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2016 Ford Fusion: engine overheating

191 of the 1,660 complaints about the 2016 Ford Fusion describe engine overheating.

owner complaints
191
of this car's complaints
12%
typical repair cost reported
$8,000
typical mileage
100,000
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 32 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Engine overheating by model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Engine · GA

Engine is overheating. Main seal is leaking and over pressurising the coolant system. Coolant cap is being blown off.

Filed Oct 8, 2026 · Engine · AR

We are having issues with the 2.0 ecoboost engine overheating and going into limp mode and i had it looked at and was told it has the defective engine that FORD knows about and should fix because we can’t afford to buy a new engine and it’s not my fault that the engine is defective

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 7, 2026 · Engine · MI

Engine reached high temperature on July 2 2016 the results of which required the replacement of the radiator. Apparently there is a class action regarding coolant system issues for my vehicles 2.0L engine. The radiator failure may be the result of this issue. Engine overheated

Filed Jul 4, 2026 · Engine · PA

On April 25, 2024, my car broke down as I was driving. There were no warning lights leading up to it, and then all of a sudden, the check engine light started flashing, my temperature gauge spiked, and I was forced to pull over as the car barely responded to the gas pedal. When I got out, there was smoke coming out from under the hood, and just moving the car to get it towed better made the engine shudder and screech. At that time, the mechanic replaced the water pump, which appeared to solve that issue. But after that, between April and November 2024, my check engine light came on no less than 5 times. Each time, I took my car to the mechanic and they identified and fixed the code to the best of their abilities, but a few weeks later, the light would be back on again. They said the car might have an internal coolant leak and needed a new spark plug and ignition coil. Even after they replaced the spark plug and the ignition coil, I would also occasionally hear screeching sounds as I drove, or-- the longer this went on-- the car would shudder any time the engine was running. Finally, my mechanic told me that the internal coolant leak was something only the dealership could fix, so I took it to Ford, who evaluated the car and found an internal leak in cylinder 2. The only way to fix it would be to replace the entire engine, which I could not afford. The car has been sitting undriven ever since. If I'd been on the highway or driving at a faster speed when the engine suddenly cut out, I could've been in an accident. The only warning for the cylinder issue was the continuous check engine light and the shuddering of the engine, and the same issue was confirmed by an independent mechanic (AutoExpress in Doylestown and the Ford Dealership). There are numerous results on a Google search regarding Ford EcoBoost engine coolant intrusion which is the exact issue I'm having but Ford has not recalled the 2016 Fusion nor offered any solution to this dangerous manufacturing defect

Filed May 5, 2026 · Engine · 175,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds engine had overheated causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who was unable the determine the exact cause of the failure. The contact was informed of the manufacturer extend coverage regarding the engine coolant inside the engine cylinders. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 175,000.

Filed Apr 22, 2026 · Engine · OH

Car is over heating and engine light on. Same issues as the 2017 ford fusions recall but I was told the fire risk from engine coolant leaks and engine block heater failing does not cover my year even though the issues are completly the same.

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 Jan 8, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · 138,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started running rough. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who retrieved DTC: P0302 (Misfire in Cylinder #2). The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, who retrieved the same code and informed the contact that cylinder #2 ignition coil and spark plug needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. While driving, there was white smoke coming from the tailpipe, but the vehicle was still running rough. The engine overheated, and the contact pulled over and added additional fluids to the engine. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact obtained an extended warranty, but the claim was denied due to not meeting the mileage requirements. While driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.

Filed Nov 14, 2025 · UT

My 2016 ford fusion eco boost suddenly began overheating and the sensor would go off then on. I can’t even drive 10 feet. This problem has been consistently happening even after multiple repairs.

Filed Nov 5, 2025 · Engine · 150,000 miles · PA

The contact owned a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the hood. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where the engine gasket was replaced, and the vehicle was diagnosed with a warped engine block. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that there was a coolant intrusion leak and an engine overheating failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Sep 10, 2025 · Engine · OH

The 1.5l engine is having known issues with coolant intrusion into the engine under 100,000 miles. Many people are bringing up their issues staying ford is confirming the mass amount of engine issues with intrusion and quoting $6,000 for new engines. This is absurd because these vehicles should not have an engine known to fail at 100,000 because of leaking coolant into the cylinder. I started losing coolant at 90,000 miles and having to fill it back up.

Questions about the 2016 Ford Fusion overheating

Is engine overheating a common problem on the 2016 Ford Fusion?

191 of 1,660 owner complaints about the 2016 Ford Fusion (12%) mention engine overheating. The model year with the most reports is 2016.

How much does it cost to fix engine overheating on the 2016 Ford Fusion?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $8,000 (median of 24 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 270Engine failure 136Misfire 131Backup camera 123Stalling 93Loss of power 70Fire or smoke 60Power steering loss 54Door locks 53Jerking 44Won't shift 41Screen failure 34Won'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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