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: other or unspecified
103 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 14, 2024
The engine on this vehicle needs to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into the cylinders. On my engine diagnosis I get Error Code #P0302 which indicates Cylinder 2 misfire detected. My vehicle overheats quickly, runs rough and the coolant reservoir is dry. The vehicle's exhaust blows out a lot of white-ish smoke with a sickening odor. I took my vehicle to my local Auto Nation Ford of Bellevue, WA service department. They told me it is what they have seen on a lot of Ford Eco-Boost engines and there was a recall on these for engine replacement but my 2017 vehicle falls out of the recall. They told me I need a new engine replaced in this vehicle to the cost of about $10,000. Auto Nation Ford Bellevue, WA's service department referenced service bulletin #22-2229 (Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2017-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL). Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may include P0300, P0301-P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285 and/or P1299 stored in powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to coolant intrusion into the cylinder. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the long block engine assembly.). There were no warnings or dashboard lights except when my coolant gauge rose suddenly while driving on the road. I have dutifully maintained my vehicle with regular checkups so I don't believe I am at fault for this problem. I believe the Ford Motor Company should have informed me of this chronic problem but they didn't. I also believe my 2017 Fusion should be repaired with the cost going to the Ford Motor Company for a known defect. What do I do now please?
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 19, 2024
I had the car about 3 months when the first service light appeared. Misfire - replaced the cylinder. But 2 months later service light came on again for same issue. Ford Dealership said it was coolant intrusion. Car repeatedly overheats. Service engine light comes on/stays on. Temperature gauge will indicate high temp, then will drop to normal seconds later, then shoot to the top again. At times engine will decrease power, and I have to pull over and park until engine cools, no matter where it happens. I don't feel safe driving on the highway, or any distance more than 20 miles or so. I am also afraid to park in the garage at night in case it's too hot. Ford dealership says it needs a new engine. Called Ford Customer Service but my VIN was not on the service action 19B37 or 21N12 (even though it was manufactured at a listed plant on the listed dates) so they would not assist in covering it.
Other or unspecified, Sep 16, 2024
The shifter cable bushing that other cars in my year got recalled for is going out. It’s having the same problem that the recalled cars are having but my vin doesn’t fall under it for some reason.
Other or unspecified, Aug 27, 2024
My vehicle Check Engine light came on and after taking it to the Ford dealership they said that there is a coolant intrusion and the short block needs to be replaced as well as the cylinder head gasket. The repairs they told me would be over $10,000. I am not able to make that payment happen and the car is now sitting in the yard. I am the only owner. I never received anything about something being wrong with these parts and then they tell me about it being messed up. I did some research and they did issue a recall on these same exact issues, but my Vin was not apart of it so my car will not be getting fixed. I would like to see why my car was not included in it and how I can get it fixed.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 16, 2024
Shift system failure. 2023 replace plastic piece that was not a recall on 27 but was a recall on all other models. Last week shift system failure $706 to replace shifter picked up car Saturday. Today car is being towed back for shift system failure again. Car will not go out of park. I have all receipts and invoices from.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 6, 2024
The antifreeze leaks into the engine due to a KNOWN manufacturer design flaw, is available to inspection upon request and appointment made. Mine and others safety are at risk due to the fact that if the engine seizes up while driving, could lead to a sudden crash. Problem confirmed by a local mechanic. Not been inspected by anyone else other than a different independent mechanic. The first sign of a problem is a check engine light, followed by a sputter in the engine and lack of consistent speed control, first appeared in February, and lead to 2 sets of spark plugs being replaced
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, May 21, 2024
My brakes are grinding squealing/rattling and i have pads replaced, no rotor wear, not sure what’s wrong. I’ve brought my car in to be serviced 3+ times and have left with no fixed car and worse brakes. When i bring up issues with my car that are related to the recalls the car has, they tell me those recalls don’t apply to my car although im having the same problems. My brakes have progressively gotten worse/louder and the pressure on my pedals is not the same. I’m scared to drive my car and i have been trying to get it fixed for months. This is not the only problem im having, my gas tank “farts” constantly and my car will stall and shut off unless i turn off auto start stop. There is no recall on this yet it’s a KNOWN problem. It makes the car undriveable.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2024
The shift dial (park, neutral, drive, reverse), makes a continuous spin noise like it's stuck and trying to turn, but can't. This is the second time this is happening. I had it fixed the first time at the Ford dealership, and was short one year in the Recall group. 2017 year should have been included in that recall. After they fixed it, now the issue has returned. This issue results in the driver not being able to move in reverse. Therefore, you're stuck and unable to back up if needed. There are no warning lights. The only warning you get is when the rattling noise starts.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 14, 2024
I have the 2.5 liter engine in my 2017 ford fusion but it’s also experiencing the same coolant leak symptoms of other engine models of this year of vehicle. Car has no visible leaks but coolant levels keep dropping. Temp gauge goes up and down back and forth. Car seems to be sputtering while driving. Currently just passed 100,000 miles this week. I’ve had the vehicle for 7 years and it seems like recall after recall.
