Home · 2017 Ford Fusion Energi · Complaints

What 1,030 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,030)Crash / fire / injury (47)Engine (349)Transmission & drivetrain (288)Engine & cooling (130)Electrical system (120)Brakes (93)Steering (48)Fuel system (33)Airbags (28)Wheels (24)Speed control (15)

47 of 1,030 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Mar 27, 2025BrakesCrash1 injury

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!

NHTSA ODI 11650960

Mar 16, 2025EngineFire

Engine overheats. Stalls while driving. Seizes up. Coolant intrusion

NHTSA ODI 11648619

Sep 3, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngine1 injury

2017 Ford Fusion Titanium 2.0L Ecoboost purchased brand new. Coolant intrusion into Cylinder #1, causing a misfire,registered in Vehicle Health Alert system; check engine light on. Liberty Ford dealership was notified within the first week of the 1st misfire. Autozone found fault code P0301. Code scanner suggested replacing cylinder #1 spark plug. If misfire cont., it stated to replace Coil on cyl #1. All four spark plugs were replaced and Coil for cylinder #1 was replaced. Veh.began to exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke & rough running. Coolant fumes were entering the veh. cabin. Coolant added as soon as "Engine Coolant Over Temperature" dash alert. Diagnostic completed at Firestone Complete Auto Care: Determined "Cyl 1 is full of coolant & misfire occurring due to engine burning coolant.TSB out for this issue stating engine block replacement will be needed. Recommend dealership*** Manufacturer's recommended maintenance.… They provided a copy of TSB 22-2229 and stated Ford Manufacturer should replace entire engine (Long Block). I contacted Ford Manufacturer. They stated several times that "this is a KNOWN ISSUE". They stated a diagnostic must be done by a Ford Dealership and submit financial asst. request. They found code P0301 as well as overheating codes are present, coolant level low. Mode 6 shows multiple misfires on cyl1...found same diagnosis. TSB 22-2229 covers this condition, engine build code is 910 and meets criteria." Veh avail for inspection upon request? The veh stranded me away from home 2-4 times. I was given literature that stated low coolant may automatically shut off the engine, even while driving. Antifreeze contains glycols & other liquid chemicals that are sweet smelling but POISONOUS. That entering the veh cabin can possibly cause a person to have damage to the central nervous system, lose consciousness, become nauseated, vomit, dizzy, etc. Ford didn’t notify me of the manufacturer fault that caused the issue, a 3rd party did.

NHTSA ODI 11612193

Aug 9, 2024Body & structure1 injury

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while placing her grandchild in the car seat in the rear of the vehicle, she became aware of mold inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side and the trunk had mold. The contact stated that water had leaked into the vehicle from the overhead light. The contact stated she was constantly sick and had ear infections. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was inspected; however, the contact was unsure of the results. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was a known issue; however, the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11607534

Jun 13, 2024BrakesCrash1 injury

The contact owned a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle hit a stop sign, which flew and hit the passenger's side window of the vehicle. The vehicle then hit a privacy fence and crashed into an electrical pole. The air bags failed to respond. The contact stated that she hit her chest against the steering wheel and hit the back of her head against the front driver's side seat headrest. The contact's husband arrived at the scene and transported the contact to the residence. The contact was later taken to the hospital, where she was informed that she had sustained loss of 20 percent of her hearing, loss of smell and taste, and intermittent dizziness due to an internal fluid leak in the back of her head. The contact was still receiving medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), which she related to the failure. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11594172

Feb 15, 2024CrashFire

I didn’t have the car at the time I didn’t know the car facts now I’ve been paying on it & it’s my only transportation I got the car the 5th of Jan. 2023

NHTSA ODI 11572262

Sep 7, 2023AirbagsCrash1 injury

I was a victim in a car crash driving this vehicle when another vehicle hit me and deployed my air bags. Due to the air bags deployment I ended up with significant burn marks to my arm which is likely to permanently scar.

