2018 Ford Fusion: Coolant leaking into the engine
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 Fusion report: coolant leaking into the engine. CarComplaints.com lists 7 owner complaints, average mileage 91,950 miles.
NHTSA has 273 owner complaints for the 2018 Fusion in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11768910 (filed 10/05/2026): “My 2018 ford fusion suffered a sudden and complete engine failure caused by internal coolant intrusion — coolant leaking into the cylinders and destroying the engine. pep boys diagnosed that the failure developed internally over time and could not have been av…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11768079 (filed 09/30/2026): “Capital ford of wilmington diagnosed my vehicle with coolant intrusion into cylinder 2, accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes p0302 and p0316, after check engine light came on. i have been advised that the vehicle requires a complete engine replacement, with…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: total engine replacement (7 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $5,210 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: engine replacement (used or remanufactured engine)
Average shop cost
$1,435
Range $800–$2,225 (labor)
8.0–16.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$2,150
Range $1,200–$3,335 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Engine seized · 2014 Hyundai Sonata: Seized engine · 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine seized · 2018 Chevrolet Cruze: Engine failure · 2018 Ford Edge: Leaking coolant killed engine · 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Timing chain pieces ruined the engine
Page last updated .