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2017 Ford Fusion

The Verdict

5 Total Klunk

The 2017 Ford Fusion has 1,091 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (508 complaints) and transmission (261 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Fusion, consider the 2020 model year which has 83% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2020 has 83% fewer complaints

View the 2020 Ford Fusion dashboard →

5

Klunk Score: Total Klunk

Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 2

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

17V427000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

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 wel...

Risk

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.

Remedy

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. ...

Reported Jun 7, 2017

16V874000 SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

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.

Risk

During a crash, the improper welds may fail, allowing any stowed luggage to move into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

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 1-866-4...

Reported May 12, 2016

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20061323535668130
20071451396178457
2008985356174938
2009995213384711
201020485207101307527
20111535185441454153
20121612120556171134
201383670209564265
2014641109156294213
2015339116114356122
2016493122156606271
201713676110508261
20185741927472
20194056321243
2020356286046

By Category

Engine
508
Transmission
261
Body
136
Electrical
110
Brakes
76

By Severity

1
542
2
502
3
3
4
44

Worst Problems

Complaints

Transmission 2

On 7/8/2026, the vehicle became undriveable. Placing the vehicle in reverse on the shidfter dial using registered a conflicting direction on the dashboard indicator. The vehicle was towed to a dealership and the repair consisted of replacing the shift cable bushing. This was the same fix required in recalls 18S20 & 22V413. On 7/9/2026 the issue was verified by a Ford dealership tech. I was advised that the protective cap is now contained in the repair kit with the shift cable bushing. A brief fleeting warning on the screen indicated a "Shift Fault - See Manual" or words to that effect. The manual only seemed to reference a "Steering Fault" Ford HQ was notified - Reference No: CXH-08533100

9d ago
Electrical 1

The door entry control numbers are on all the time now which will cause the battery to drain if the car is not driven daily. It says that water from a car wash or rain has gotten in behind the door control panel.

17d ago
Engine 1

I am the owner of a 2017 Ford Fusion with 61,000 miles on the odometer. Please note that I have always taken good care of my car, having it serviced promptly when required. In recent weeks, I have had to replace my complete steering rack (cost $4,500) and two weeks later, my 1.7-liter Ecoboost engine due to a coolant leak into the number two cylinder at a cost of $6,700. Ford has known about both problems for years and they have resulted in both class action and small claims suits against the company. Regarding the engine, Ford issued Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12, Technical Service Bulletin TSB 22-2134 and Customer Satisfaction Program 19B37 - Supplement #4 to replace the car's engine short block. This covered cars for 7 years of service or 84,000 miles - with, as quoted in the Ford memo sent to dealers on June 9, 2022, "coverage automatically extended to subsequent owners," for presumably the life of the car. Since this is clearly a manufacturing error (as Ford admits in its June 9, 2022 memo to dealers) and not due to negligence on my part, I should be reimbursed for my expenses. The NHTSA should also open a recall case on this matter for owners like myself.

21d ago
Engine 2

1.5 liter ecoboost engine has a coolant intrusion problem into the cylinder to due a design flaw. Problem can cause several problems: loosing coolant and causing the engine to overheat, causing misfire in the cylinders, and can cause the engine to stallwhich has happened several time on me. The engine should be recalled as a safety concern for stalling, it has stalled on the I15 in Utah several times

1mo ago
Transmission 2

Upon starting my car, the check engine light illuminated. Took my car to my mechanic and they confirmed an engine issue. Also stated the Ford 2.0 Liter engine has a high failure rate. My 2017 Ford Fusion SE (2.0 L Turbo Engine – VIN # [XXX]) with only 82,300 miles, which was purchased new, that has developed a water intrusion issue as identified in the Ford TSB 19-2346. After two separate requests Ford has stated it is out of warranty and will not provide and assistance in repairs, however based upon numerous reports this is caused by a design flaw. Previous recalls on the 1.6 L engine confirm the issue is across this engine family. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1mo ago
Electrical 1

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Ford Fusion. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 119,966, but during a repair, it was discovered that the mileage was 200,000.

1mo ago
Engine 1

My torque converter went bad on my 2017 Ford Fusion, it's the same problem the other 2017 Ford Fusions had with their torque converter however my vin is not on the recall.

1mo ago
Engine 2

Noticed that the coolant level kept going down with no apparent external leakage and was also getting a code for #2 Cylinder Mis-Fire, After adding a total 1 gallon antifreeze i made an appointment at the local Ford Dealer to see what is wrong. They Diagnosed the Issue to Coolant leaking in to Cylinder #2, there recommendation is to replace Long Block.

