Certain 2015 Model Year Edge, 2015-2016 Model Year F-150, MKT, and Police Interceptor Sedan, and 2016 Model Year Escape, Explorer, Flex, Fusion, MKX, Mustang, Police Interceptor Utility, Taurus, and Transit Vehicles - Electronic Throttle Body Repair
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Ford Fusion cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Ford Fusion have filed 25 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 36,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Fusion | 52 |
| 2013 Fusion | 28 |
| 2014 Fusion | 14 |
| 2015 Fusion | 9 |
| 2016 Fusion (this page) | 25 |
| 2017 Fusion | 3 |
| 2018 Fusion | 3 |
| 2019 Fusion | 5 |
2crashes
What stands out
Owners have filed 25 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 25 complaints in this cluster paint a clear picture of electronic throttle body failure as the primary defect. Owners describe losing power suddenly while driving 60–75 mph on highways, with the engine refusing to respond to the gas pedal and a wrench icon plus "Check Manual" message appearing on the dash. The problem usually resolves after turning the engine off and restarting, but it recurs without warning. One owner had the throttle body replaced under recall, only to have the failure happen again. Diagnostic codes P2111, P2112, and P0011 point to throttle control issues; repair costs cited run $510–$610.
Cruise control deactivation failure is a secondary but serious pattern—owners press the brake pedal at highway speeds, but the cruise control won't turn off, forcing multiple presses of the override button. One crash involving three vehicles resulted when cruise control failed to disengage.
Additional issues include sudden brake application without driver input (one owner nearly hit by a semi), unintended acceleration and hard brake pedals that won't stop the vehicle, and shift cable/transmission failures. One owner's ABS and traction control lights turn on repeatedly during low-speed driving on rough pavement. Brake calipers lock up repeatedly on at least one vehicle. Ford's recall coverage is fragmented—some vehicles built just before recall eligibility dates are excluded, and Ford has denied out-of-warranty claims despite acknowledging known defects.
Same Ford Fusion cruise control reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Throttle Body Failure
Engine loses power, refuses to accelerate, or stalls unexpectedly during normal driving. Owners report the vehicle won't respond to accelerator pedal input, wrench warning light and 'Check Manual' message appear, and in most cases the problem resolves after turning the engine off and restarting. Dealers have diagnosed this as electronic throttle body failure or throttle control system malfunction.
When: Various mileages from 4,485 to 71,000 miles; incidents occur at highway speeds (60-75 mph) and city speeds (10-12 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle loses power or refuses to accelerate despite pedal input; Wrench icon and 'Check Manual' message on dash; Engine stalls or sputters; Problem resolves after restart; Check Engine light may illuminate after restart
Codes mentioned: P2111, P2112, P0011
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic throttle body replacement; one owner cited $510-$610 for throttle body and computer reprogramming. One owner reports throttle body was replaced under recall but issue recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Technical Service Bulletin 16B32 (NHTSA ID: 10109085) exists for vehicle speed control; Ford recall #22S02 (21C24) from March 2022 covers some vehicles but excluded complainant's 2016 built April 2, 2015. SSM 50328 covers 2013-2021 Fusion/MKZ models. Ford denied out-of-warranty claim.
Cruise Control Failure to Disengage
Cruise control does not deactivate when brake pedal is applied or when cruise control buttons are pressed on the steering wheel. Owners report having to press the off button multiple times or apply excessive braking force to disable the system while driving at highway speeds, creating collision risk.
When: Occurs at highway speeds (60-65 mph); one incident at 85,000 miles, another at 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control does not turn off when brake pedal is pressed; Cruise control buttons require multiple presses to disengage; Vehicle continues at set speed despite brake application
ABS and Traction Control System Malfunction
Multiple warning lights (ABS, Advanced Trac, Hill Assistant Control) illuminate and those functions stop working while driving on uneven pavement or at low speeds (15-30 mph). Owner suspects software calibration issue in ABS module. Owner reports issue occurred in both their 2015 and 2016 Fusion Hybrid models.
