Whether you are considering purchasing a 2016 Ford Fusion or you are already the owner of one, it is always a good idea to check and see if there might be any recalls on the vehicle in question that have not been addressed. At Vehicle History, our mission is to help automotive shoppers all over the country make informed decisions about the used vehicles that they purchase by providing comprehensive reports that detail every aspect of the vehicle’s history.
While downloading a report of the specific vehicle that you are considering by entering its VIN number in our VIN report search box and accessing a comprehensive report that details the vehicle’s entire history is the best way to determine if there might be any unseen issues with the vehicles, taking a look at any recalls that have been issued on the model is a great place to start. With that in mind, we’ll explore the recalls that have been issued for the 2016 Ford Fusion as well as other important information to consider before you purchase this model.
What Does it Mean for a Vehicle to be Recalled?
Manufacturers will issue recalls on a vehicle when they discover a potential safety hazard that needs to be addressed. Issues that do not affect a vehicle’s safety, for example, a faulty AC system or a malfunctioning radio, will not warrant a safety recall, even if these problems are covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. However, any issue that could potentially be a safety hazard is cause for a recall, which means that any problem with a vehicle’s mechanical or driver safety features is likely to lead to a recall on the model.
In the event of a recall on a vehicle, the manufacturer will contact all owners and dealers in order to inform them about the nature of the recall and provide information about the steps that they should follow in order to resolve the issue. Given that recalls are only issued for serious problems that could make the vehicle unsafe to drive, it is essential to have any recall addressed as soon as possible. Fortunately, manufacturers will always offer to repair any issues that lead to a recall free of charge. While taking your vehicle in for repairs is certainly a hassle even if the repairs are free, it is absolutely necessary in the case of safety recalls.
2016 Ford Fusion Recalls
So far, there have been a total of eight recalls issued for the 2016 Ford Fusion. These recalls are as follows:
NHTSA Recall ID: 16V875000
Recall Date: 10/01/2015 – Affected Component: Fuel Tank
In 2015, Ford issued the first recall for the newly released 2016 Ford Fusion, citing a faulty fuel tank as the reason. Per the recall, certain 2016 Fusion models may have been outfitted with a fuel tank whose walls were insufficiently thick. In the event of a crash, these faulty fuel tanks are prone to breaking, dramatically increasing the risk of an explosion or fire due to fuel leaking into other components of the vehicle. In order to resolve this issue, Ford has offered to replace the fuel tanks free of charge on all affected models.
NHTSA Recall ID: 16V250000
Recall Date: 04/27/2016 – Affected Component: Front Seat Belt
In 2016, a recall was issued for certain 2016 Ford Fusion models that had been manufactured from March 10, 2016 to March 26, 2016 after Ford discovered that these models may have been equipped with a front driver seat track assembly’s rear riser that had not been properly welded to the seat track rail. In the event of a crash, the welds on affected models could break, causing the seatbelt to fail to restrain the vehicle’s driver. In order to resolve this issue, Ford has offered to replace the front seat track rail free of charge on all affected models.
NHTSA Recall ID: 16V875000
Recall Date: 12/05/2016 – Affected Component: Front Seat Belt
Less than a year after issuing the first recall regarding the 2016 Ford Fusion’s front seat belt, Ford was forced to issue another recall for the 2016 Fusion due to the same component. Ford discovered that heat from the deployment of the seat belt’s pretensioner may cause the 2016 Fusion’s front seat belt anchor cable to fail in the event of a crash. If this component fails, the driver would not be properly restrained by their seatbelt in the event of a crash. In order to resolve this issue, Ford has offered to apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable free of charge on all affected models.
NHTSA Recall ID: 18V167000
Recall Date: 03/12/2018 – Affected Component: Steering Wheel
In 2018, Ford issued a recall on certain 2014-2018 Ford Fusion models, citing a faulty steering wheel as the cause. On affected models, the steering wheel’s restraining bolt may loosen over time, resulting in the possibility of the steering wheel coming detached while the vehicle is in operation and causing a dangerous loss of control. In order to resolve this issue, Ford has offered to replace the steering wheel restraining bolt with a longer bolt free of charge on all affected models.
