2017 Ford Fusion
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,110 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 15 Fusion model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 37 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 30 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMar 10, 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V162000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, steering wheel/handle barMar 12, 2018
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.
A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 18V167000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, torque converterJul 6, 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Edge and Fusion vehicles. On vehicles with 2.0L gas engines and six-speed automatic transmissions, the torque converter weld studs may have been inadequately welded.
If the torque converter weld studs fail, the torque converter will not be connected to the engine flexplate and the vehicle will lose the ability to move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford or Lincoln will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque converters, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S16.
Campaign 17V427000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, mid/rear assemblyDec 5, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 27, 2016, to September 28, 2016. The left rear seat backs pivot pins may have been improperly welded.
During a crash, the improper welds may fail, allowing any stowed luggage to move into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left hand, second row seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began January 10, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S43.
Campaign 16V874000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
133 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and to a second dealer, Norm Reeves Ford Superstore (18900 Studebaker Rd, Cerritos, CA 90703), where the vehicle was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #2, and the failure was related to TSB Number: 22-2229. The dealers determined that the engine assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the second dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case opened. The failure mileage was approximately 76,900.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was shuddering, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the failure was related to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The contact stated that the failure persisted while starting and while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under Ford Campaign Number: 21N12. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 31, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road and the coolant warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road where it was restarted and taken to an independent mechanic where the coolant fluid was inspected and refilled. The contact stated that the next day, the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with a water pump failure that caused the engine to malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The contact stated that while researching online, the contact became aware of an ongoing failure with similar vehicles. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Engine and engine cooling, May 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced an engine misfire, shuddered, and then stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak into the cylinder which caused engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Programs 21N12 and 19B37. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the Customer Satisfaction Programs. The failure mileage was approximately 55,800.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, May 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The spark plugs were replaced; however, the following day the check engine warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant leaking into the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine and engine cooling, May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electronic stability control (ESC) and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair, and it was determined that rodents had chewed the soy-based ESC wiring harness. The contact was informed that the ESC wiring harness and purge solenoid valve needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the engine needed to be cleaned due to rodent droppings and that mothballs needed to be placed beneath the hood to deter rodents from entering the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,546.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that coolant needed to added daily due to the message indicating that the engine was overheating. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle with a friend, it was concluded that there was an internal leak and that the engine might have experienced damages to the cylinders. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,950.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced rough start-ups. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes, and it was discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the engine had experienced coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact became aware that the defroster was not working properly on the vehicle. The contact stated that the windows were very foggy and made it very unsafe to drive. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and used the window scraper to remove the fog. The contact waited 20 to 25 minutes to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the coolant was very low, and the check engine warning light was followed by DTC: PO302. The dealer referenced TSB: 22-229 (a 2-liter engine might need the long block to be replaced). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the temperature gauge displayed that the engine was overheating. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle for leaks, but none were found. The contact added coolant to the coolant reservoir and was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who performed a pressure test, but no leaks were found. The independent mechanic diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder #2. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnosis. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion) and Technical Service Bulletin: 22-2229 (Coolant in Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/or Illuminated MIL); however, the VIN was not included in the Customer Satisfaction Program and the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 2, 2024
While driving on the interstate car began to excessively shake and check engine light flashed for almost a minute then stopped. Was approaching exit to residence location and was able to get there. Once at home, car was then sluggish to start but no check engine light was on. Attempted to drive car in a safe area to see if it would repeat or light would come on. This was on a Sunday, therefore the dealership was closed. Light did come back on solidly and took car to dealership that next day, Monday. Was told coolant intrusion into the engine. After the incident and in doing research, appears to be a known issue in this vehicle.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated he was noticing oil spotting on his driveway. The contact stated that he also smelled the odor of motor oil in the passenger cabin when he used the air conditioning. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the oil pan and gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated however that the leaking was again happening and returned two more times to the same dealer to have the failure repaired. The contact stated that on the last visit the oil pan, oil pan gasket, and valve covers were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact had been informed by the dealer that the failure was related to the manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin: 23-2075 Oil Leak from Engine Oil Pan RTV Seal (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 26, 2024
Coolant intrusion - coolant leaking into the motor because of the engine block design and the head gasket failing. Can cause fire
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the engine overheated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the coolant overheating. The vehicle was running rough and there was smoke coming from the tailpipe. The contact stated that cylinders #1, #2, #3, and #4 had coolant intrusion. The mechanic recommended an engine long block replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a coolant intrusion in the engine and cylinders #1, #2, #3, and #4. The manufacturer was contacted, and opened a case and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 78,769.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had been illuminated. Additionally, there was an audible chime indicating a possible oxygen sensor failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking into cylinder #2. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a claim was filed for the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 86,849.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Feb 22, 2024
Coolant Intrusion on Cylinder 1, common problem amongst 2.0 Ecoboost Engine. Current Ford fix is replace engine block with a new design. Ford is aware of the design flaw in these cars and refuses to make things right with current owners.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon the start of the vehicle, the engine backfired with a cylinder misfire message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact was informed that the coolant level was very low. The contact frequently checked the coolant level and discovered that coolant was leaking but the location of the leak was not determined. The vehicle was then taken to two dealers, and it was discovered that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, causing the engine to misfire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 73,719.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jan 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that coolant had leaked into the engine, resulting in engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle shuddered and was sluggish. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving and while reversing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure recurred while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH on one occasion. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, where it diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #3, and the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was referred to the dealer for repair. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the same assessment was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N12 and TSB Number: 22-2134; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jan 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine and determined that the short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the dealer declined to perform Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer informed the contact that Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12 (Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion) associated with the VIN had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Jan 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling at a red light, the vehicle lost motive power and shut off. After several minutes the vehicle restarted, and the contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that coolant was leaking underneath the front end of the vehicle, and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust during the initial startup. The coolant level was low. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact believed that the failure was related to NHTSA ID Number: 10210392 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Equipment). The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop to be diagnosed. The contact was informed of a misfire in cylinder #2. The contact's father had changed the spark plugs. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the air intake was missing from the vehicle. The contact was informed that the air intake needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed that VIN was included in the NHTSA ID Number: 10210392 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Equipment) however, it was no longer covered due to exceeding the mileage indicated in the TSB. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 86,683.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact observed white smoke coming from the exhaust, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion in cylinder #2 had damaged the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who again determined that coolant intrusion in cylinder #2 had damaged the engine however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Jan 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the spark plugs. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and it was determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #3 due to low compression. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 19-2243. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 112,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with catalytic converter failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that coolant intrusion had damaged the engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 113,000.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2024
On [XXX], I entered onto [XXX] from Sparks, Nevada eastbound when a check engine light and oil overheat warning came on. I limped the car to the nearest exit [(XXX)]. I had my grandson with me and he was scared. I checked my coolant level and realized that it was dry. I put coolant to the max line of the reserve tank and drove 25 miles to Carson City. When I took it into the dealership at Capital Ford on December 26, 2023, their service manager said this year had a poor design of the engine (2.0L) which led to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Two days later, they confirmed. My complaint is the FORD manufacturer knew of this issue and had posted several TSBs, but has only issued a recall the 1.5 L engine. I'm now told that since my car is 1600 miles out of warranty, too bad. I believe the FORD manufacturer should replace my engine for free, knowing it failed as a direct result of their poor engineering design. I purchased the car in July 2020 with 26,350 miles and bought the extended warranty. I was never made aware of the existing issues with the coolant leaking into the valves. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)