When: Low speed driving (15-30 mph) on uneven pavement; recurring issue across two model years
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illuminates; Advanced Trac light illuminates; Hill Assistant Control light illuminates; Associated functions fail to work while lights are on
Repairs/costs cited: Owner states ABS module calibration files have not resolved the issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford contacted but provided no solution; owner notes NHTSA investigated similar issue on 2009-2011 Fusions
Brake Application Without Driver Input
Vehicle applies brakes suddenly and unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds, causing rapid deceleration. Owner reports this was nearly followed by a semi and represents a known safety defect.
When: Highway driving; specific incident around March 2022
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle brakes applied without driver action; Speed drops below 40 mph suddenly
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Recall #22S02 (21C24) March 2022 for vehicles built in Hemosillo plant Oct 2013 through April 6, 2015; complainant's vehicle built April 2, 2015 was excluded. SSM 50328 issued to cover 2013-2021 Fusion/MKZ. Ford denied refund request claiming out-of-warranty.
Unintended Acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input or continues accelerating when driver attempts to brake. Brake pedal becomes hard and ineffective, making it difficult or impossible to stop the vehicle. Problem is intermittent and persistent despite multiple dealership visits.
When: City driving and parking maneuvers; one incident at 8,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges forward without pedal input; Brake pedal becomes hard and unresponsive; Vehicle unable to stop even with hard brake application; Vehicle cruises through stop signs and lights; Intermittent occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer found no codes; one owner suspects electromagnetic interference from lack of shielding on gas pedal after electronic throttle body replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Previous electronic throttle body recall mentioned; owner states dealership checked codes and found nothing wrong
Shift Cable Failure
Shift bushing cable breaks while vehicle is in use, preventing the driver from shifting out of or into gear. Owner unable to move vehicle into Drive or Neutral after cable broke while backing out of parking spot.
When: Approximately 53,000 miles at time of complaint (owner notes numerous recalls exist for this specific car but their VIN not included)
Symptoms owners cite: Shift cable breaks; Vehicle stuck in Reverse; Cannot shift into Drive; Cannot shift into Neutral
Repairs/costs cited: Owner notes multiple recalls exist for this issue on 2016 Fusion but their VIN excluded
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple recalls reported to exist for this defect but complainant's VIN not included
Continuous Brake Light Illumination
Brake warning light remains continuously illuminated on the dashboard, causing battery drain. Problem occurs along with acceleration issues where RPM is inoperable during hard pedal input.
When: Approximately 53,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake light continuously illuminated; Battery drains; RPM unresponsive during hard acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Owner taped brake button to stop warning light from appearing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified; no repair completed
Transmission Shift Failure
Vehicle put into Park but remains in Drive, preventing proper parking. Driver forced to engage parking brake manually to prevent vehicle from rolling.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle in Park but stays in Drive; Vehicle rolls even with Park selected
Poor Acceleration / Sluggish Performance
Vehicle responds sluggishly to accelerator input or fails to respond, then independently accelerates. On some occasions vehicle loses speed uphill even with accelerator fully depressed. Owner reports trying multiple fixes without resolution.
When: Various mileages including 36,000 and during highway driving at moderate speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle sluggish in response to accelerator; Vehicle fails to accelerate when pedal depressed; Vehicle loses speed going uphill; Speed drops to 20 mph uphill; Vehicle independently accelerates without input; Violent shaking while losing acceleration control
Codes mentioned: P2111
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced fuel pump (did not resolve issue); issue remains unresolved for multiple owners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fuel pump replaced; problem persists
Brake Caliper Repeated Failure
Left rear caliper locks up repeatedly for no apparent reason, ruining brake pads and rotors. Owner has replaced caliper, pads, rotor, and brake hose line multiple times within six months.
When: Recent history; four replacements within six months
Symptoms owners cite: Left rear caliper locks up without warning; Brake pad wear; Rotor damage; Brake hose line failure
Repairs/costs cited: Caliper replaced 3 times; brake pads and rotors replaced 3 times; brake hose line replaced
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2016 Ford Fusion?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2016 Ford Fusion?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 10,900 and 59,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,900; a quarter make it past 59,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Ford/Fusion.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.