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2016 Ford Fusion: misfire or rough idle

131 of the 1,662 complaints about the 2016 Ford Fusion describe misfire or rough idle.

owner complaints
131
of this car's complaints
8%
typical repair cost reported
$7,000
typical mileage
89,000
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 32 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Misfire or rough idle by model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 23, 2026 · Engine · IA

2016 Ford Fusion 1.5L Ecoboost engine w/approx. 88,000 miles was just purchased from private owner on 10/7/26. On 10/17/26 the check engine light came on and showed problem with cylinder 1 and 4. Car was running ruff, misfiring, losing power. Safety issue for losing power on highway. New spark plugs installed and cylinder 1 and 4 replaced. Replaced cylinder 4 twice but this did not work. Local auto shop scoped car as well as did pressure tests. Coolant Intrusion into cylinders. Defective head gasket and design of engine. Car needs engine replaced. Coolant intrusion with defect of the engine should be a recall from Ford.

Filed Oct 21, 2026 · Engine · MD

Ford Ecoboost coolant intrusion. Loss of coolant without noticeable leaks. Loss of power while experiencing cylinder misfire. After cool-down, engine runs rough with white tailpipe smoke and generates check engine light for cylinder misfire.

Filed Sep 17, 2026 · Engine · OK

Exhibited signs of a coolant leak followed by throwing a code about cylinder 4 misfiring. Took my car to the dealer who confirmed that there is coolant leaking into cylinder 4, and it is similar to other defects found in many 1.5 liter ecoboost engines from this model line. Was told that my VIN did not qualify for the recall that is only for the ecoboost 2.0 liter engines even though they have the same defect.

Filed Jul 26, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · IL

The engine experienced a sudden failure that caused the vehicle to become completely inoperable. Prior to the failure, the vehicle exhibited intermittent hesitation, rough idling, and loss of power during acceleration. These symptoms began several weeks before the complete failure. No warning lamps were illuminated at first, but shortly before the breakdown, the vehicle displayed a check engine light and a “Service Engine Soon” message. While driving, the vehicle abruptly lost power and became unsafe to operate. I was forced to pull over immediately, which created a safety risk to myself and other drivers due to the sudden deceleration and inability to maintain speed in traffic. The vehicle would not restart afterward. A repair facility has confirmed that the engine has suffered a major internal failure and requires replacement. The estimated cost of repair starts upwards of $5,000. The vehicle is currently non‑drivable and remains available for inspection. The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. However, I have found multiple similar complaints from other owners reporting the same type of powertrain failure, suggesting a potential pattern or defect affecting safety.

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · Engine · 130,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle felt as though it were going to shut off unexpectedly. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The contact stated that after the spark plugs were replaced, one of the cylinders was misfiring. The spark plugs were replaced a second time, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that coolant intrusion into the engine had resulted in engine failure, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · IN

For the past year, I have been dealing with a recurring check engine light on my Ford Fusion related to Diagnostic Trouble Code P0301 – Cylinder 1 Misfire. Despite multiple repair attempts by qualified mechanics, the issue continues to return, leaving me with mounting repair bills, lost confidence in my vehicle, and serious concerns about its reliability and safety. Every time the check engine light has appeared, I have taken my vehicle in for diagnosis and repair. Each time, I was assured the problem had been fixed. However, the repair would only last anywhere from a week to a month before the exact same code would return. I have now experienced this issue on August 8 2025, January 9 2026, April 20 2026, May 19 2026, and June 1 2026. I have paid to address the same problem, along with related repairs, five separate times. Even more concerning, my vehicle has broken down and left me stranded on the side of the road three out of those five occurrences. No vehicle owner should have to repeatedly face the same unresolved issue after spending significant money on repairs and maintenance. After conducting extensive research, I discovered that I am far from alone. I have found numerous reports from other Ford Fusion owners experiencing the exact same Cylinder 1 misfire issue, many of whom have also been unable to find a permanent solution despite repeated repairs. This appears to be a widespread problem affecting many customers, not an isolated incident. As a Ford customer, I expected a dependable vehicle that I could trust to safely get me where I need to go. Instead, I have spent the last year dealing with recurring failures, unexpected expenses, and the constant fear of being stranded again. When so many owners are reporting the same defect with no lasting repair available, it raises a serious question: Why has this issue not been investigated for a recall or other manufacturer supported corrective action? I urge Ford to thoroughly investigate this recurring issue.

Filed May 18, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

There is a problem with the purge valve causing my vehicle to rough idle and even cut off on me in the middle of traffic and even on the interstate. This issue is going on with a plethora of people with the same year make and model as me yet no recall has been issued. When I put gas in the car it won’t start for some time. If I’m not constantly pressing the accelerator the car will turn off by itself

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · WA

I called way scarff ford to have the safety recalls taken care. Got my appointment, stopped the car off in the morning. They kept the car for 3 days and after the 3rd day they said everything is good to go. Go there in Auburn WA couldn't find my car. Took 4 people or including myself. Then it took another half hour to 45 min to find my car. Go get in the vehicle and something doesn't seem right. Everything still felt the same. I look under the hood and find that the the recalls for the cable bushing wasn't corrected so let led me to think that the other recalls were not completed. Befote calling ford corporate to have this issue taken care of we called [XXX] in enumclaw to have this taken care of. Since the car was at way scarff my car started to act funny. Lean idle, really rough idle vibration with now a code P0299 which is the underboost. I do not think they hooked the hoses up correctly. So now my car is acting really funny. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 25, 2026 · Transmission · IN

severe coolant intrusion issue where coolant leaks into the cylinders, causing rough running, overheating, and potential engine failure. Very unsafe especially due to the fact the their were recalls on the 2017-2019 but not for 2016 models and ford refuses to replace the engine.ford reproduced a better block however my 2016 isn't covered. There signs of rough idling and a engine code for a failed coil . Replaced all coils and spark plugs just for the car to still ride rough with no warning signs. Ford knows themselves that there was a flaw in the making the recall for the 2017-2019(21N12) . This is a major issue considering several reviews or reddit consumers have encountered the exact issue at 100k miles and less. Even when I took my car to bill estes they only found a missfire due to coil. Nothing specified a coolant intrusion.

Filed Mar 19, 2026 · Engine · WI

I took my car in to diagnose low coolant and white exhaust smoke on cold start. The technician said he "observed the presence of coolant inside the cylinder walls which can lead to "serious damage...corrosion...failure and wear and could seize up and told me to get a new engine or car. The vehicle component was inspected by an independent service center. No warning lights prior to failure. Other symptoms include low coolant, white exhaust smoke and runs rough condition especially on acceleration. Vehicle Condition Report (photos and videos) that shows you what our technicians saw today and includes any recommendations. The link to your report is: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 24, 2026 · Engine · RI

My car is having a problem with the a coolant intrusion into the intake so coolant is leaking into the engine, this being said there was a recall for my car a while ago when I did not own the car and I believe it was never replaced or taken care of. When I went to the ford dealership they are saying that there is no recall for my car. The car misfired once which is one of the symptoms, I got my spark plugs replaced, my check engine light came on again for a different problem, I got my intake replaced it ran fine for 4 days and now I am back with the same problem 4 days later. Doing some research I believe that there is a cracked cylinder head or failing gasket. Ford did have a recall on my engine coolant intrusion but like I said prior they are saying there is no recall for my engine which is why I am confused about it. All of my engine problems are leading to this recall that was never fixed on my car or was looked over in my engine. Any help on this would be great thanks

Filed Jan 21, 2026 · Engine · TX

The engine experienced a piston misfire that occurred internally, causing a fracture within the engine block. The resulting damage allows oil intrusion into the spark plug chamber. This constitutes a mandatory safety concern that requires immediate attention.

Questions about the 2016 Ford Fusion misfire

Is misfire or rough idle a common problem on the 2016 Ford Fusion?

131 of 1,662 owner complaints about the 2016 Ford Fusion (8%) mention misfire or rough idle. The model year with the most reports is 2016.

How much does it cost to fix misfire or rough idle on the 2016 Ford Fusion?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $7,000 (median of 17 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Ford Fusion?

There are 0 recalls and 32 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2016 Ford Fusion

Check engine light 270Overheating 191Engine failure 136Backup camera 124Stalling 93Loss of power 70Fire or smoke 60Power steering loss 54Door locks 53Jerking 44Won't shift 41Screen failure 35Won't start 33ABS 27Hesitation 27Airbag light 25Brake failure 22Transmission failure 21Steering lock-up 15Shudder 13No deployment 10Adaptive cruise 9Grinding brakes 9Fuel pump 9Harsh shifting 9Rollaway 9Seat belt 9Wipers 8Headlights 7Slipping 7Battery drain 5Knocking 5Fuel smell 5Sudden acceleration 5Warning lights 5

All model years of the Ford Fusion

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