NHTSA Recall ID: 18V167000
Recall Date: 07/16/2018 – Affected Component: Transmission
In 2018, Ford issued a recall on certain 2013-2016 Ford fusion models that had been equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. On affected models, Ford discovered that the bushing attaching the transmission shifter cable to the transmission is prone to degrading over time, resulting in the possibility that the shifter cable comes detached from the transmission. In the event that this happens, the vehicle may show that it has been placed in park without actually ever shifting into park, potentially leading to a rollaway. In order to resolve this issue, Ford has offered to replace the shifter cable bushing free of charge on all affected models.
NHTSA Recall ID: 19V362000
Recall Date: 05/13/2019 – Affected Component: Transmission
In 2019, Ford was forced to issue another recall on certain 2013-2016 Fusion models that is almost identical to the previous recall issued in July 2018, this time for certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion models that had been equipped with a 2.5L engine. As with the previous recall, Ford discovered that the bushing attaching the transmission shifter cable to the transmission is prone to degrading over time, resulting in the possibility that the shifter cable comes detached from the transmission.
In the event that this happens, the vehicle may show that it has been placed in park without actually ever shifting into park, potentially leading to a rollaway. In order to resolve this issue, Ford has offered to replace the shifter cable bushing free of charge on all affected models.
NHTSA Recall ID: 19V632000
Recall Date: 08/29/2019 – Affected Component: Power Steering
In 2019, Ford issued a recall for certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion models that were originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. On affected models, road salt and/or other factors may corrode the vehicle’s electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts, leading to a loss of power steering. If this loss of power steering occurs while the vehicle is in operation it will make it much more difficult to control and increase the risk of a crash. In order to resolve this issue, Ford has offered to replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer free of charge on all affected models.
NHTSA Recall ID: 20V177000
Recall Date: 08/29/2019 – Affected Component: Door Latches
In 2020, Ford issued a recall on certain 2014-2016 Ford Fusion models, citing faulty door latches that may fail while the vehicle is in operation. This recall specifically affects 2014-2016 Fusion models that were originally sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On affected models, a component within the door latch may break, potentially causing the door to come open while the vehicle is in operation. In order to resolve this issue, Ford has offered to replace the door latches free of charge on all affected models.
What to Do if There is a Recall on Your 2016 Ford Fusion
If you are the owner of a 2016 Ford Fusion that has been recalled in the past, it is essential to ensure that the issue in question has been addressed before you continue to drive the vehicle. As already discussed, recalls are only issued for vehicles when a serious safety concern is discovered, and all recalls should be taken seriously.
Thankfully, Ford offers free repairs on all models affected by a recall. To confirm that your recalled vehicle has been repaired and to learn more about how to set up a repair appointment in the event that it has not, you can contact Ford directly and inquire about your vehicle’s VIN number.
If you are considering purchasing a used 2016 Ford Fusion that may have been previously recalled, you will want to verify with the seller that any and all recalls on the vehicle have been addressed. If you are purchasing the vehicle from a reputable dealer then it is likely that all necessary repairs will have already been conducted. At any rate, though, whether buying from a dealer or an individual seller, it is important to confirm that all recalls have been addressed and all required repairs have been made before you purchase the vehicle.
Having looked at all of the recalls for the 2016 Ford Fusion, it is worth noting that the 2016 Ford Fusion has received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and is praised as a high-quality, reliable vehicle. Past recalls are not inherently an indicator of a vehicle’s quality or its safety, and most models regardless of the manufacturer will undergo recalls at some point in time. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to research a model’s recalls and ensure that they have been addressed before you purchase any used vehicle.
At Vehicle History, we make it incredibly easy to research specific models and determine if there are issues regarding the vehicle’s safety or functionality that you need to be made aware of before you make a purchase. When you download our exhaustive vehicle history report by typing in your vehicle’s VIN number, you’ll be able to access a wide range of information about the vehicle, including its past recalls as well as any accidents that the vehicle might have been involved in or repairs that it might have undergone.
To learn more about this valuable tool and how Vehicle History can help you make an informed purchase on your next used car, feel free to contact us today.