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Pre-purchase inspection

Should you buy a used Ford Fusion?

Whether a used Ford Fusion is a good buy depends on the individual vehicle, not the model. Three checks matter before you pay: the NHTSA recall lookup by VIN for open recalls, the seller’s service and accident records, and an independent pre-purchase inspection of that specific vehicle. This page lists the most recent NHTSA recall campaigns for the Ford Fusion and what an inspector checks.

As of NHTSA records retrieved 2026-08-27, NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the Ford Fusion, model years 2016–2024, most often listing power train and steering. A recall applies to specific VIN ranges, variants, trims or build dates, so any individual vehicle may be affected by all, some, or none of them, and a campaign count is not a reliability ranking. The most recent campaign on file is 26V376000 (June 2026, power train).

Which systems do Ford Fusion recalls affect?

Recall campaigns by affected system, 2016–2024.

What are the most recent NHTSA recall campaigns for the Ford Fusion?

Showing the 12 most recent of 18 campaigns, newest first, from NHTSA records. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

26V376000NHTSA report received June 2026Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 26V376000: Ford Fusion power train recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Focus and 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 18V169 and 18V845. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.

Consequence: A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will update the software, free of charge.

25V695000NHTSA report received October 2025Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 25V695000: Ford Fusion back over prevention recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge.

25V685000NHTSA report received October 2025Model years: 2019–2020

NHTSA campaign 25V685000: Ford Fusion equipment recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied.

25V442000NHTSA report received June 2025Model years: 2019–2020

NHTSA campaign 25V442000: Ford Fusion back over prevention recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge.

23V775000NHTSA report received November 2023Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 23V775000: Ford Fusion latches/locks/linkages recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles 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. A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.

Consequence: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge.

23V440000NHTSA report received June 2023Model years: 2019–2020

NHTSA campaign 23V440000: Ford Fusion electrical system recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Fusion PHEV vehicles. The battery energy control module (BECM) may become damaged due to excessive voltage and current flow.

Consequence: A damaged BECM can result in a loss of drive power or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed.

23V162000NHTSA report received March 2023Model years: 2016–2018

NHTSA campaign 23V162000: Ford Fusion service brakes recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Consequence: 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 per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge.

22V413000NHTSA report received June 2022Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 22V413000: Ford Fusion power train recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge.

20V177000NHTSA report received March 2020Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 20V177000: Ford Fusion latches/locks/linkages recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles 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. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge.

19V632000NHTSA report received August 2019Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 19V632000: Ford Fusion steering recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles 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. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.

Consequence: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer.

19V362000NHTSA report received May 2019Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 19V362000: Ford Fusion power train recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Fusion vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter engines. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.

Consequence: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge.

18V471000NHTSA report received July 2018Model years: 2016

NHTSA campaign 18V471000: Ford Fusion power train recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.

Consequence: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge.

What does a pre-purchase inspection cover on a used Ford Fusion?

The same full inspection at every tier, at the seller’s location, with a photo-documented report:

Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449. Compare Bronze, Silver and Gold. The core inspection is the same at each tier; Silver and Gold add instrumented measurements.

Similar used midsize sedans

Other midsize sedans to weigh against the Ford Fusion. Recall counts cover different model-year spans and are not a reliability ranking.

What does a pre-purchase inspection not do?

How inspections work · Sample reports · Customer reviews, verbatim from Google

Common questions about buying a used Ford Fusion

How many recalls does the Ford Fusion have?

As of NHTSA records retrieved 2026-08-27, NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the Ford Fusion, model years 2016–2024. A recall applies to specific VIN ranges, variants, trims or build dates, so a particular vehicle may be affected by all, some, or none of them, and a campaign count is not a reliability ranking. Whether an open recall is a safety risk depends on the campaign, so read the NHTSA entry for the VIN. Each campaign below shows the remedy NHTSA records, which may be a dealer or service-center repair, an over-the-air software update, or, for some campaigns, a repurchase. This page details the most recent campaigns; the full record for any VIN is at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What should an inspector check on a used Ford Fusion?

Beyond the standard pre-purchase checks, the recall history for this model concentrates in: power train, steering, seat belts, latches/locks/linkages, back over prevention, fuel system. An inspector documents the visible and operational condition of those systems without disassembly; internal parts, software-only issues and whether a recall remedy was performed are VIN-lookup questions, not inspection findings.

Can a pre-purchase inspection tell me whether a Ford Fusion recall was done?

No. Whether a recall repair was performed is recorded against the VIN, so NHTSA's lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls (or the manufacturer's own) is the authoritative check. Run it before you travel. The inspection covers what a VIN lookup cannot: the physical condition of the vehicle in front of you.

Can you inspect a Ford Fusion at a dealer, a private seller, or out of state?

Yes. The inspector usually travels to the vehicle at the seller's location — a dealer lot or a private seller — and you do not need to be there. Vehicle Inspectors dispatches an independent inspector within 50 miles of any US ZIP code, widening to 150 miles if needed; more remote locations are quoted case by case. You get a photo-documented PDF report in 24–48 hours.

How much does a Ford Fusion pre-purchase inspection cost?

A pre-purchase inspection of a Ford Fusion through Vehicle Inspectors: Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449. Your card is saved at booking, not charged. A hold is placed when an inspector schedules, and you are charged after the inspection is completed. If no inspector accepts within 72 hours, the request auto-cancels and nothing is charged.

Where can I book a Ford Fusion pre-purchase inspection?

Vehicle Inspectors matches buyers with independent inspectors nationwide. Local pages for cities with active inspectors:

Recall data from NHTSA recall records (NHTSA public recalls API), retrieved 2026-08-27. Vehicle Inspectors is not affiliated with Ford. A recall is not a defect finding on any individual vehicle.

Inspect that Ford Fusion before you pay

A vetted independent inspector usually goes to the seller’s location and documents the actual condition. Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449.

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