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.
Power train, Apr 25, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond and lost motive power. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon shifting into gear, the vehicle failed to respond and made abnormal sounds. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle twice, and the contact continued shifting into gear until the vehicle responded, however, the vehicle would not exceed 2 MPH. The contact was able to drive to the nearby residence, where the failure reoccurred. The power train warning light illuminated and a message advising to see the Owner's Manual was displayed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The contact stated that the issue occurred about 10 minutes from their home and the powertrain light did not come on until then. The contact took a video of the failure as it was happening and is also seeking reimbursement for the new transmission that was installed.
Power train, Apr 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start on the first attempt. The vehicle then shuddered and started independently. The contact stated that the failure occurred several times after refueling the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was shuddering while shifting into gear and would shudder uncontrollably while in reverse (R). The contact also stated that upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle shuddered and shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that he would shift into neutral (N) or park (P) to prevent the failure from occurring while at a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the EVAP purge valve assembly and the spark plugs were replaced. The check engine warning light turned off; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V427000 (Power Train). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included. Both the dealer and the manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
Power train, Apr 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while attempting to shift into gear, the gear shifter seized, and required to be manually hit to shift into the desired gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The message to "See Owner’s Manual" was displayed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Traction control system, Electrical system, Apr 19, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, she heard an abnormal clicking noise as she depressed the brake pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle kept moving forward. The contact started pumping the brake and suddenly the vehicle lost power steering assist and became very stiff. The contact stated that the brakes, traction control, and Hill Start Assist warning lights were illuminated. The contact let the vehicle coast to a stop and turned the vehicle off and on and the power steering returned. The contact stated that the brake failure had become constant. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and parts were not yet available. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,245.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Apr 19, 2023, crash
The contact owned a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, he depressed the brake pedal to make a right turn when the vehicle failed to respond. The contact applied pressure to the brake pedal and pumped the brake pedal several times to slow the vehicle with no success. As a result, the vehicle skipped a bridge and then crashed into a building. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained bruising to the chest that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The contact then received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer nor the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle jerked and hesitated while responding. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and test driven. The contact was informed that no issues were found. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine, Apr 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 45-60 MPH, he heard a rattling sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the flex plate was cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 78,000.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Engine, Apr 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The warning light turned off after refueling the vehicle with fuel. The failure persisted and had gotten worse with the check engine warning light remaining illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and the fuel pump was replaced. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the certified mechanic who stated that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while parked, the ignition button and brake pedal were depressed, but the brake pedal was stiff and failed to depress as needed. The contact stated that there were unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the part would be available in the third quarter of 2023. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Apr 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal; brake fluid was seen leaking from underneath the front passenger’s side wheel. Additionally, the vehicle would not immediately start while pressing the brake pedal and START/STOP button. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.
Engine, Apr 13, 2023
Complete engine failure due to a known defect in the 1.5L Ford ecoboost engine in my 217 Ford Fusion. This has left me with a repair that will cost $8,000 to replace the engine for a vehicle with 98,000 miles. No assistance offered from the manufacturer after reaching out.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Apr 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while coming to a stop at a stop signal, the vehicle jerked forward. The contact stated that the failure recurred after shifting into reverse(R). The contact also stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
Power train, Service brakes, Apr 11, 2023
Failure of vacuum pump caused the brakes and engine to fail on the highway. No warning indications appeared until after the vehicle was brought to a stop. The vehicle was diagnosed at Riser Ford. The mechanics claim that a plastic part in the vacuum pump system broke. After further research I found that this a common occurrence with the Eco boost engines. An investigation is warranted, Ford's negligence and poor build quality has become a safety concern.
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.
Engine, Apr 6, 2023
Check engine light came on, ran codes P0302, misfire on cylinder 2. Took to dealer, need to replace motor due to coolant leak in cylinder at cost of $8400 car only has approximately 80,000 miles on it
Service brakes, Engine, Apr 6, 2023
The Ford Fusion suffered a brake and engine failure. Ford mechanics claim it is due to a plastic part in the vacuum pump. This vehicle is completely unsafe and is prone to mechanical failures that snowball into hazardous driving conditions.
Service brakes, Engine, Apr 5, 2023
Brake failure - major near miss accident on Sunday March 26, 2023.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine, Apr 4, 2023
Shortly after turning on the car, the check engine light came on, but the car seemed to be running normal. After about 5 minutes, the wrench light came on. When this happened, I was unable to accelerate and the transmission was having difficulty shifting. I pulled over to the side to restart the engine to see if it would reset, and it did not. On the way to the dealership, the situation got worse, in terms of acceleration. After diag optics were run, it was determined the throttle body needs replacing.
Air bags, Apr 2, 2023
I left work, got into my car, turned the car on and the airbag light turned on, now the light is always on
Engine, Mar 28, 2023
2017 Ford Fusion Ex with the 2.0L Ecoboost engine. Check Engine Light came on (around 85,000 miles on the car - Jan 2023). Car is misfiring. Ford dealership diagnosed the issue as Coolant leaking into the engine block (which is causing the misfire). Dealership said to immediately stop driving the car due to coolant issue could overheat the engine (possible fire risk). Research on internet shows this is a widely reporting defect where coolant is leaking into the engine block. Fix is to install an entire new engine. Ford unwilling to admit defect due to extreme cost of having to replace engines. Cost of new engine installation is $7000 plus. Having a defective engine block that allows coolant to leak into the cylinders is a clear defect with multiple people having the same issue. I understand there was the same issue with another version of the Ecoboost engine on the fusion and a recall was done for that. A recall needs to be initiated for the 2.0L Ecoboost engine on the 2017 Fusions have the same serious coolant leaking into he engine block issue. Car being brought to Akins Ford in Winder GA for repairs on 03/31/23.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 27, 2023
The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The contact used a personal OBD reader to retrieve a DTC code for cylinder #2 misfire. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to Ford Technical Service Bulletin Number: 22-2229. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for additional diagnostic tests and repairs. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Engine Long Block and its subcomponents needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
Engine, Mar 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was sputtering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinders, causing a misfire in cylinder #2. The contact was informed 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 manufacturer advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.