NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Fusion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
Coolant leak on engine leading to white smoke coming out of exhaust engine is on brink of ruin. This model is not covered underneath any of the recalls, even though it has the eco-boost. Diagnosed by Ford dealership.
The temp gauge suddenly jumped up and alert said coolant was low. Driving on freeway, car shut down before I could get into a shoulder. Big rigs swerving around me, could have been killed. No leaks under car. Cap off the coolant reservoir and the coolant level bubbles up back to normal. After that, even driving one mile makes the temp gauge jump up and drop down erratically. Quoted more thank $8,000 to repair because it requires a new engine? Ford dealership said this is very common issue for Ford Fusions, that it is a design flaw and many of their clients have had similar safety scares.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the message "Coolant Overheating" was displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12; as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.
Coolant leaking into cylinder causing engine problems.
Ford is currently telling me that coolant has mixed with my engine oil and that the entire engine needs to be replaced. However, after doing some research, I found that this is a known issue with these engines, and even a Ford representative acknowledged that it's been an ongoing problem.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the passenger’s side doors failed to open as intended. The contact stated that the door handle had detached from the door. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the door failed to open from the outside. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice. The dealer was not contacted. 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 87,419.
I purchased my 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium brand new with only 5 miles, from a dealership in Ky. My car recently started idling rough when I started it up. I took my car to a mechanic, after the check engine light came on. The code read misfire on cylinder 3, they replaced spark plugs and coils for $600, but only a few days later the check engine light came back on, still rough idling. I take my car to a 2nd mechanic $200, to find out that there is a “coolant intrusion” in the cylinders, indicating I would need a new engine. In disbelief, I take my car to a 3rd mechanic, $100. I have records from two different mechanic shops showing that there is a coolant intrusion in the engine, which is a "manufacturer defect". I called Ford's Corporate Office for help and apparently my VIN was not a part of any recall, although there are many recalls for the same issue, in the same year and model! There’s a recall on the car engine itself (per 3rd mechanic). Ford told me they couldn’t do anything about their manufacturer issue. Research initiated by the mechanic indicated that Ford Fusion cars with the same make and model, along with many other Ford models in the same year of 2017-2019 had the same issue of coolant intrusion into the cylinders and have been recalled. There are also active lawsuits over the same issue. It’s honestly unbelievable and disheartening that my car is not a part of the recall when it’s doing the exact SAME thing as others with the same year and model, which have already been recalled. I cannot afford to put a new engine in my car. It should have lasted a lot longer, and would have, if it weren't for a Ford manufacturer issue. I have all the documentation as needed, which states that I need a new engine and that the engine itself has already been recalled (however, the VIN shows no recall for the car). I will also be reporting this issue to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Thank you for your time on this matter.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power train fault message was displayed, and check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 55,352.
Just got my car I’m financing (used) It’s been giving me problems since I got it slow acceleration, overheat . , engine stalling Start and go Option isn’t working . Can I have a professional assist me with a recall maintenance please
My engine is now in need of replacement after 87k miles due to a coolant intrusion that Ford refuses to do a recall for my car. However, they recalled other 2017 ford fusion se’s with 2.0 engines for the same issue.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that his daughter had informed him that the coolant level was low. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir; however, the following day the coolant was low again, and the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact changed the spark plugs, ignition coils, and fuel pump; however, the coolant level remained low. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I own a 2017 Ford Fusion with 49,300 miles. The engine light went on and the car was shaking and couldn't be driven over 40 miles per hour. I brought it to the dealer and they said that the coolant leaked into the engine and that I needed a new engine. I recently found out that these engines are defective, and Ford knowingly has been selling these cars.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into drive, the shift lever suddenly moved back into the park with the message "Please place the vehicle into park" displayed. The contact became aware that the vehicle could no longer be shifted into drive. The service transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train), but the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 160,000.
I believe my 2017 ford fusion should be included in the recall for the BECM for the 2019-2020 because my charging port has a sticker with QR code and ( CD391 PHEV ) and I keep having intermittent problems with the Battery Energy Control Module
My vehicle was just disagnosed with the coolant intrusion issue outlined in TSB 19-2346. I have owned this car for over 6 years and not once has anybody mentioned this well-known issue to me. I am disappointed I had to find out about it by experiencing it firsthand, and then going online and reading the stories of counless other drivers who have had the same issue. This engine design is clearly faulty and Ford has been aware of the issue with these engines since at least 2019. How can it be 2025 and a recall has not been initiated??? This is unacceptable. I am now stuck with a $10,000 repair bill for a new engine because the dealer repair tech warned me not to drive it any further without repair or else risk an engine fire or even an engine seizure which would likely cause an accident. Had I been aware of this inevitible issue sooner (due to a recall or any other manditory notice), I would have traded the car in long ago.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that coolant intrusion into various cylinders had resulted in engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 77,500.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, which caused the engine to fail. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the VIN was not included in TSB: 22-2134 (Certain 2017-2019 Model Year Fusion and Escape Vehicles Equipped with a 1.5L GDI Engine – Short Block Replacement After Coolant Intrusion). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,900.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
my Ford Eco Boost engine has a coolant intrusion which can cause overheating and possibly engine fire. There is currently a class action lawsuit against Ford and Ford has issued a TSB bulletin for this problem.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined there was coolant intrusion into several cylinders, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 85,000.
