general problems of the 2018 Ford Fusion - part 1

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.

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.  .

Coolant intrusion.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Transmission is now not shifting out of park and this is after having issues with the engine allowing coolant to get in and causing damage with the cylinders. Would not pass the pressure test. When calling Ford customer service and headquarters telling me there is no way they can help with good will. Find this troublesome when they already know the ecoboost causing issues to the car and my car is not at 120,000 miles yet. After seeing the 2013-2016 models already have a recall for the exact same thing and you're going to say this is not related is beyond ignorant on the company's behalf.

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.

I was driving the vehicle on the freeway when the check engine light appeared and after a few seconds the cars engine suddenly shut off. There was a loss of power steering from the lack of engine power which made it difficult for me to steer and a sudden loss of speed which made several vehicles take evasive maneuvers to avoid having an accident with my car as I merged onto the shoulder of the freeway. After getting the car home I checked the vehicles trouble codes which appeared as p0301 cylinder 1 misfire and p0302 cylinder misfire and p0300 general misfires. I noticed a lack of coolant which I refilled and started the vehicle again to see if and how it would run. The car started but ran very rough at first and white smoke started billowing out of the exhaust. After a couple of minutes I decided to drive just down the street to my local Ford service center. They called me yesterday to tell me that the 2. 0l 4 cylinder ecoboost head gasket has failed and has allowed engine coolant to pour into the cylinder 1. The engine cylinder begins to misfire causing the engine to shake and emit white smoke from the exhaust as the coolant is burned off with the fuel. We are now seeing this safety issue and complaint with many vehicles that have the same or similar engine. They say the only remedy is to replace the long block engine with one that supposedly has a "fix" to the coolant delivery system within the engine block. Knowing what I know now, I would never have considered the purchase of this vehicle. The safety issue alone makes cars with these engines a danger to the owner and the public.

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).

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.

The engine has coolant intrusion. It is available upon inspection. Safety at risk due to side effects from the intrusion such 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.

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.

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.

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.