general problems of the 2018 Ford Fusion - part 1

I am a subsequent owner of this vehicle and it was sold to me with the known issue of coolant intrusion. Not only have I spent over $1000 in repairs. The issue is a known defect with the short block on the engine. While traveling down interstate 275 my car overheated without warning and shut off almost causing a four car collision.

2018 Ford Fusion se 1. 5l ecoboost, just purchased the car 10 days ago and I already have antifreeze that's mixing with the oil causing the car to overheat and white smoke coming from the back cannot drive the car took it to three mechanics they told me it needs a new turbo and a head gasket which will cost well over $4,000 which I don't have the money that I bought the car with I borrowed from family members so I can go back to work and I don't have money to fix it so at the moment I am unemployed because I have no vehicle to get to work this is a major problem. My father before he passed away had a 2017 Ford escape with the same engine and he had the same problem he sold it for $1500 lost 14 grand on it.

- there is a crack in the engine block; coolant is leaking into cylinder 3. I am having the car taken by carvana on 3/30 and it will no longer be available for inspection, but I have record of the mechanical issues from taking the vehicle into the dealership on 3/18. - my/others safety was not immediately at risk, but I know that my engine could have blown while driving, causing an accident or even an engine fire. - as stated, issue was confirmed by dealer, and I have records of this - n/a - check engine light appeared on approximately 3/5; was unable to have car inspected right away and continued driving. Started to get intermittent errors stating that the engine was overheating/coolant was low on 3/12. Stopped driving car more than 2 miles at a time after this. Boyfriend correctly diagnosed issue on 3/15 and I had the issue confirmed by dealer on 3/18.

Leading coolant due to coolant infusion in the block of engine.

Mechanical. Coolant intrusion on my 2018 Ford Fusion se 1. 5l ecobuster.

My car started rumbling and flashing the check engine light. I took it to the mechanic the next day, they tell me to contact Ford because of csp 21n12 due to my spark plugs having coolant leaking on them and in cylinder, it was misfiring. They tell me the vehicle is unsafe to drive. I call Ford and they say theres nothing they can do. Im screwed out of a car because they closed the csp's Nov 2022 and I just got the car last year pre owned.

While operating my 2018 Ford Fusion, the vehicle began experiencing internal coolant loss resulting in engine misfires, rough running, and white exhaust smoke. The coolant intrusion caused engine failure and loss of reliability. This condition creates a safety risk, as it can lead to loss of power while driving, hesitation, and the possibility of engine shutdown. The defect occurred without warning and is consistent with widespread reports involving Ford ecoboost engines. This issue is not related to maintenance or normal wear and tear but is a known design defect acknowledged through service bulletins and consumer litigation. Repair requires full engine replacement.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shuddering violently, hesitated, and failed to accelerate to approximately 35 mph. The check engine warning light was flashing. The contact related the failure to the customer satisfaction program: 21n12. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The dealer informed the contact that the engine small block needed to be replaced, but a full engine replacement was recommended. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a complaint. The manufacturer advised the contact that a future report would be issued. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

My engine is on my car will not go over 25 miles and if it does it shakes and I place the car in park or shut it off u can hear like water sound coming from the engine were it’s seems as if it was boiling.

Engine replaced due to flaw in design. I had my 60,000-mile service done and after it was completed, I started having serious issues with my vehicle. Kept getting check engine light cylinder 2 misfire. I took my Fusion back to the dealership, and they advised me that my engine had to be replaced. Apparently when they put my vehicle under pressure during the service it caused the coolant to leak into my engine. I have researched this and found many complaints with the same problem. Unfortunately, the owners of the other Fusions (like me) found out their vehicle was no longer under warranty, and they had to foot the entire bill. Luckly for me, I had purchased the Ford extended warranty, and my out-pocket pocket is $100. I was told by the dealership that Ford is aware of this issue but has not issued a recall. My service advisor was absolutely shocked when Ford authorized the necessary repairs in a couple hours berceuse it normally takes a few days to get authorization. I have owned this car since it was new and have always kept up with the required maintenance. They gave me a rental vehicle and said it would be about 7 days before the repairs are completed.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine with white smoke coming from the exhaust system, with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the message “service vehicle soon” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,112.

Coolant is leaking into the cylinders and causing overheating and no start.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after the engine was replaced, there was an abnormally loud banging sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle with a cracked engine flex plate. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 59,851.