Ford 2017 - Coolant Intrusion - Mileage drove (116,700mi) Vehicle vibration during everyday start of the car. White smoke during every day start of engine. Engine check light is on. Took it to Ford dealer service, they confirmed its coolant intrusion and quoted 11k$ for long block replacement. I can’t afford for it. Worried that it would lead to severe risk like engine fire in near future. Requesting NHTSA to extend it as a mandatory recall for all affected Ford Vehicles.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. While the contact's fiancé was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The driver pulled the vehicle over to the shoulder of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was later driven to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was driven back to the contact's residence. The contact later performed an inspection of the vehicle. The coolant level was inspected, and the contact refilled the coolant reservoir; however, the contact stated that the coolant reservoir needed to be refilled daily. There was no visual signs of a coolant leak. In addition, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #2. The contact was informed that the fuel injector and coil pack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact was informed that there was no visual coolant leak. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
Defective head gasket or other parts led to coolant entering into the engine and causing the engine to sputter and seize. The car randomly started hiccupping while driving and would rock back and forth when trying to accelerate. The car would launch slowly from a start and made a right turn on red risky. The problem has been confirmed by a Ford dealer. The mechanic said this is a "known problem" with these engines. This problem/engine, however, is not covered under warranty. The vehicle was inspected by a Ford dealership. There was a check engine light 3 days prior with no symptoms. The code came back with a cylinder 2 misfire. I made an appointment for the closest day possible. After 2 days, the car was a bit shaky and the unusual vibration was noticeable. On the third day, there were issues with power delivery, the sputtering became audible, and the shaking was intense. I brought my car into the dealer immediately.
On 3/8 the car stopped moving while driving. No warning lights came on, no check engine lights, no fluid leaks etc. Ford spent 3 weeks investigating and said there was metal flakes in the transmission fluid. Towed it to a transmission shop whom immediately reported “large chunks of metal” in the transmission fluid. Advising the transmission was degrading from the inside. Agin no warning lights or check engine light are illuminated on the dash. Entire transmission will need to be replaced at 97,000 miles!
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that during an oil change, the technician at the dealer advised the contact that there was coolant in the engine block, which caused damage to the engine. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was informed by the dealer that it was a known failure in similar vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while attempting to shift the gear shifter, the gear shifter failed to move to the intended gear. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the gear shifter was stuck in reverse(R). The contact stated that a tow truck arrived on the scene and was able to move the gear shifter to park(P). An appointment was scheduled with the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an undisclosed recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was stuck in gear while accelerating from a stop. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to move. The brake and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission bushing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While reversing, the vehicle became stuck in the street. The contacts' son was able to maneuver the gears, and the vehicle started moving. The local dealer was contacted, 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 97,000.
I was driving under the posted speed limit on a road near my house going to pick my kids up from school. I was approaching a stop sign at an intersection and began to press on the brake pedal. The pedal traveled all the way to the floor as I was coming yo the stop sign. A driver was approaching me from the left headed east and my car went into the street past the stop sign and the other driver hit me which in turn caused his vehicle to roll over and mine was damaged as well which turned out to be totaled. The brakes began to work again right as the gentleman hit me. I never knew about the recall and when that happened I got onto the web and out in my VIN and saw it was recalled. I need to know what’s going to be dealt with here!
