise like it was reving up, but wasn’t going anywhere. There was no warning lights. I did not have any issues previously nor had any repairs made. I took it to the auto repair shop the same day and they had confirmed it was the transmission.
On 2/4/26, I experienced a slight skip while driving, But did not continue. The very next morning while in reverse, A winding sound started. Put car in drive pulled out onto main road, drove fine, not even half a mile. Stopped at sign, pulled out onto main road a main road, and car would not go, would not go in gear at all. No one was hurt, but received a few horn honks. Made it to side of road, put the car in sport/manual mode, did not help. Manage to make it about a mile up the road where I was able to safely park it in a parking lot. The check engine symbol came on a couple of weeks prior, but went away after a day. Did not come back on until this particular day 2/5/26. Nothing, no problems leading up to this. Conveniently the extended warranty went out on car 4k miles ago! And the dealership is not interested in helping me out at all. I had to have it towed to an independent shop, to get checked out, due to the dealership being booked 2 months out! I now have a car that I have only had for 1 year! With a blown transmission that I have to make payments on and can not drive!! There are no recalls, but there is a manufacturer issue, that we do not get notified about by mail or by email..? I read another complaint about this same thing, guy also making payments on a car he can not drive!!! This is ridiculous!! And heartbreaking if I can not get help with this! And you can bet the dealership will receive a less than favorable review!
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Brakes, emergency brake, brake switchs. Backup camera turns black while backing up. And yes it’s available for inspection. Car keeps braking and jerking in the other lane by itself. Emergency brake kept coming on by itself randomly. Also I almost hit someone when my back up camera went black. Yes the problem have been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Yes it have been inspected manufactures police and insurance representatives. Yes ever single light came on. Advanctrac light. Brake light, emergency break light, abs light and traction control light and tpms and airbags light.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the RPM was elevated; however, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V011000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the recall repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 100,370.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The rear backup camera screen is black or flickers, and sometimes shows an error message like "Camera not available." Ford just issued another recall for rear cameras for this issue, but deliberately excluded Ford Fusion vehicles. They need to include ASAP as this is a known, dangerous issue that can cause an accident.
My 2015 Ford Fusion back over prevention camera system, is no longer working. I only get the black screen with error message "Camera is unavailable. Contact dealership". Which is creating a safety issue, while the vehicle is backing up. Reference Recall Number 25SA9 as many other ford products have the same issue. Many 2015 Ford models are covered under this recall. However, my fusion is not, because the recall only states 2016. My camera was troubleshot by a certified mechanic and was deemed a faulty camera by testing it with a different camera, and the system started working properly again.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I own a 2015 Ford Fusion SE. I bought it used when it only had 47,000 miles on it. Over the course of time since buying it in DEC 2022 until now, it has had low coolant that I have had to address but no visible leaks. Current mileage now is 87,100 and just recently the coolant was low again and the check engine light came on for DTC P0301 -Cylinder 1 misfiring. It has had rough start ups, rough idle, decreased acceleration, and poor fuel efficiency. I have found the problem to be Coolant Intrusion – Engine Defect Concern “Coolant intrusion” is a known engine design defect in which coolant leaks into the cylinders, leading to internal damage, misfires, and eventual engine failure. After researching it I found that many other people have had the very same issue with no help from Ford. This should be a recall as this is an internal issue with the short block and something that should have been disclosed before purchasing this model/engine. The only repair that will fix the core of the issue is replacing the entire short block which costs thousands of dollars, way more than the cost of the entire vehicle at this point. Without fixing the issue, the engine will fail. Again, this should be something Ford should pay to repair, not any customer who came into this blind.
I am reporting a serious and ongoing safety issue involving my 2015 Ford Fusion. The vehicle experiences intermittent power steering failure while driving. The steering assist will suddenly disengage and re-engage without warning, making the vehicle extremely difficult to control. This condition becomes even more dangerous in wet weather, where the vehicle is sometimes nearly undriveable. Additionally, I am now experiencing a popping noise in the steering wheel. This raises concern of a possible mechanical failure consistent with known recalls involving steering wheel bolt defects that could result in the steering wheel detaching. These issues are consistent with known recalls, including: - Power Steering Failure Recall (15V340000) - Steering Wheel Bolt Recall (18V167000 / 18S08) Despite these known safety defects, Ford has refused to repair the issue, stating that the recall has expired. This presents a serious safety hazard, including risk of loss of steering control, crash, injury, or death. I am requesting immediate investigation and enforcement of manufacturer responsibility for this safety-related defect.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a brief image, a blue image or a black image with the message " Rearview Camera Unavailable". The contact stated while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the failure recurred, causing the rear-end to strike a pole. The contact sustained a whiplash, and minor neck pain but did not seek medical assistance. The trunk of the vehicle sustained a dent. Upon looking up recall information on the Ford website, the contact became aware that the VIN was included in Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 25N17 (Rear-view Camera Replacement if Required after Dealer Evaluation). The dealer was contacted and scheduled a repair appointment; however, the trunk repair was not covered under the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and denied liability for collateral damage. The failure mileage was unknown.
