2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid Problems

What owners report

Rear-view camera problems are the largest group here, with owners reporting black, blank, or distorted reverse images, and some waiting for a recall remedy part. Other common reports involve sudden power loss or limp mode while driving, trunk and door latch problems, steering that locks, stutters or fails to turn, and swollen or distorted lug nuts. Where mileage is listed, reports range from 100 to 143,000 miles.

1. 1
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rear-view camera goes black, blank, or distorted

   • 12 complaints (22%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the rear-view camera going black or blank, or showing a distorted image, when the car is in reverse. Often this is intermittent, and some screens display a message that the camera is not available. Some describe a dealer that did not diagnose or repair the fault, and others say the dealer reported the recall part was not yet available. Where mileage is listed, these reports run from 55,000 to 104,000 miles, and the most recent reports describe a recall remedy that is still not available.

   What to check: Test the rear-view camera by shifting into reverse several times, and check the VIN against the recall lookup and ask the dealer whether a camera recall repair is open.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I put my car in reverse, the image displayed for the backup camera is inverted. Ex. If a car is on my right side, it will display that it is on the left side on the screen. It has been doing this for over a year and only seems to work maybe 1/50 trips, in particular when it is extremely cold. Newer fords have been recalled for this error as it is a major safety hazard when reversing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11449263, filed 2022-01

   “I am submitting this complaint regarding an unrepaired safety recall on my 2016 Ford Fusion, Ford Recall 25SA9 / NHTSA Recall 25V695, involving the rear-view camera. The recall concerns a condition where the rear-view camera may display a blank or distorted image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. This can reduce the driver's ability to see what is behind the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. The recall was issued in October 2025. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11756279, filed 2026-08
2. 2
   Engine

   Sudden power loss, limp mode, or stalling while driving

   • 15 complaints (27%)
   • median 22,641 mi at 1.8 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners describe the engine losing power or the car dying while driving, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes with a check engine light or a stop-vehicle warning. Some say the car went into a limp mode that allowed only low speeds, and that pressing the accelerator did little to restore speed. Some say the car restarted after a wait or several restarts, and that a throttle body or a module was replaced. In some reports the dealer could not find a fault, because the codes did not stay stored. Where mileage is listed, these reports run from 1,700 to 27,700 miles, and some happened on highways while the car was moving at speed.

   What to check: Ask the dealer for stored codes and any throttle body or module software updates, and test-drive on a highway to check for power loss or warning messages.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the highway, suddenly the check engine light was on along with sudden lose of engine power. The car enter some kind of safe mode that can only drive under 25 MPH. Steering wheel was very heavy. It returned to normal after several restart. Check engine light still on. Went to the dealer the next day. They told me it is caused by a faulty sensor of the throttle body.”

   NHTSA complaint #11244572, filed 2019-08, 25,487 miles

   “Several times, while driving (various speeds from around 35mph to 70mph) the engine stalled (I put 'engine' in quotes because this is a hybrid so engine , for me, is an analogue for whatever was propelling the car, at the time). The first time this happened, I didn't notice at first (being a hybrid, the engine turning off is status-quo). It wasn't until I pressed the accelerator and felt no acceleration that I had a clue something was wrong. Then I noticed the your car is not in park [paraphrase] message on the dash-display. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10966084, filed 2017-03, 27,700 miles
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Trunk or door latches popping open or failing

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 123,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners describe the trunk popping open without being signaled, sometimes while the car was parked, and a report says the door locks also clicked open. Other reports describe a passenger door latch that fractured so the door had to be pushed firmly shut, and a rattle from the front passenger door above 60 mph. For the rattling door, the owner says both the dealer and the manufacturer said no recall applied to the VIN, and worried the door could open while driving. Where mileage is listed, these reports run from 61,000 to 143,000 miles, and some events happen while parked while others occur above 60 mph.

   What to check: Open and close each door and the trunk several times, and check that the latches hold and that the trunk does not open on its own before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My trunk kept popping open once in a while. I finally left my key fob a long way from the vehicle and it still popped open. I eat my lunch in my car at work and I was sitting there and all of the sudden the trunk popped open by itself and then I heard the door locks click open. So I decided when I finished my lunch to lock it up and put my keys back in my office. Later I walked out because someone told me my trunk was open. Not only was my trunk wide open but my door was unlocked. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11395917, filed 2021-02, 61,000 miles

   “Everytime I go over 60 MPH I hear a rattling nose from the front passenger door and I know there's a safety recall for Ford fusion door latch so I called the dealer and also Ford customer service but both said there's no recall with my VIN but I can hear it and I'm afraid that my passenger door might open while driving. Ford wants me to pay out of my pocket for dealer to look at it but I'm broke due to pendamic.”

   NHTSA complaint #11377994, filed 2020-12
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering loss, locked steering, or rack failure

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 42,673 mi at 4.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners describe losing power steering, with the wheel stuttering and warning lights for steering, lane keeping and collision assist coming on in traffic. A report describes the steering locking so the car could not be steered, with error messages for steering and side impact systems after a short drive. Other reports describe the steering failing to turn the car in the intended direction, a rack and pinion that failed, and a steering wheel that felt very heavy during a power loss. Where mileage is listed, these reports run from 25,487 to 123,000 miles, and some describe the problem happening in traffic.

   What to check: Have the power steering system and rack and pinion checked, and test-drive at low and highway speeds to look for stuttering, stiffness, or steering warning lights.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On may 28th, 2020 I took my 2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid in for serving at 42,670 miles, because of my vehicles loss of power steering, steering wheel stutter and a winning sound while in motion on city street. Multiple steering notification warning lights came on, including power steering assist fault, advance trac fault, lane keeping malfunction, and pre-collision assist not available. My vehicles loss of power steering while in traffic caused the vehicle to become difficult to control. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11341052, filed 2020-07, 42,673 miles

   “On may 28th, 2020 I took my 2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid in for serving at 42,673 miles, because of my vehicles loss of power steering, steering wheel stutter and a winning sound while in motion on city street. Multiple steering notification warning lights came on, including power steering assist fault, advance trac fault, lane keeping malfunction, and pre-collision assist not available. My vehicles loss of power steering while in traffic caused the vehicle to become difficult to control. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11341056, filed 2020-07
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Swollen or distorted lug nuts

   Mentioned in 4 of 51 sampled complaints

   Owners describe lug nuts that are swollen or distorted, so tires could not be removed for rotation or repair at a shop. Owners say service staff told them the nuts needed replacing, that the problem is becoming more common, and that a two-piece lug nut design was given as the reason. Some say they paid to replace the nuts or were asked to, and some say the issue should be covered by a recall. None of these reports lists mileage, and all were filed between mid-2021 and mid-2022.

   What to check: Ask the shop to check the lug nuts for swelling and whether any have been replaced under a warranty or service campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I always have my tires rotated at every oil change. This particular time (6/18/2022) the Service Manager (Steve) stated that I needed to replace my wheel nuts because of them swollen and he was afraid that if he takes off the wheels, they might not go back on or if I needed to remove the wheels on a roadside emergency that the wrench that comes with the car would not fit. He stipulated that this is happening more and more and it should be on a recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11470104, filed 2022-06

   “Took car in for service. The technician said my lug nuts are swollen. Wanted $180.00 to replace. Ford service technician said it was due to Ford using a 2 peice lug nut.”

   NHTSA complaint #11453521, filed 2022-02

Buying note. Before buying, ask the dealer whether any open rear-view camera recall has a remedy and whether the camera displays correctly in reverse on a test drive. Also ask for records of any power loss, steering, or latch repairs, and check the lug nuts for swelling or distortion.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.