Skip to content
Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2016 Ford Fusion Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
311about this part
Share
19%of 1,652 total for the year
Median mileage
83,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 311 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Ford Fusion, 19% of the 1,652 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 83,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The airbag warning light was on and stayed on. The passenger airbag light said the airbag was off when a person was in the passenger seat. I had to turn the car off while in park in my driveway and turn it back on after a few minutes. The light went off and didn't come back on. The transmission does not shift smooth when switching gears from park to drive.”

NHTSA complaint #11318908, filed 2020-03, 61,000 miles

“When I'm going down hill at high speeds , the transmission down shift very hard when I apply the brake at all. It sounds like a very loud revving. Once I press the accelerator again it goes back to normal. It's very concerning , my car has 59,000 mile on it and dealer says they couldn't feel anything, well that probably because they didn't drive it down hill.”

NHTSA complaint #11309405, filed 2020-02, 59,000 miles

“Got in the parked vehicle and the display on the dash said the vehicle was in neutral but shifter was in park and would not move. The transmission linkage bushing had failed and the cable was no longer connected to transmission. This is a known recall issue for this model. Dealership advised the recall does not apply to my VIN and I am responsible for repairs.”

NHTSA complaint #11291950, filed 2019-12, 106,000 miles

“When traveling on the freeway at 60mph and I take my foot off the accelerator the transmission does not down shift or slow down. A strange sound can be heard until I press on the brakes. The rear passenger seat belt does not retract sometimes.. There is a strange sound when turning the steering wheel.”

NHTSA complaint #11399126, filed 2021-03, 30,000 miles

“Stopped car. Shifted into park, but car rolls. Will not shift into any gear. Will not start. Towed to hilbish Ford in kannapolis, nc. Dealer says it is the shifter cable bushing. Google search reveals that Ford has recalled Ford fusions model years 2014-2016 for this same exact problem, yet the dealership says my car is not included in the recall and are charging me over $300.00 for repairs.”

NHTSA complaint #11348669, filed 2020-08, 120,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20206736%
20196922%
201810724%
201731428%
201631119%
201514515%
201423618%
201328116%
20121586%
201126810%
201089417%
2009202%
2008473%
2007747%
200615021%

Other parts of the 2016 Ford Fusion

Engine
447 complaintsOther or unknown
218 complaintsSteering
176 complaintsElectrical system
150 complaintsBrakes
137 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
135 complaintsEngine cooling
109 complaintsFuel system
92 complaintsAir bags
50 complaintsBody and structure
50 complaintsVehicle speed control
47 complaintsWheels
43 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Ford Fusion

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology