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
1,110 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Apr 24, 2024
I purchased this vehicle in late 2017 and immediately experienced an electrical issue that de-charged the battery. It was less than two weeks after my initial purchase. Since then, I have been stranded several times, inconvenienced, and frustrated by the level of service I received at Liccardi Ford in Watchung NJ. I have replaced this battery 4 other times since the initial replacement. This is clearly an electrical defect that NO ONE at Ford wishes to acknowledge. Instead of pouring more money into this vehicle or filing a legal claim, I contact the FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS LINE (Spoke with someone name William) who failed to be considerate of my particular situation. This has been happening to me as a Ford customer for 7 years!!!!. In that time frame, I replaced the battery 5 times. That is not normal. I would to report that this is a defect and a recallable issues. Ford should have accepted this issue as a recallable defect years ago. Please see this and many other reported electrical issues with the Ford Fusion: [XXX] Any support would be greatly appreciated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Air bags, Apr 24, 2024
The dash deteriorated to the extent that, according to a Ford engineer, the passenger airbag will not deploy properly.
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.
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.
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, Apr 19, 2024
I am the only owner and driver of vehicle with just under 70,000 miles. The vehicle has regular service maintenance with original dealership purchased from and no leaks or major problems have been detected during any visit. On Saturday 4/13 after battery was replaced, the check engine light came on. Engine coolant temperature too high warning came on shortly thereafter. Upon arriving to destination and car sitting for 4 hours, both lights went off. No issues the next two days with very minimal driving. On Tuesday 4/16 car was driven about 30 minutes and had issue restarting after sitting for about an hour. Upon restart, both warning lights reappeared. When car began to sputter at 65mph highway speeds, a flashing coolant warning was coupled with audio warning. Hazard lights and light traffic allowed car to be safely driven back to street, but eventually vehicle lost all acceleration. It was then parked in open lot and towed to independent service center after hours. (Normal service provider estimated two week delay before for any diagnosis.) On the following day, initial diagnosis was extremely low coolant and need for tune up. No leaks were detected, no battery issues, coolant was topped off, and vehicle was deemed drivable. Thursday 4/18 the vehicle was brought back for recommended tune up and also an oil change. Technician noticed smell of coolant coming out of exhaust and coolant level was considerably lower than previous day. Final diagnosis is coolant leak into motor resulting in blown head gasket. At minimum, replacement of affected cylinder, water pump and hoses is recommended. Most common course of action is complete motor replacement.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, she heard an abnormal pop. After which, the brake pedal went all the way to the floorboard. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the brake hose. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); the VIN was included, and parts were available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.
Engine, Apr 16, 2024
Last week (today is April 16, 2024) I noticed when I start my car lots of smoke is coming out the back. Days later the engine light appears and starts flashing then my car starts to shake and stall as I’m driving putting me and others on the road at risk. Before I break it starts to stall so I try to break way ahead of time before needing to so I don’t put cars in front of me at risk. I’ve taken it to a mechanic and he’s telling me it seems to be a manufacturing issue with the engine. My 2L engine head gasket #2 cylinder on a 2017 Ford fusion seems to be the problem. This is very unfortunate as I have been in love with my car since I first purchased it brand new in the beginning of 2018. I have a service appointment with ford in two weeks
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.
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.
Engine, Apr 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and vibrate. The contact pulled over, opened the hood, and noticed that the engine was vibrating violently. The check engine warning light was illuminated and blinking. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 18L02. The failure mileage was approximately 82,601. The contact stated the estimated Engine shortblock replacement is $9211 including parts, and requesting into why this vehicle was not included in the recall. and labor.
Wheels, Apr 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while pulled over on the shoulder and attempting to change a tire, the contact was unable to remove the lug nuts to change the tire. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the vehicle was diagnosed with faulty lug nuts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
Power train, Apr 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The contact continued to drive at 35 MPH, and the engine revved up. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that internal components inside the transmission had failed, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Power train, Apr 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to lose motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Power train, Apr 4, 2024
There’s a recall for my vehicle for the Torque converter, however it does not come up under my vin when I take it to dealership. Torque converter has gone out. Ford won’t fix it, there’s a recall however my vin didn’t match criteria etc. so now I’m stuck in limbo.
Engine, Apr 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the tailpipes. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the coolant reservoir had to be refilled every four days. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the spark plugs and coil packs were replaced. The coil packs were replaced twice. The failure reoccurred, and the independent mechanic agreed to replace the coil packs another time. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 98,275.
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, Apr 1, 2024
Engine had to be replaced due to a faulty design by Ford of coolant intrusion and a misfire of the cylinder
Power train, Mar 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the vehicle jerked when accelerating. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed transmission. The vehicle was not repaired due to cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
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
Power train, Mar 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while accelerating from a stop sign, the RPM rose to 3,500 RPM however, the transmission failed to shift into gear. The vehicle then shifted into drive(D) and lost motive power before jumping out of drive and back into low gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle home and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on two occasions, the contact had to replace a plastic clip under the hood that was used to control the shifter knob. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Engine, Mar 22, 2024
The local Ford dealership has confirmed that the engine has an internal issue causing misfires in cylinder 3. It has recommended an expensive full engine replacement, approximately $10,000. Misfires shake the vehicle while driving, which may cause serious accidents and injuries.
Engine, Mar 18, 2024
2017 Ford Fusion. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was an internal coolant leak to cylinder #2. The dealer stated that the engine block needed to be replaced. The check engine warning light was illuminated, turned off and a few days later came back on. Engine temperature was moderate at first and then sporadically moved between moderate and hot. Per NHTSA: Coolant Intrusion is a 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.