2018 Ford Fusion Owner Complaints

The 1.5L EcoBoost motor has coolant intrusion problem on cylinder 3. The 1.5L EcoBoost motor sputters while driving causing the engine to be sluggish and not get up to speed when turning and might cause an accident on the highway due to the motor failing due to coolant intrusion design flaw in Ford Motor. Yes, Ford dealership confirmed the coolant intrusion problem on cylinder 3 and check engine light keeps coming on and off. Yes, the Ford dealership inspected the 1.5L engine in the vehicle and ran test to confirm the coolant intrusion problem on cylinder 3. There was no other warning lamps or symptoms prior to the failure/degrade of engine

NHTSA ID

11756448

Incident

Apr 20, 2026

On August 10, 2026, I was driving my 2018 Ford Fusion at approximately 40 mph under normal driving conditions when, without warning, the hood unexpectedly released and flew completely backward into the windshield. The hood had been closed prior to driving and there was no warning before the failure. The hood struck the windshield with significant force, shattering it, immediately blocking my forward visibility, and sending broken glass into the passenger compartment and onto me. Because I suddenly could not see the roadway, I lost control and the vehicle left the road. Fortunately, no other vehicles or pedestrians were involved and I did not require medical treatment. This was not a hood that simply became loose or partially opened. The hood fully opened and struck the windshield. Based on what occurred, it appears the primary hood retention/latch and the secondary safety retention mechanism both failed to prevent the hood from fully opening. The exact mechanical cause requires inspection. The impact caused extensive damage to the hood and windshield and tore/deformed metal around the windshield/A-pillar/roof area. An independent eyewitness across the street personally witnessed the incident occur in real time, and I have photographs documenting the aftermath. The vehicle has approximately 156,000 miles, was in good operating condition, and remains unrepaired and unaltered following the incident so the hood latch, secondary safety catch, striker, hinges and related components can be inspected. Ford was notified immediately and opened case CXH-08862363-V8C8X7, which Ford advised was escalated to its Office of General Counsel. I am reporting this because this apparent hood-retention safety failure created an extremely dangerous situation. Had this occurred at highway speed, at a higher speed, in heavy traffic, or near pedestrians, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

NHTSA ID

11756127

Incident

Aug 10, 2026

Coolant leaking into the engine.

NHTSA ID

11754816

Incident

Sep 16, 2019

There is a recall for the transmission cable bushings for years 2013-2106. The recall came out in 2022. This same bushing is used in the 2018 ford fusion model that was not fixed. The bushing on my vehicle which is a 2018 complete failed while I was driving and left me immobile until I searched for a fix and found the bushing completely gone. Ford Escape: Model years 2013–2019, Ford C-Max: Model years 2013–2018; Ford Fusion: Model years 2013–2016; Ford Transit Connect: Model years 2013–2021; Ford Edge: Model years 2015–2018. Each model besides the fusion went past the 2018 model in which the 2018 fusion should be apart of

NHTSA ID

11754361

Incident

May 11, 2026

Transmission/cracked flexplate started approximately 12 months prior with vibrations getting progressively worse, complete failure needing replacement along with shift cable bushing causes vehicle to select wrong gear position when another is commanded by driver. Shrapnel from case or components could be expelled during flexplate/converter failure. Incorrect gear selection could lead to potential injury or damage from improper gear selection.

NHTSA ID

11753612

Incident

Feb 8, 2026

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11752380

Incident

May 20, 2026

There is a known coolant intrusion into the engine that caused the engine to suddenly only go to a certain speed while on the freeway. It could have caused an accident on the freeway by suddenly going at such a slow speed. It is now found out that the problem is known by Ford and is part of a technical service bulletin, but no recall has been issued on this known problem. The TSB associated are 19-2139, 19-2375, 20-2100. By not making this a recall, Ford is knowingly putting lives at risk with potential sudden loss of speed in these engines. It is lucky this was late at night when not many cars were on the road.

NHTSA ID

11751875

Incident

Jun 7, 2026

Vehicle would not recognize car being in Park. Displayed warning messages: Shift Sys Fault Confirm Park Brake Before Exiting Vehicle. Transmission Not In Park

NHTSA ID

11749574

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

The electric power steering went out and locked my steering cannot figure out why and traction control light on and service light

NHTSA ID

11748136

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

Coolant Intrusion issue with the 1.5-litre EcoBoost. Short block was replaced by Ford Dealer then engine failed again after only 7,000-miles. Required complete new engine installed at my expense, $12,185.28.

NHTSA ID

11747318

Incident

Mar 27, 2026

I own a 2018 Ford Fusion EcoBoost. I purchase it in 2021 with 11K miles on it.  Today it has 34K miles and the engine block developed a crack.  Through my research and my Ford dealer, I've discovered this issue is a known issue with the 1.5 and 2.5 litre engines in the Fusion.  My repair bill would be just about 7K.