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The message to clean around the gas cap was displayed. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound and was vibrating. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact noticed that the sound was coming from the fuel tank flap. The contact stated that while pushing the fuel tank flap, the contact felt a significant air pressure, and the failure ceased after the flap was closed; however, the failure recurred while the flap was not completely closed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing rough idling and the vehicle stalled while at a traffic light. The contact stated there was black smoke coming from the tailpipe. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where it was diagnosed and determined that the EVAP system was leaking, and the EVAP canister control valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted with the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mobile mechanic and the contact was informed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 97,409.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine was shaking abnormally, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact checked the engine bay and noticed that the coolant reservoir was abnormally low level on coolant. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and the contact was informed that there was a misfire in cylinder #3 due to coolant intrusion in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact attempted to jumpstart the vehicle but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the starter had failed. The starter was replaced; however, several days later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed back to the same mechanic, where it was diagnosed for a second time. The contact was advised that coolant intrusion had caused the engine to fail, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
I have a 2017 Ford Fusion with 47,000 miles on it. There is no more warranty. I took my car in to get the recall fixed and I was told I need a new engine because the coolant was leaking into cylinder . I read online that there a numerous complaints about this. I should not at 47,000 have to pay for a new engine.
Trunk pops open on its own
I reported this issue back on July 1, 2022. My car was getting stuck in park and when I would get it into gear (reverse), once I put it in drive it automatically switched back to park. The gear shift bushing had broken on my car and I had to have it repaired. As of today, the bushing continues to get stuck in park and I have to turn my car off and back on, press the brake multiple times in order to get it in gear, rather reverse or drive. It continuously gets stuck. I know there was a recall on the gear shifts from 2012-2016 Fusion models. Something needs to be done about this for the 2017 model. I am afraid that once again I will be stranded with my child because my car wont go into gear and will remain in park.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 45 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The maintenance required light to be illuminated. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
1.5 Ecoboost engine leaks coolant into cylinder(s) causing misfire and engine overheating due to failed head gasket, cylinder head or crack in engine block. Ford TSB 21N12, 22-2322 and others address this exact issue. Ford failed to notify me of TSB, and the short time Ford allowed to replace engine has expired. Contact with Ford Corp resulted in no help with my car.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the head gasket had failed, causing coolant to leak into the oil, which caused the engine to fail. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that it was a factory defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant leaking into the cylinder block and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, opened a case, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 19-2172 (Coolant in Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/ Or Illuminated MIL). The failure mileage was 47,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the head gasket, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the new engine not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
A known issue on the 1.5 ecoboost happened which allowed coolant inntrusion into the cylinders. Only certain vins qualify for the recall, even though more of them have the same issue. My car needs a new engine but the vin does not show a recall.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine coolant temperature warning light illuminated. There was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that 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 110,000.
Sudden loss of power while driving, misfiring causing sudden jerk while driving, almost rear-ended, white smoke/steam now showing from exhaust. Apparent engine coolant leak. While the 2017 Fusion 2.0L ecoboost is in the coolant leak recall this VIN is not showing a recall. Car is not safe or operable with this condition. It is available for inspection
My son’s 2017 Ford Fusion didn’t hold its coolant. We took it to our mechanic to see what was going on. He diagnosed leaking coolant that has blown a head gasket and his car needs a new engine. We looked on the internet and found out that there is a recall on 2017 Fusions. We found out that this problem can cause fires in the car. Since this has been a problem in the past for Fusions We think this should be a recall concern since this has been a problem in the past with these vehicles. We do not want our son to perish in a vehicle that needs work that should be covered by a serious safety issue a FIRE .Please contact me at [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
We own a 2017 ford fusion with 72,000 miles and I took it to the dealer because the engine light came on, after a couple of days at the dealer they contacted me and said I needed a new engine due to the coolant intruding in one of the pistons , I did some research on line and found out that a lot of other people seem to have had the same issue with the 2.0 eco boost engine and found out that the engine block is defective from the manufacturer, I reached out to Ford customer service and they said they couldn’t help me with this issue since my warranty was expired , I ended up replacing the engine for a new one at a cost of over 8,300 dlls and I was told to keep my receipt in case of a recall on this issue . I didn’t want to buy another car since I I just had purchase a 2025 F-150 and i don’t want 2 car payments and my wife’s 2017 ford fusion is in an immaculate condition except for the engine failure .
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road and call her husband. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The contact stated that the dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a crack in the head gasket and that coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.
Car will not shift out of Park and getting an error message of "P0929.00-A Gear Shift Lock Solenoid/Actuator Circuit A Range/Performance". There appears to be an issue with the gear shift module, and many others are experiencing the same issue. This issue could cause the driver to be stranded wherever the car decides to lock up. Anytime the driver puts the car in Park, it may not shift out of it again. Issue was experienced and confirmed at a local repair shop.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. 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 referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that it was difficult to start the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered, and there was grey smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The vehicle was taken to Miller Auto, where and unknown spark plug was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, causing cylinders #1, #2, and #3 to misfire. Additionally, the cylinder overtemperature protection was activated. The mechanic determined that the engine or the short block needed to be replaced. 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 70,000.
The cylinder wall failed which led to coolant loss into the motor