2016 Ford Fusion Transmission Problems

The contact's father owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting to reverse, the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the transmission shifter cable bushing had detached. The local dealer was contacted and arrived at the residence and replaced the transmission shifter cable bushing and the vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11680026

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

Mileage

125,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was started, the gear shifter was shifted in drive(D); however, the vehicle rolled backward. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact used the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with shifter linkage bushing failure. The contact was informed that the shifter linkage bushing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that an unknown recall repair was completed in 2019 for the replacement of the shifter linkage bushing. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11611558

Incident

Aug 15, 2024

Mileage

145,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, a warning light indicating the vehicle was not in park had illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after approximately 10–15 minutes. The vehicle was taken to a Ford dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission bushing failed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.

NHTSA ID

11524430

Incident

May 15, 2023

Mileage

96,000 mi

2016 FORD FUSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-413. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES RELATING TO THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11493453

Incident

Nov 14, 2022

2016 FORD FUSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE SAFETY RECALL 22S43/22V413. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11478165

Incident

Aug 8, 2022

When shifting in to any gear (reverse, neutral, drive, or speed), the shifter does not click into place. While shifting, the dash does not illuminate with the corresponding gear. The car stays in park regardless of acceleration being applied or not. This poses a safety hazard while driving as this can switch at any point, posing potential harm to other drivers as well. I am filling out this form prior to contacting the dealership. I am unsure at this time of the specific issue.

NHTSA ID

11475480

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while in the reverse, the vehicle would move forward. The contact placed the gear shifter into drive and the vehicle stalled with the "transmission not in park" warning message on the instrument panel. The contact then placed the vehicle into the park and the vehicle began to roll backward. The contact immediately applied the parking brake and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. Once at the dealer, the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective transmission cable bushing. The contact was informed that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V362000 (Power Train). The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11450208

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

Mileage

97,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while his wife was driving through a fast-food drive-thru, she shifted into PARK however, the gear shifted independently into neutral. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that an employee from the fast-food restaurant assisted with pushing the vehicle into the parking lot. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer while speaking on the phone. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V362000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11444127

Incident

Dec 17, 2021

Stopped at store and placed the vehicle in park. After taking foot off break vehicle rolled forward. Shifter handle was in the park position but the dash indicator showed the vehicle was in neutral. Applied the emergency break to prevent vehicle from rolling further. Attempted to shift through gear selector and back to park but the shifter handle would not move out the park position. The following recall (18S20) has been issued but according to Ford it does not apply to my vehicle. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime. Based on the number of complaints on this sight the recall affects most if not all Ford Fusions. Paid for repairs, but Ford will not reimburse cost. By the way parts totaled $7.64 small price for Ford to pay to protect its customers and the public.

NHTSA ID

11431994

Incident

Sep 6, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while reversing out of a parking space, the contact shifted from reverse to drive and the vehicle did not respond, and the vehicle started to roll backward. The contact depressed the brake pedal and shifted the vehicle into the park. The vehicle continued to roll backward and eventually stopped and would not move. The contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle failed to move. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer to be inspected. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the shift cable bushing fractured and caused the shift cable to detach. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11431237

Incident

Jul 24, 2021

Mileage

70,000 mi

My vehicle has suffered the same Transmission Linkage bushing problem as other Ford Fusions that have been recalled to replace the bushing. When I went to the Ford Dealership in Quincy, MA, they informed me that my 2016 Ford Fusion is not on a recall for the defective bushing since it wasn't manufactured in one of the 2 plants listed for the defective bushing recall. This needs to be addressed so that all Ford Fusions no matter where they are assembled are included in the recall. I had a private mechanic charge me to re-attached the linkage to the transmission, only to have the bushing pop off again a day later. Since then, I have re-attached the linkage a dozen times. I finally went to the Ford dealer and bought the new improved bushing and new cover cap.

NHTSA ID

11428756

Incident

Jul 15, 2021

The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime. Recall 18S20 did not apply to my vehicle but my vehicle has the same problem.

NHTSA ID

11428685

Incident

Aug 10, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was in park and idling, the contact shifted the gear shifter into reverse however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact shifted the vehicle into PARK when the vehicle started rolling backward. The parking brakes were activated to stop the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that the shifter cable had detached. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11424354

Incident

Jul 11, 2021

Mileage

77,000 mi

the shifter cable comes off. Now it's permanently broken off. Why is Ford using a cheap plastic bushing that degrades rather quickly? I was sitting in a local restaurant's drive-thru line, I put my car in park so the torque converter is not actually spinning while the car is idling still. When the line moves up, I place the car in drive and I get no movement. I pop my hood in the middle of a busy drive-thru line only to see my transmission cable is no longer connected to the transmission itself to even move.,

NHTSA ID

11421935

Incident

Jun 22, 2021

The bushing that attaches the shifter cable degraded and detached from the transmission. We were driving to our vacation rental (4.5 hours away from home at this point) and we went to put the car in park to get gas. The gear was in Park, but the car read it was still in Drive. We had to use Emergency Brake to keep it in place. We were stranded for almost 2 hours as dealerships and rentals were closed. A body shop owner happened to pull in front of us and helped us temporarily fix it. There was a recall for 2.5 liter engine for this issue in 2019 so my car was not covered. However, the EXACT same issue occurred. There were no warning signs whatsoever prior to failure.

NHTSA ID

11418733

Incident

May 22, 2021