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2017 Ford Fusion problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2017 Ford Fusion has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 4safety recalls
- 1,203owner complaints
- 45crash reports
- 10fire reports
- 16%fail the UK MOT
1,203 complaints, against an average of 1,252 for the other 8 Ford Fusion model years.
Every Ford Fusion model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2017 Ford Fusion?
The components named most often in the 1,203 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2017 Ford Fusion owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 1,203 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2017 Ford Fusion?266 owners · 22.1%
- Why does my 2017 Ford Fusion overheat?161 owners · 13.4%
- Why does my 2017 Ford Fusion idle rough, misfire or hesitate?158 owners · 13.1%
- Why does my 2017 Ford Fusion stall, lose power or shut off while driving?130 owners · 10.8%
- Has the 2017 Ford Fusion had engine failures?122 owners · 10.1%
- Has the 2017 Ford Fusion had transmission failures?54 owners · 4.5% · Recall 17V427000
- Why does my 2017 Ford Fusion smell of burning or smoke?49 owners · 4.1%
- Why won't my 2017 Ford Fusion start?39 owners · 3.2%
Has the 2017 Ford Fusion been recalled?
4 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Risk: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar 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.
Risk: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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 weld studs may have been inadequately welded.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
How often does the 2017 Ford Fusion fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2017, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2017 Ford Fusion owners report?
12 of the 1,203 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost engine power (it shut off) and displayed "auto start stop shift to P, then restart engine". The vehicle has never done this before, and thank goodness my wife did not have the kids in the car at the time. She was able to pull over safely only because she was on a small road with light traffic, and not at highway speed. Clearly, this put not only our vehicle at risk, but others as the brakes and steering became very hard to use when the engine just shut off out of nowhere. Since it happened today, I have not taken it in to be inspected as of yet. Upon my…
The shift cable bushing on my 2017 Ford Fusion SE (VIN: [XXX]) failed and disintegrated, causing the shift selector to bind and disconnect from the transmission linkage. The gear selector shows Park while the transmission remains engaged in gear, creating a severe rollaway hazard. This matches the exact failure mechanism of NHTSA Recall Campaign 22S43 / 21V-376, but Ford claims this specific VIN was excluded from the recall scope INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal to stop, the brake pedal extended to the floorboard, and the braking distance was extended. During the failure, the brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear hydraulic brake hoses had failed and needed to be replaced. The rear hydraulic brake hoses were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 144,955.
The automatic transmission failed at approximately 59,000 miles. The vehicle was delivered to an authorized Ford dealership on 09/04/2025 for warranty repair. The transmission was replaced. The vehicle remained at that dealership approximately eight months and was returned to me on or about 05/01/2026. After return, a grinding and clunking noise was present when accelerating, turning, braking and going over bumps. A power steering line failed within days of return and emitted smoke from the front of the vehicle while driving. A "Shift System Fault" message began appearing when shifting into…
We purchased this 2017 Ford Fusion 1.5L EcoBoost in August 2022 at 48,968 miles. At 55,940 miles, the vehicle developed a documented coolant leak requiring water-pump replacement. At approximately 75,520 miles, the coolant level was again documented as requiring attention. At approximately 84,189 miles, the vehicle experienced low coolant, low oil, white/gray smoke and rough running. Manteca Ford identified Ford TSB 22-2322 and ultimately performed a major short-block replacement. Despite this major engine repair, mechanical and drivability problems continued. At approximately 101,375 miles…
I was driving my 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum on my way home and the wrench light came on and said check manual when i looked in my app the only thing that was in the maintenance was my 90k maintenance . my car is driving fine no RPM jumping no smoking no burning smell no shaking nothing ( the wrench light was off when i cranked it to take my daughter to work Saturday morning ) well Saturday on my way home from bring my daughter to work my check engine light came on still my car is driving fine when i looked in my Ford App at the check engine light warning which was these two warnings The…
2017 Ford Fusion. Transmission replaced February 2026 at 98,175 miles by independent repair facility. Check engine light illuminated immediately following replacement and has remained on continuously since. Autozone scan showed emissions-related code only. On August 28, 2026 at approximately 120,064 miles, orange wrench light and "See Manual" message appeared moments after hot restart. Acceleration became heavy and hesitant. Drove approximately 70 miles home via I-15; heavy traffic required engine shutdown at multiple stops. Following morning, wrench light was no longer illuminated but…
If i do not run my car for atleast 10 minutes before driving, my gas tank will start making a loud horn sound, and when this happens and i go to slow down, the car will shut off. Mechanics say there’s an issue with the purge valve and the charcoal filter. I’ve already had this issue fixed three times and it comes back less than a week prior to service
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…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after shifting to drive(D), the vehicle erroneously rolled backwards up a slight incline. The failure had occurred on several occasions. Additionally, while driving down a hill and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes malfunctioned, the vehicle failed to stop, and drove through a 4-Way intersection and drove approximately a half mile before stopping. During the failure, the message "Transmission not in Park" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted…
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…
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.