1mo ago
Engine 1

I recently now am having to replace my engine a second time in 2 years due to a coolant intrusion problem

1mo ago
Brakes 2

NHTSA recall 23V-162/Ford recall 23S12 Vehicle suffered secondary failure of recall remedy part which caused an immediate loss of braking ability. Ford dealer refused a safety tow unless I paid for it upfront which forced me to use my personal roadside insurance. After calling local dealer to assure vehicle had arrived after being towed, dealer said they couldn't look at vehicle until Tuesday , five days later because of the weekend and holiday.

1mo ago
Brakes 2

NHTSA claim # 11739491 update 05/22/2026 Young Ford Ogden Utah is refusing to execute the remedy for open safety recall 23S12 on my vehicle. They are refusing to run diagnostics test to honor the recall without paying $100 and up fee.

1mo ago
Electrical 2

The vehicle's electrical system intermittently fails while driving. The entire instrument cluster and electronics shut off (speedometer, gauges, and all warning indicators go dark) while the engine continues running. On one occasion this occurred at night on a highway, with sudden loss of dashboard and electrical function until the vehicle could be pulled to safety, rendering the vehicle essentially invisible. The failure has worsened over time and now includes audible relay clicking near the center console and failed remote-start commands. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an authorized Ford dealer. After multiple prior visits where the dealer could not reproduce the fault, the dealer verified the concern and connected a scan tool, finding that all modules on the HS1-CAN communication bus stopped communicating. The dealer checked technical service bulletins, performed pinpoint tests, and verified connector pin fitment. The dealer's diagnosis is a failed Gateway Module, with replacement recommended. The vehicle remains available for inspection. Warning symptoms preceding the failures include the dashboard going dark, electronics resetting, fault codes appearing on restart, and remote start malfunctioning. This is a serious safety risk: loss of the instrument cluster, lighting, and electrical systems while driving, particularly at highway speed and at night, eliminates the driver's ability to monitor speed and warning indicators and can result in loss of visibility. This failure pattern is widely reported by owners of this model and appears consistent with Gateway Module defects addressed by recall on newer model-year Fusion vehicles.

1mo ago
Transmission 2

While pulling into my parking garage at work I put my 2017 Ford Fusion into park to open the door and scan my card. When I tried to shift out of park the gear shifter indicated a shifting fault that required service. The car was towed to a Ford Service Center where the problem as diagnosed to be the shift control linkage, specifically the shift cable bushing. I have come to understand that this part has had issues in the 2013-2016 Ford Fusion models resulting in a recall. This issue appears to also be in the 2017 Ford Fusion as the results of the fault are identical to those of the 2013-2016 models. The component has been diagnosed by a certified ford service center. There were no warning lamps or prior indicators of this issue. Warning lamps only turned on after the issues occured.

1mo ago
Transmission 2

The rotary gear shift knob occasionally gets stuck and refuses to rotate back to Reverse (R). This intermittent failure has occurred 3 times within this month. The dashboard does not show any warning lights or error codes during the incident. This is a severe safety hazard as it could leave the vehicle stranded in traffic or unable to back away from danger. Took the vehicle to the Ford dealership(Citrus Motors Ford) for inspection, but they returned it as "Could Not Duplicate" because no active diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) were stored. However, the physical shifting malfunction remains an active threat.

1mo ago
Engine 2

The car overheated due to coolant leaking. Found out vehicle has a coolant intrusion requiring a new engine now.

2mo ago
Transmission 2

I was driving and the car just stopped it wouldn't let me put in park or drive it just stayed in neutral. And I was stuck it kept the the emergency break on. Then it wouldn't turn off all the way which caused the car to drain battery.

2mo ago
Engine 2

Coolant leak into engine block, ford dealership said $8,000 to replace engine cars only at 65k miles. Problem is from manufacturer defect in the 2.0l TT turbo engines in fusions and should be recalled as it’s not the owner/operators wrong doings.

2mo ago
Engine 1

Coolant intrusion, problem.

2mo ago
Transmission 1

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the rear end of the vehicle unexpectedly locked up. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle became inoperable and was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V102000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

2mo ago
Engine 1

Component/System: Engine — 1.5L EcoBoost short block coolant intrusion leading to catastrophic engine failure. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Vehicle overheated while in operation, creating risk of engine fire, loss of vehicle control, and stranding of occupant on a public roadway. Ford's own TSB 22-2322 acknowledges this defect creates a fire risk. Confirmed by dealer/shop: YES Inspected by manufacturer/police/insurance: Ford Motor Company was contacted on 17APR26 and opened case number XXX but denied coverage citing vehicle assembly location [XXX] ) despite the defect being present in all 1.5L EcoBoost engines regardless of assembly plant. Warning symptoms: Vehicle exhibited overheating warning prior to failure. Coolant intrusion into cylinder bores is a known documented defect covered under Ford Customer Satisfaction Program XXX and TSB XXX for identical engines in US-assembled vehicles. Mileage at failure: Approximately 65,000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

3mo ago

1091 total

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