NHTSA ID

11746994

Incident

May 31, 2026

My engine failed months ago, and my car has been sitting immobile ever since. My car stuttered while driving, and then turned off. As I started it back up and continued driving down the road, it was shaking very badly. I called my brother to come drive my car home and he pulled clear fluid out of my oil tank. The exact issue described has been put out in the new ford recall under code 26S43.

NHTSA ID

11745411

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

Ford's double-capped acorn lug nuts experienced outer cap expansion/separation during an emergency roadside tire change. A defective design known by Ford. Rendering the supplied tire iron and a separately purchased multisize tire iron ineffective at removing the lugs. The failure left the vehicle immobile on the side of a i75 in SWFL in the summer heat of June 2026. Present in the vehicle were the owner, spouse, and a [XXX] infant. They were stranded approximately 34 miles from home for nearly 3 hours, an extended period for a XXX, who quickly became visibly distressed. Standard FDOT Road Ranger assistance was unavailable, and towing services had estimated wait times exceeding 2 hours. The driver was unable to resolve the situation through any reasonable self-help measure due to the defective lugs, despite having successfully changed tires on the same vehicle previously using the same factory equipment. The defect was verbally identified during the incident by a responding AAA roadside technician. They recognized the defect as consistent with a known issue affecting Ford vehicles. No formal inspection by Ford Motor Company, law enforcement, or insurance representatives has taken place but will be pursued by the owner and available for inspection is requested. No warning lamps, dashboard alerts, or observable symptoms were present that would have indicated a lug nut defect to the owner. It only became apparent at the moment an emergency tire change was required. This is consistent with prior reported cases and litigation involving Ford. The owner was never informed of this defect during the vehicle purchase, service history, or extended warranty agreement. If known road side assistance would have been contacted, instead of self servicing the tire change which was rendered useless by a defect Ford has been aware of. Resulting in nearly 3 hours of preventable roadside exposure, emotional distress, and the endangerment of a [XXX] infant. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.

NHTSA ID

11743999

Incident

Jun 13, 2026

Per mechanic, head gasket has failed due to known issue with 1.5L Ecoboost engines. Coolant is leaking into the engine. White smoke in the exhaust indicating coolant leak. Vehicle is currently availble for inspection upon request, but is destined to be sold. Driver safety as well as surrounding driver safety as risk should engine completely fail due to overheating while driving, potentially causing an accident. There is currently a class action lawsuit in the works for this issue as many other have had it. At this time vehicle has only been inspected by our local mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptons prior ot the issue. When the issue stated, there was a "waterfall" sound in the engine compartment, which caused us to take the vehicle to the mechanic for diagnoses.

NHTSA ID

11743917

Incident

Jun 9, 2026

I purchase this car on XXX Clinton Ford Dealership and engine need replacement Jan 2020 . I at that time did many replacement until the final diagnostic said engine replacement confirm by dealership Ford Dealership Fayetteville NC . The purge valve canister went out in 2022 and was replaced by Ed’sTire in Hope Mills Rd 11/19–11/22/2022 and now mechanic said it is in need of replacement again . Car problems started 2026 Feb and three pieces were replaced because the system was reading those code now to find out the purge valve canister needs replacement again. These hardship have cost me financial difficulties that a new car should never have had within 2 years . I believe no consumer should have to go through this.

NHTSA ID

11743867

Incident

Jan 4, 2020

On [XXX], I drove my 2018 Ford Fusion Titanium AWD to a doctor 37 miles away through rural PA. The car was a reliable workhorse, needing only regular shop visits, and had 108K miles by this date. Midway through the [XXX] drive , a red warning square popped up on the dash to tell me that the engine was overheating, and a pink warning square said the car would lessen electrical draw so that it could cool the engine. Both alerts disappeared quickly. There was no unusual sound or smell before the alerts nor the rest of the drive. I also had no prior dash alerts, only ?3 misfires months apart I now know were symptoms of [XXX]. During down time before/after the doctor, I Googled the error messages and read my owner's manual. I restarted the car w/o incident after it had sat for 45 minutes. Six miles into my way home, the same red square popped up, though no second alert did. I pulled over at a clearing 3 miles later. I sat by the side of the road without cell service for 45 minutes. I had no coolant or water with me. I was unable to remove the coolant lid after the wait, nor could I see if there were coolant in the reservoir. I needed to move the car because of having no cell service. After a total of 75 minutes, I restarted the vehicle and moved 2 miles up the road. A red triangle icon appeared and stayed on. I called my dealer, described what happened, and they told me to tow the car the 21 miles to them. My dealer found no issue beyond a cracked spark plug on cylinder 3 that they replaced 4K miles earlier. Not satisfied, my B-I-L and I researched the incident and found the 2.0L EcoBoost coolant intrusion issue. I had the car tested according to Ford's TSB #19-2346 at a separate dealer; they duplicated the intrusion in cylinder 3, and we had a diagnosis. I was fortunate that the car didn't stop mid-traffic, didn't catch fire, and I was stranded in daylight in an Amish community. The other side of that coin is grim. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11739937