2017 Ford Fusion: questions owners ask
Is the 2017 Ford Fusion reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 1,203 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Fusion; the most common categories were engine (405, 33.7%), power train (336, 27.9%), electrical system (146, 12.1%). There are 4 safety recalls. 45 complaints mention a crash, 10 mention a fire, 38 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Fusion?
Across 1,203 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (33.7% of complaints), power train (27.9% of complaints), electrical system (12.1% of complaints), engine and engine cooling (11.1% of complaints), service brakes (9.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2017 Ford Fusion have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Ford Fusion; the most recent (campaign 23V162000, 2023-03-10) concerns Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2017 Ford Fusion?
266 of the 1,203 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Ford Fusion (22.1%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "I lost power while on the Freeway any indicators flashed: "see manual", "pre-collision assist not available", "service advance track", "downhill assist not available", the check engine light was on. It seems that when to limp mode." (NHTSA complaint 11762014, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2017 Ford Fusion overheat?
161 of the 1,203 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Ford Fusion (13.4%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "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…" (NHTSA complaint 11745114, June 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2017 Ford Fusion idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
158 of the 1,203 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Ford Fusion (13.1%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "The vehicle in question has the coolant intrusion into cylinders 2 and 3 with rough idle on startup, P0300, P0302, P0303, and white smoke on startup." (NHTSA complaint 11751941, July 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2017 Ford Fusion stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
130 of the 1,203 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Ford Fusion (10.8%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "I lost power while on the Freeway any indicators flashed: "see manual", "pre-collision assist not available", "service advance track", "downhill assist not available", the check engine light was on. It seems that when to limp mode." (NHTSA complaint 11762014, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2017 Ford Fusion had engine failures?
122 of the 1,203 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Ford Fusion (10.1%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11736882, May 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2017 Ford Fusion had transmission failures?
54 of the 1,203 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Ford Fusion (4.5%) describe transmission failure, slipping or a replaced transmission. A related recall exists: campaign 17V427000 (power train: automatic transmission: torque converter). The fix: Ford or Lincoln will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque converters, free of charge. One owner wrote: "Wrench light came on my car while driving 30mph, then the engine light. Had it diagnosed & I am told my car that went to the shop with code p0741 needs a NEW transmission!! 54, 618 miles only. Fix is $6800.00." (NHTSA complaint 11705988, December 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2017 Ford Fusion smell of burning or smoke?
49 of the 1,203 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Ford Fusion (4.1%) describe a burning smell or smoke. One owner wrote: "Vehicles Engine has been affected due to a know manufacturing flaw with design that caused coolant to leak into the cylinder walls of the engine block causing a rough idle, white smoke out of the exhaust and cylinder 2 misfire." (NHTSA complaint 11698487, November 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why won't my 2017 Ford Fusion start?
39 of the 1,203 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Ford Fusion (3.2%) describe the car failing to start. One owner wrote: "2017 Ford Fusion got serviced at Ford dealership June 4, 2025. Service included, transmission flush, fuel induction service, oil change, oil filter change. About a month after service check engine light comes on upon starting the vehicle, but then goes out." (NHTSA complaint 11678315, August 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Fusion
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2017 only; combines NHTSA's entries for FUSION, FUSION ENERGI and FUSION HEV.