I would like to respectfully request that my 2018 Ford Fusion, with the 1. 5l ecoboost engine, be considered for inclusion in the customer satisfaction programs related to the engine issues I'm experiencing. Despite my vehicle not being initially listed, the problems I've encountered, including the diagnostic trouble code p0302 and the coolant leak into cylinder #2, suggest that it may be suffering from a similar defect or design flaw that the program aims to address. Given the safety risks associated with the current condition of my vehicle, I believe it would be fair and reasonable to include it in the program and provide the necessary repairs or replacements to ensure the vehicle is safe to operate. I would appreciate your assistance in facilitating this process and exploring options for resolving this issue in a manner consistent with the treatment of similar vehicles.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway at 5 mph, the engine light was illuminated. The vehicle was hard to start. The contact stated that the failure was similar to customer satisfaction program 21n12. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for an oil change and unknown engine repairs were completed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred her to the NHTSA hotline. The manufacturer declined financial assistance, and the matter would be escalated to the negative feedback department. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

The car issued no warning, lights or messages prior to the damage. My [xxx] son was driving and the car started shaking which really scared him as he’s a new driver. I would say the safety of him and other drivers on the road were definitely put in danger. The vehicle has been inspected by a Ford dealership. They stated it had a broken flex plate and short block. Broken flexplate; diagnostic $210. 00 parts $1,345. 86 (flexplate, transmission fluid pump, filter, one time use parts) labor $2,600. 00 ($200. 00 x 13. 0hrs) sales tax $125. 84 total $4,281. 70 short block replacement; diagnostic $145. 00 parts $2,193. 64 (short block engine/kit, spark plugs, one time use parts) labor $4,480. 00 ($200. 00 x 22. 4hrs) alignment $159. 95 sales tax $205. 11 total $7,183. 70 tow bill $140. 00 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Engine failure due to coolant leaking into cylinders. This is a known issue. Also Ford has issued a bulletin on this. But no recall yet! I still own 10k on my car and now a blown engine.

Coolant intrusion, coolant and oil is mixing causing my car to run hot. Engine light keeps coming on, repairs to multiple pumps replaced, water pump replaced, spark plugs replaced, radiator replaced, thermostat replaced. Ford dealership tried replacing all the above vehicle is still running hot. Now claiming I need a new engine.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was white smoke coming from the rear exhaust. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, low coolant, and an overheated engine. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to TSB: 19-2208. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a code reader determined that there was a misfire in cylinders #1 and #3. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the engine misfires were confirmed, and the engine's long block needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact discovered technical service bulletin: 22-2229; however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 88,300.

Engine light came on got it diagnosed said it was misfiring in cylinder 2. Spark plugs and coil needed to be changed. Changed all spark plugs and coil and the engine light is still on and saying the same thing. Doesn’t crank right. Coolant going into engine. My vehicle only has 32,000 miles. Seems to be a know problem but Ford will not do anything. Saying I need a new motor.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was idling roughly with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who suggested that the spark plugs be replaced and a tune-up be performed based on the mileage. The dealer performed the spark plug replacement and tune-up, and the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated; however, the vehicle was still idling roughly. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rear brakes and rear brake rotors needed to be replaced due to a brake fluid leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of NHTSA campaign number: 23v162000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall or special programs for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle started shuddering. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant leaking into the cylinder. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer for parts; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

The engine cooling system and engine block failed due to coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. This issue has been diagnosed by an independent mechanic and is available for inspection upon request. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by an independent service center, which diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine block, a known issue on this engine. The shop recommended full engine replacement and stated this is a common failure in this vehicle. Not yet by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. The issue has only been inspected by a certified independent mechanic. Yes, a check engine light appeared along with a coolant temperature warning message. The vehicle also began to idle roughly, produce heavy exhaust, and consume coolant. These symptoms began appearing shortly before diagnosis in June 2025. I own a 2018 Ford Fusion with a 2. 0l ecoboost engine. The vehicle recently began experiencing coolant loss, heavy exhaust, and check engine alerts. A certified mechanic confirmed that coolant has intruded into the engine block, causing internal misfires and risk of major engine failure. I was told this is a common and well-documented issue with this engine design, yet there has been no official recall from Ford despite similar problems affecting other models (referenced in Ford TSB 19-2208). The mechanic has recommended a full engine replacement with an estimated cost of $13,000. This is a serious safety concern, as the engine can overheat, stall, or seize while driving.

Coolant intrusion into engine cylinder #2 causing misfire and low coolant levels and overheating and stalling. See Ford TSB 22-2229.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly began to shake violently before returning to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion into various cylinders had resulted in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to customer satisfaction program: 21n12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 130,000.

My vehicle was found to have a coolant intrusion. There is a know defect on these vehicles (1. 5 / 2l) Ford engine. There was a hairline crack in 2 of the cylinders, which causes coolant to leak thoroughout the engine. My safety was put at risk as this issue causes the vehicles engine to overheat at an unsafe rate. 2 separate dealers found this issue cba and autonation Ford. Fidelity warranty services inspected the vehicle to see what would be covered. They appeared about 2 weeks prior but would disappear. It finally came back but was extremely repetitive.

2018 Fusion awd titanium, less than 70,000 miles, no warning, no reason. Driving 70mph on interstate when low coolant light comes on, check engine light comes on, car starts losing power and running rough, finally full stall in middle of freeway with catastrophic engine failure due to coolant leak and faulty design. Car was not low on any fluids as they were checked everyday before it was driven. This could have gotten me and my children killed and quite frankly I dont know how it didn't. I bought this car with 44k miles on it. Drove it less than 30k miles and had catastrophic engine failure. This was after I had it in the shop several times for crank shaft position sensor, wouldn't start, and several other problems. The car was taken care of and in immaculate condition. Ford knew these engines would fail prematurely and continued to manufacture them and sell them.

My vehicle has had the check engine light come on intermittently. I took a look under the hood to see if I could spot any issues. The only issue seen was the coolant level was low. After refilling the coolant and a short time driving, perhaps 50-60 miles, the light went out. Then the light came back on a couple days later. Without making any changes the light went out a couple days later. It has done this several times and I thought it may be a faulty sensor or something. I have recently taken it to the dealership for a tune-up, emissions test, multipoint inspection and a transmission flush. I informed the service person that the check engine light will come on and go out and the only thing I have done to the vehicle was add coolant. He suggested the complimentary diagnostic to further identify the issue. During the diagnostic process the auto tech discovered that the coolant has been leaking into the number 2 cylinder. This is the reason for both the fluid loss and the check engine light. From my understanding this is a known issue with my vehicles engine type and has been for some time now. The only fix is to replace the engine. My overall issue is that the safety light (cel) will say that there is an issue and then it goes away signifying the issue is resolved. The potential hazards of this could possibly lead to an individual unknowingly putting themselves and others at risk with an engine that is prepped for failure. An engine that could overheat, catch fire, throw a rod, or simply lose power in a very dangerous location. For example the freeway, a bridge with heavy traffic, or on train tracks…etc. I believe the risk of failure and potential to lose a life should be considered heavily against the cost of a recall. I don’t believe during the buying process it has ever been disclosed that this specific engine is prone to this problem. I know I would not have made my purchase knowing the engine would need to be replaced within the first 10 years of ownership.

At approximately 67,180 miles, a Ford dealership performed a multi-point inspection on my 2018 Ford Fusion se with the 1. 5l ecoboost engine due to a check engine light on. The Ford dealership diagnosed the vehicle with a coolant intrusion into cylinder 2. The Ford dealership recommended the replacement of the short block and gasket kit, with an estimated repair cost of $7,465. This type of issue diagnosed for my vehicle is a known failure issue for 1. 5l Ford ecoboost engines documented in customer satisfaction program 21n12, which covers coolant intrusion and engine damage in this engine type. Despite the Ford dealership diagnosis of my vehicle matching what is described in customer satisfaction program 21n12, I was informed that my vehicle is not eligible. The coolant intrusion into cylinder 2 is an issue that poses a safety risk due to engine misfires, stalling, overheating, and possible sudden loss of engine power while driving. In my case, my vehicle has become unreliable and unsafe for regular driving. A Ford dealership inspected the vehicle, confirmed and documented the issue, and the repair quote, diagnostic report and diagnostic payment receipt are available upon request. Ford has declined assistance despite the vehicle’s low mileage and clear alignment with known engine defects. I mailed a formal appeal letter to Ford motor company and I am filing a complaint with my state attorney general. This widespread issue affects customer safety, and vehicle safety standards and deserves further investigation, as many other Ford owners of vehicles with 1. 5l ecoboost engines have reported similar failures.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “low engine oil pressure” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to customer satisfaction program: 21n12 (short block replacement after coolant intrusion); however, the vehicle was not covered. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated and the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust, and the engine was running abnormally rough. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #1, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure persisted, and the contact stated that the steering wheel was loose while operating the vehicle. The contact stated that the traction control warning light flashed on the instrument panel during one of the failures. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure of the vehicle. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the low coolant warning light had illuminated prematurely. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact was unable to find a coolant leak. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle overheated while driving, which required the contact to pull over temporarily and to resume driving after the vehicle had cooled down. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, which caused the engine to slowly fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the message that the engine was overheating was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted after the contact added coolant to the reservoir. The contact stated that after adding coolant to the reservoir, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the cylinders, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was referred to the dealer for further assistance. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,000.