Showing the 2018 Fusion Platinum Phev. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2018 Fusion
The 2018 Ford Fusion has 508 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, and the engine draws the most, with 210. EPA rates it 20 to 42 mpg combined on gasoline, with a 5-year fuel cost of $7,730 to $16,240 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 5 overall stars. There are 2 recall campaigns that may apply, covering brakes and steering.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
20–42 mpgcombined; city 17–43, highway 26–41; every version of this model year; plug-in hybrid versions on gasoline, 97 MPGe on electricity
Five years of fuel
$7,730–$16,240U.S. average; Ohio $6,910–$14,510 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026. Plug-in hybrid versions: $8,000, EPA's own estimate for plug-in hybrids: its national gasoline and electricity prices and the share of miles it expects on electricity; not priced for any state
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2018 Fusion. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 508 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Fusion. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
210
1
0
0
Power train
119
1
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
91
0
0
0
Unknown or other
55
1
1
1
Electrical system
40
2
1
0
Steering
26
2
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
25
1
1
0
Wheels
16
0
0
0
Air bags
11
7
0
8
Service brakes
11
3
0
2
Back over prevention
9
0
0
0
Seat belts
8
2
0
1
15 more parts
Fuel system, gasoline
7
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
6
1
0
0
Structure
5
1
0
2
Service brakes, hydraulic
4
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
3
0
0
0
Suspension
3
1
0
0
Visibility/wiper
3
0
0
0
Equipment
2
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
2
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Firerelated
1
1
1
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Lane departure
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Fusion over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 170 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2018 Fusion, the latest on Feb 24, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (63), engine and engine cooling (45), equipment (39), power train (24), engine (8).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2018 Fusion.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 4–10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Fusion Front-Wheel Drive
1.5 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
23 / 34 / 27
Fusion Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
21 / 32 / 25
Fusion Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
21 / 31 / 25
Fusion All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
20 / 29 / 23
Fusion All-Wheel Drive
2.7 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
17 / 26 / 20
Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline or Electricity 21 miles on electricity, 610 miles in all
43 / 41 / 42 on gasoline 97 MPGe on electricity
Fusion Hybrid Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
43 / 41 / 42
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data