The rear backup camera screen is black or flickers, and sometimes shows an error message like "Camera not available." Ford just issued another recall for rear cameras for this issue, but deliberately excluded Ford Fusion vehicles. They need to include ASAP as this is a known, dangerous issue that can cause an accident.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
Brakes, emergency brake, brake switchs. Backup camera turns black while backing up. And yes it’s available for inspection. Car keeps braking and jerking in the other lane by itself. Emergency brake kept coming on by itself randomly. Also I almost hit someone when my back up camera went black. Yes the problem have been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Yes it have been inspected manufactures police and insurance representatives. Yes ever single light came on. Advanctrac light. Brake light, emergency break light, abs light and traction control light and tpms and airbags light.
The contact owned a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds off the freeway in the rain, a 2006 Ford Fusion veered into her lane and hit her vehicle, which caused her to drive on the curb and hit a metal light pole and telephone pole. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags deployed emitting debris, and her right hand was broken, burned, and scared. The ambulance took her to the hospital, where she received medical attention. The contact noticed smoke inside the vehicle. A police report was filed. There were no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am reporting a serious and ongoing safety issue involving my 2015 Ford Fusion. The vehicle experiences intermittent power steering failure while driving. The steering assist will suddenly disengage and re-engage without warning, making the vehicle extremely difficult to control. This condition becomes even more dangerous in wet weather, where the vehicle is sometimes nearly undriveable. Additionally, I am now experiencing a popping noise in the steering wheel. This raises concern of a possible mechanical failure consistent with known recalls involving steering wheel bolt defects that could result in the steering wheel detaching. These issues are consistent with known recalls, including: - Power Steering Failure Recall (15V340000) - Steering Wheel Bolt Recall (18V167000 / 18S08) Despite these known safety defects, Ford has refused to repair the issue, stating that the recall has expired. This presents a serious safety hazard, including risk of loss of steering control, crash, injury, or death. I am requesting immediate investigation and enforcement of manufacturer responsibility for this safety-related defect.
Front passenger door stopped closing on the 10th of July without any warning so I am forced into driving with a partially closed door tied with rope and I see that multiple people have filed a complaint about the same problem.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
When it gets warm outside, the seatbelt on the driver's side freezes in the resting position, so I cannot buckle up before I drive. It takes a while before I can use the buckle. This means I either drive unsafely to a meeting or wait for the inside of the car to cool down enough to buckle up to drive. I have let Ford know (case number: CXH-02550071-N4S4M4).
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver’s side seat belt was seized. The contact stated that the seat belt was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the seat belt mechanism was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
To keep it short. This is 1 of 3 Ford vehicles that I had to pay to have every lug nut replaced! They are 'swollen' is the term used. Prior to this, I replaced 1 lug in my 45 year driving history and that was because it broke off. I have called Ford and Lincoln and they are aware of the problem but say there is not program in place for a resolution. My complaint was escalated I was told. Hahaha. Their hand needs to be forced. They are not going to willingly do the right thing going forward nor address refunds! They have 'escalated' all 3 of my issues. I would imagine that there is a fourth coming at some point when my daughters car needs to go into the shop. $250+ a car is a joke and an expense nobody needs. Please help. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for a scheduled tire rotation, the contact was informed that the lug nuts were swollen. The contact was informed that the lug nuts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that a torch was used to remove the lug nuts. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was a known issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The back up camera has been showing a black screen while the vehicle is in reverse. This has been happening with my vehicle for a few months. Safety of others put at risk because this happens while vehicle s in motion Have not taken vehicle to dealership to have it inspected. My vehicle falls outside of scope of recall currently published No warning messages displayed
When placing the car in reverse the rear backup camera does not show image and will display a black screen or a message the camera is not working and to contact a dealership. Camera worked correctly until Jan 2025. Randomly, the rear backup sensors, while camera shows black screen, will not alert the driver to being object in its path. At other times when the screen is black, the sensor will alert the driver. If you get the "Camera Not Working" message, the rear backup sensors will alert the driver to objects in its path.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Front passenger door stopped closing on the 10th of July without any warning so I am forced into driving with a partially closed door tied with rope and I see that multiple people have filed a complaint about the same problem.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front passenger’s side door failed to remain securely closed. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the door latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to two other local independent mechanics, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was confirmed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the door latch cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. In addition, the contact stated that as a temporary fix, the front passenger’s door was held closed with an extension cord but remained slightly open. The manufacturer was made not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,359.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The back up camera has been showing a black screen while the vehicle is in reverse. This has been happening with my vehicle for a few months. Safety of others put at risk because this happens while vehicle s in motion Have not taken vehicle to dealership to have it inspected. My vehicle falls outside of scope of recall currently published No warning messages displayed
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the taillights failed to turn off as designed. The contact had to disconnect the battery for the taillights to be turned off. Additionally, the Hill Assist warning light was illuminated after reconnecting the battery. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there was no recall coverage on the vehicle and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 114,352.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving on the freeway yesterday, about 70mph driving conditions were good, it was sunny and warm, and traffic was flowing regularly, and I felt as thought something gave way or loosened up because the car and steering ability were not in synch. I was then approaching a congested area and needed to slow down but the brakes did not brake as fast as they should of and I almost smashed right into the car in front of me. There felt like a disconnection between the brakes, the steering, and the entire car. I have keep my care well maintained and do not miss my regular maintenance appointments. I just had it smogged, with a change of oil and 80k inspection. The tires were checked and everything was ok. There were no indicator lights or alerts however, I do have a light that will not shut off and i was told subject to a recall. It's the front fog lights? or running lights? its the front lights not head lights but the ones the side. That light doesn't impact my driving ability. This is a very unsafe and frightening experience and I would like it investigated before someone really gets hurt.
I just bought a new Battery. And I keep getting no crank no start. Rear suspension keeps squeaking as if it's not lubricated.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. In addition, the contact noticed an abnormal sound with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with PCM failure. The contact was informed that the PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while pulling and attempting to park the vehicle at work, the vehicle was shifted into reverse(R) however, the vehicle failed to respond. The gear shift indicator showed the vehicle in park(P) however, the gear selector was in drive(D). The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was not towed and was not diagnosed nor repaired. There were no warning lights illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
235/45R18, the tires wander on grooved highways (groove wander). They throw the car left and right. This is a safety concern as it creates dangerous instability. Looks like the tire tread is incompatible with some road surfaces (grooved highways) and creates a safety hazard (car violently swerving at highway speeds). Wheel balancing and alignment was done to eliminate these as potential contributors. The store refuses to accept the tires for a return.
MY PARENTS FORD FUSION SE CAME WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES. ME FAILED TURNING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY SHORTLY AFTER MY PARENTS TOOK DELIVERY ON THE CAR. IN APRIL 2017, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY FAILED REQUIRING BOTH FRONT TIRES TO BE REPLACED. IN AUGUST 2017, THE NEW FRONT RIGHT GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRE DEVELOPED BBBLES ON THE SIDE WALL AND SUDDENLY FAILED NECESSITATING ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT TIRE FAILED AT 2,280 MILES, NOW BOTH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES ARE BALD AT THE SHOULDERS JUST SIX MONTHS LATER. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR WHO OFFERED US A MERE $$47.95 FOR ONE FAILED TIRE AND $32.88 FOR THE OTHER WHEN THESE TIRES COST US $198/PER TIRE. GOODYEAR SUPPOSEDLY WARRANTS THEM FOR SIX YEARS. CUSTOMER SUPPORT WAS HOSTILE. BECAUSE I BE,I EVE THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, I WANTED FOUR NEW TIRES. GOODYEAR SAID IF THEY DID ANYTHING I'D BE FORCED TO TAKE MORE GOODYEAR TIRES. I PAID FOR FOUR NEW MICHELIN TIRES TO PROTECT MY FAMILY. WE ONLY HAVE 28,138 MILES ON THIS CAR BUT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SIX GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES FOR SUDDEN FAILURE. WHY ON EARTH HAVEN'T THEY BEEN RECALLED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
Dashboard shows "temporarily lost connection with climate system". When displayed, the air conditioning system (cold or heat) works. Other functions on dash board are also unavailable. Windows or door locks do not work. Considerable safety concern for all but especially a vehicle transporting young children and/or infants. Summer heats rise to unbearable to dangerous to deadly if not addressed. Ford apparently has no fix but the issue is well documented amongst Ford owners. Unsure why this isn't a recall option given the nature and number of concerns. any help at all would be appreciated. While I provide today's date that it occurred, i share the problem has been ongoing for several years. It is on and off with the only consistent indication being when it is hot outside.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .