Owners have filed 437 safety complaints about the 2018 Ford Fusion with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.
Complaints for this vehicle report 9 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries. No deaths have been reported.
Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2018 Ford Fusion, engine & cooling issues stand far above everything else.
"We have coolant intrusion in cylinder 2 of our engine. This can cause highway failure of engine cuts out, car runs rough and it can become a fire hazard. We paid for a diagnostics through a ford dealer. Who we uses all the time for our warranty needs. We noticed car was starting to run rough and check engine light came on 8/5/26"
"my 2018 ford fusion has catastrophic engine failure. Engine stuttering and misfires with check engine light. Low coolant levels with no visible puddles under the car. Engine overheating, could possibly catch fire. Car recently had a tuneup was told no issues at the time. Failure mileage at 109,000."
For most vehicles, complaint volume spikes early and tapers off. The 2018 Ford Fusion inverts that curve — filings peaked in 2024, 6 years after the model year.
Across the Ford Fusion model years we track, the 2010 has the most complaints on file (5,125); the 2018 ranks 9 of 9.
2 recalls apply to some or all 2018 Ford Fusion vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →
NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.
As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 437 complaints about the 2018 Ford Fusion with NHTSA. The most-reported system is engine & cooling.
The 2018 Ford Fusion has 2 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
NHTSA gives the 2018 Ford Fusion an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.
All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.
Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.
This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.