Other or unspecified, Feb 17, 2024
Vehicle will not stay in reverse or drive thus it will not shift out of park. When shifted to reverse or drive the shifter would blink red and automatically shift back to park repeatedly. The message “Shift sys fault service required” and wrench popped up. Had to have it towed 90 miles to dealer. Safety issues: vehicle may not have actually been in park after automatic shifting back to park, this could injure someone or something if the vehicle moved unexpectedly. Also, I could have been stranded in an unsafe place. This problem could be reproduced at the dealership service center. Inspected by service once I got there. There were no warnings or messages prior to this issue.
Other or unspecified, Feb 15, 2024, crash, fire
I didn’t have the car at the time I didn’t know the car facts now I’ve been paying on it & it’s my only transportation I got the car the 5th of Jan. 2023
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 15, 2024
The car started shaking while driving down the road and when coming to a stop. The gears were not shifting properly. I took it to a mechanic shop and they told me several different things "could" be wrong, supposedly fixed it, $700 for that. Started shaking and shift gear problems again, took it in again and spent $2800 for the supposed fix. Several days later same thing, took it back again and they said to take it to a transmission shop because they couldn't do anymore. Found out there was a recall on the torque and the different mechanic "fixed" that. Now it won't shift into several of the gears. Over $4500.00 spent! Transmission
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 29, 2024
Coolant leaking into engine. Engine block required entire replacement. Check engine light flashing causing me to contact Ford Dealer/Service. This was December 4, 2023.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 26, 2024
I went to my dealership because of a check engine light. After many hours of searching, I was told that a coolant leak had been found. I was informed that the head gasket was damaged and causing a leak into the engine. The cheapest repair would cost nearly $8000. The extended warranty that I purchased for the car has expired. Searching Google, I see that Ford is aware of the problem, and has known about it for some time. Ford should not be able to get away with this.
Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2023
I was driving to work when I had to stop at a red light as I hit the accelerator it didn’t move. I continued to press it as I was the first car at a green light suddenly the car jerked forcefully and went. I arrived at work and called my father to look at it and he told me to drive it home which is about 7 minutes away. As I drove the car it began jerking violently and slowing down. It was not safe for me to move off the road immediately causing cars behind me to slam on brakes and swerve around me. When I made it safely to the shoulder the gear shift was working but the pressing the accelerator didn’t really work until it continued jerking. The car had to be towed to my home and to the auto shop to be diagnosed. My transmission slipped due a form of malfunction of the transmission. The mechanic expressed there were no metal shavings in the pan. No warning lights appeared on the dash until after it completely broke and they still flashed on and off or changed each time. No crash occurred, it immediately taken to be diagnosed and has already been fixed. I would like for Ford to do an inspection but I just paid for a transmission so I can’t afford it. I have all the receipts and diagnostic information for the vehicle. I looked into the recalls and noticed the ford fusion 2.0L has an active transmission recall, but the only difference for my vehicle is a 1.5L.
Other or unspecified, Sep 20, 2023
Trunk opens randomly on its own
Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2023
Trunk randomly opens and alarm goes off when parked and off. Trunk may randomly open while the vehicle is in motion. The safety concern is that the high voltage battery could get wet and become or cause a fire safety hazard. Additionally, it's plausible that items in the trunk could fly out into the roadway and cause an accident when it happens as the car is in motion.
Power train, Other or unspecified, May 16, 2023
Over the last 11 months when I am driving I go to back into a parking spot and the gear shifter gets stuck in neutral and will not move. I have to turn the vehicle off and turn it back on to move it. This leaves me sitting in the middle of the parking lot at risk to get hit
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2023
Car shut off a few times while driving then restarted. Now it will not start at all. No codes. Replaces everything. Not safe if it cuts off while driving. Called dealer I’m out of warranty. Looked up on forums said this is happening to others also.