Incident

Mar 18, 2026

My 1.5L EcoBoost engine experienced coolant intrusion into the cylinders, a known and documented defect associated with this engine family across multiple Ford model years. Prior to the failure, the vehicle displayed symptoms consistent with internal coolant loss, including white exhaust smoke, coolant level dropping without visible external leaks, and rough running. No external coolant leak was ever identified. The vehicle was subsequently diagnosed by an independent service center, which confirmed coolant intrusion into the engine internals consistent with a head gasket or coolant jacket failure. The component is available for inspection upon request. The failure rendered the vehicle completely undriveable. The vehicle has been out of service for approximately 12 months and has not been driven since the failure occurred. The repair was quoted at approximately $12,000 for a full engine replacement, exceeding the current market value of the vehicle. Safety was put at risk due to sudden loss of engine performance and drivability while the vehicle was in use on public roads. Coolant intrusion can cause hydrolock, catastrophic engine seizure, and sudden loss of power, all of which create risk of collision, particularly at highway speeds. This failure is consistent with a well-documented defect in the 1.5L EcoBoost engine design, which has been the subject of technical service bulletins and consumer complaints regarding coolant entering the combustion chamber. The failure occurred with no prior accident, overheating event, or owner-caused damage.

NHTSA ID

11739917

Incident

May 20, 2025

Formal Complaint – 2018 Ford Fusion 1.5L EcoBoost – Engine Block Defect Statement of Issue:I am writing to report a premature engine failure on my 2018 Ford Fusion 1.5L. The vehicle is exhibiting all symptoms of the well-documented "coolant intrusion" defect described in Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2222. Despite following all recommended maintenance intervals, the engine block has failed, allowing coolant to enter the combustion chamber.Observations:Confirmed coolant loss with no external leakage found via pressure test.Significant white smoke and rough idle upon cold start. Desired Resolution: Since this is a known manufacturing defect involving the engine block's cooling channels—and not a result of wear and tear—I am requesting a "Goodwill Repair" for a long-block replacement. The current TSB denial based on [8 years] is unacceptable for a known catastrophic design flaw that compromises vehicle safety.

NHTSA ID

11739403

Incident

May 1, 2026

Coolant intrusion

NHTSA ID

11738902

Incident

May 11, 2026

When I put my car in drive it locked up on me & kept reversing all the way back to park the car would not move no matter what gear it was in it was just locked. I had to have the car towed.

NHTSA ID

11735689

Incident

May 4, 2026

The engine has coolant intrusion. It is available upon inspection. Safety at risk due to side effects from the intrusion such as: engine overheating, misfiring, massive coolant loss that could cause an engine fire. The problem was diagnosed as a blown head gasket, but there is evidence of coolant loss and corrosion of spark plugs etc from coolant in engine. Has not been inspected by insurance or police. Symptoms started March 2026; check engine light on showing code P0303 (misfire in cylinder 3) and code for over temperature sensor. It occasionally ran hot, rough start up, misfiring, coolant loss (without external leaks), trouble accelerating, eventual service wrench light, and sometimes flashing engine light when it misfired bad.

NHTSA ID

11735333

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power steering functionality while decelerating. The vehicle jerked, and a driver assistance system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,017.

NHTSA ID

11734771

Incident

Apr 30, 2026

Mileage

157,017 mi

Unable to shift gears in vehicle and had a Flashing P displayed along with and Shift Sys Fault Parking brake warning. There was a recall already for earlier models of this vehicle for a shifter cable bushing (Recall 22S43). The bushing in my vehicle is disintegrated.

NHTSA ID

11733527

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

Coolant Intrusion after the 19B37 customer service program has been completed back in July 23rd 2020 call Ford Motor Company and told them that this service was completed to prevent the coolant intrusion and now it's intruding my car is completely disabled I can't work I bought it with all the money that I had and they said they couldn't do nothing for me they said it's past the 7 years 84,000 miles I tried indicating to them that when disrepair is update was done to the PCM it was supposed to not cause the coolant intrusion but now 6 years later it is causing it so I feel like there should cover it and they basically told me no they don't and have a good day I cannot afford to fix it it's a $6,000 job I do not have that kind of money

NHTSA ID

11732156

Incident

Mar 26, 2026

Coolant intrusion in cylinder 1. Confirmed by Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights, MI. Known design flaw. Can potentially cause the engine to seize, misfiring of cylinders, excessive exhaust. Codes for rich fuel mixture and cylinder misfires were found when check engine light appeared. Checked plugs and coils before a camera was put into the cylinder to confirm the coolant intrusion. Dealership and manufacturer refuse to assist with repairs even though there was a recall for certain vehicles with this exact issue.

NHTSA ID

11730085

Incident

Apr 3, 2026