Model year 2018 · Midsize Cars

2018 Ford Fusion: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2018 Ford Fusion at 20–42 mpg combined across 7 versions. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 509 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

20–42

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as FUSION ENERGI, FUSION HYBRID.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Ford dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2018 Ford Fusion recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 2 safety recalls for the 2018 Ford Fusion, newest first.

Service brakes, hydraulic: Foundation components: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

NHTSA 23V162000 Reported Mar 10, 2023

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 23S12)
Units affected: 1,280,726 (estimate)
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Risk: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Steering: Steering wheel/handle bar

NHTSA 18V167000 Reported Mar 12, 2018

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 18S08)
Units affected: 1,301,986 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Risk: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S08.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2018 Ford Fusion fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2018 Ford Fusion EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Electric range	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Fusion AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/29/23 mpg	—	$2,900	385
Fusion AWD	2.7L 6-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	17/26/20 mpg	—	$3,350	444
Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid	2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gas and Electricity / Electricity	43/41/42 mpg 97 MPGe on electricity	21 mi	$1,600	112
Fusion FWD	1.5L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	23/34/27 mpg	—	$2,500	327
Fusion FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	21/31/25 mpg	—	$2,700	362
Fusion FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	21/32/25 mpg	—	$2,700	360
Fusion Hybrid FWD	2.0L 4-cyl hybrid	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	43/41/42 mpg	—	$1,600	211

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2018 Ford Fusion crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2018 Ford Fusion NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2018 Ford Fusion 4 DR AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	10.9%	Optional
2018 Ford Fusion 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	10.9%	Optional
2018 Ford Fusion Energi 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	4 stars	10.9%	Optional
2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	10.9%	Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2018 Ford Fusion owner complaints

Owners have filed 509 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Fusion, most recently on Oct 24, 2026. 18 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 13 injured people and 1 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2018 Ford Fusion complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Engine	210
Power train	118
Engine and engine cooling	88
Unknown or other	55
Electrical system	34
Steering	26
Fuel/propulsion system	25
Wheels	15
Air bags	11
Service brakes	11

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Ford Fusion model years

Ford Fusion by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2020 Fusion	23–42 mpg	3	235	5/5
2019 Fusion	20–42 mpg	4	473	5/5
2017 Fusion	20–42 mpg	4	1,204	5/5
2016 Fusion	25–41 mpg	13	1,731	5/5
2015 Fusion	25–41 mpg	14	1,065	5/5

All Ford Fusion years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2018 Ford models

2018 Ford C-MAX 2018 Ford EcoSport 2018 Ford Edge 2018 Ford Escape 2018 Ford Expedition 2018 Ford Explorer 2018 Ford F150 2018 Ford Fiesta 2018 Ford Flex 2018 Ford Focus 2018 Ford GT 2018 Ford Mustang 2018 Ford Taurus 2018 Ford Transit Connect 2018 Ford Transit T150 Wagon

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Ford.