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2023
This is the rubber bushing problem on the automatic transmission shift system. I saw that recalls were made for Ford Fusion from 2013 to 2016, but 2017 models were excluded which is my own model. I returned home and tried to reverse my car into the parking lot. But it failed. When I attempted to put vehicle back to reverse or drive, vehicle switched back to park. and an error code appeared saying "shift malfunction." I was charged $501 for the repairs but just saw that this was recall issue for other model years. Thats why I wish to see if ford can reimburse me for the repairs.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 20, 2023
THE CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE THROTTLEBODY FAILED TO OPERATE. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THIS OCCURED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALER. WHO INFORMED ME IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AND IT HAD FAILED DURING OPERATION, CAR WOULD HAVE COME TO A DEAD STOP WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IN MY CASE FAILED TO START. THEY SAID THROTTLEBODY GIVES THE ENGINE THE AIR IT NEEDS TO PREFORM. WE WERE OUT OF TOWN AND DUE TO DRIVE ON A MAIN HIGHWAY FOR TWO HUNDRED MILES AT 70MILES PER HOUR! I HAVE INCLUDED INVOICES FROM THE FORD DEALER, INVOICE FROM AUTO DEALER- WHO HAD REPAIRS DONE ON CAR, AND THE CARFAX REPORT-THAT DID NOT SHOW ANY THROTTLEBODY RECALLS OR REPAIRS, NOR DID THE AUTO DEALER'S REPORT. THE CAR WAS CERTIFIED FOR 21,953 MILES BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND CARFAX. HOW IS THAT A CAR'S THROTTLEBODY WOULD FAIL AFTER 21,000 MILES, UNLESS IT WAS ALREADY DEFECTIVE IN THE BEGINNING!?? THE REPORTS INDICATE THE VEHICLE WAS A 1 OWNER CAR AND 21,953 MILES WITH PASSING THRU TWO SYSTEMS AND NEVER DETECTED. I HAD ONLY OWED THE CAR FOR 61 DAYS UNDER 24,000 MILES WHEN IT FAILED!
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Mar 18, 2023, crash
Upon trying to stop at a stop sign my son was unable to stop in time and rolled into the roadway which caused a collision with another vehicle. He depressed the brakes and clearly heard a grinding noise and never felt the pumping feeling under his foot for the antilock breaks. He thought he couldnt stop due to ice on the roadway, but have since seen the brake recall on my vehicle. The accident caused the vehicle to become a total loss. The witnesses said my son stopped at the stop sing and pulled into the roadway in front of car going 50mph. That could not have happened by the angle of the car at the time of the accident. Had he stopped like the 'witnesses" said, he would have entered the roadway a couple second later and then become t-boned by the other car. He was hit on the rear quarterfinal coinciding with my sons story he could not stop. My son has held to his story that he tried to stop and the car would not stop. I have felt on occasion since Dec my brakes feeling a little off at times but never on a consistant basis to get it looked at. My vehicle had a small leakage in Dec which we could not locate and it never occurred since. We checked the brake fluid and all fluids routinely since. Never seen the leak since. I also put four brand new tires on my vehicle two days prior to the accident. It does appear in the photos after the accident there were new parts on the wheel in the area of the brakes. I only owned this vehicle for 9 months prior to this incident.
Other or unspecified, Jan 24, 2023
DEFECT IN LEFT DRIVER REAR LIGHT.. WHEN IT RAIN WATER GOES INTO THE TRUNK TIRE AREA BECAUSE OF THE SEAL AROUND LIGHT
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jan 11, 2023
On 12/08/2022, my 2017 Ford Fusion started as normal in a busy parking lot, but once I idled/moved just a little, it became locked as if the emergency brake was on (it was not) and would not shift out of park, regardless of trying to put in neutral, reverse, etc. (It would show N or R on the dash, but remained deadlocked in Park.) There was this error message: "SHIFT SYS FAULT Service Required." It took several people to push the car to a safe area out of the way of traffic. Had to have the car towed at owner's expense to the closest Ford dealership. There were not other messages or signs of the problem prior to this failure on 12/08/2022. Ford dealer on 12/10/2022 removed and replaced transmission shifter cable bushing and installed cap. Ford dealer agreed that most certainly, this 2017 Ford Fusion has the EXACT same recall #22s43 that other 2017 Fusions have had. However, when Ford dealer entered this vehicle VIN, nothing showed up in OASIS. So I had to pay for this repair out of pocket. Like others have stated, the Ford recall #22s43 is too narrow in scope. So why in the world am I having to pay 100% of the cost to fix the EXACT SAME bushing/cap issue (recall 22s43) that others are having with the EXACT SAME YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL?!?! Just because my VIN wasn't included in Ford's original recall? DOES NOT MAKE SENSE! If it's the same issue as the other vehicles are having (of the same year, make, model) why am I paying for the error and they aren't?
Other or unspecified, Dec 22, 2022
The shift cable bushing, which was covered on other Ford vehicles in a recall issued on 15 June 2022, failed on my 2017 Fusion. This occurred while in a parking lot. The car would not start as it was stuck in reverse. I had the issue repaired at a Ford dealer and it cost me $351. This is a known defect yet it would seem as though the scope of the recall was too narrow. Fortunately, the car did not roll away, however, it was a very busy lot and I was stranded in the middle of it until a tow truck could remove it.