NHTSA ODI 11543218

Jul 25, 2023Engine & coolingFire

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the temperature gauge began to indicate that the vehicle was overheating. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the road, and after a visual inspection of the engine compartment, it was observed that the coolant overflow container was empty, yet upon removing the container cap, coolant suddenly flowed back into the container, filling it. The overheating warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. Later, the contact stated that, after starting the vehicle, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment and, upon visual inspection, noticed a small fire within the engine compartment that she was able to extinguish alone. No fire or police report was filed, and the vehicle suffered insignificant damage. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the CPV valve. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who replaced both the fuel injector and thermostat, but again, the failure reoccurred. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to Ford's TSB 19-2346 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11534328

Jul 24, 2023BrakesCrash

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the vehicle had not yet been taken to a dealer. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, as she started slowing for a traffic signal, as she depressed the brake pedal it went to the floorboards. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she was close enough to her residence that she drove onto the driveway, however the vehicle crashed into the side of her garage. The vehicle's front driver's side fender was scratched. The contact was not hurt. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11534211

Apr 25, 2023BrakesCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately causing the contact to rear end the vehicle in front of her. The contact sustained injuries to her neck and back but did not receive medical attention. A police report was filed.The vehicle was taken to a brake specialist, who informed the contact there was no brake fluid in the vehicle due to a leak on the front brake flexible hose. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number:  23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11518947

Apr 19, 2023BrakesAirbagsCrash1 injury

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.

NHTSA ODI 11517830

Mar 18, 2023WheelsBrakesCrash

Upon trying to stop at a stop sign my son was unable to stop in time and rolled into the roadway which caused a collision with another vehicle. He depressed the brakes and clearly heard a grinding noise and never felt the pumping feeling under his foot for the antilock breaks. He thought he couldnt stop due to ice on the roadway, but have since seen the brake recall on my vehicle. The accident caused the vehicle to become a total loss. The witnesses said my son stopped at the stop sing and pulled into the roadway in front of car going 50mph. That could not have happened by the angle of the car at the time of the accident. Had he stopped like the 'witnesses" said, he would have entered the roadway a couple second later and then become t-boned by the other car. He was hit on the rear quarterfinal coinciding with my sons story he could not stop. My son has held to his story that he tried to stop and the car would not stop. I have felt on occasion since Dec my brakes feeling a little off at times but never on a consistant basis to get it looked at. My vehicle had a small leakage in Dec which we could not locate and it never occurred since. We checked the brake fluid and all fluids routinely since. Never seen the leak since. I also put four brand new tires on my vehicle two days prior to the accident. It does appear in the photos after the accident there were new parts on the wheel in the area of the brakes. I only owned this vehicle for 9 months prior to this incident.

NHTSA ODI 11512550

Dec 25, 2022Speed controlCrash

My Motor vehicle shift selector bushing broken out the ford issue is also in the 2017 models

NHTSA ODI 11498816

Dec 10, 2022BrakesCrash

Which drive home from work one day when my brakes just gave out. Prior to my brakes given out in August. My brakes begin to feel loose. I set my car down for a few months and as recently as December 10 a had my car towed to Ford where they have. Let me know that my front brake lines have malfunction I need to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11496842

Dec 2, 2022SeatsCrash2 injuries

Seat back broke in a collision.

NHTSA ODI 11495751

Oct 29, 2022SteeringCrash

Driving straight and the steering locked up causing the car to veer to the left and was not allowing her not to be able to turn the car. My 19 year old daughter ended up hitting a fence and totaling the car.

NHTSA ODI 11491463

Aug 25, 2022BrakesFire

Rear passenger caliper exploded causing a fire due to collapsed brake hose

NHTSA ODI 11481111

Jun 15, 2022Transmission & drivetrainBrakesCrash

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in her driveway on a hill without the emergency brakes, the vehicle rolled down the hill and bumped into her husband's parked vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer but was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated on April 2022, while she was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle began to shake and failed to go over 50 mph. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V427000 (Power Train), however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and transferred her to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000. The consumer stated she should be reimbursed for the repairs.

NHTSA ODI 11469333

Apr 6, 2022Transmission & drivetrainCrash2 injuries

My 2017 for fusion stopped changing gears and when trying to change gears it sounded awful and was very rough. Sheehy Ford said it was the torque converter and found numerous office issues with in the transmission. Repairs were $5k. Thank goodness for Ford customer support( my awesome rep Kiara) who provided financial help for the repairs. I have lots of articles about the same issue and am shocked that the SE model wasn’t included in the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11459939

Feb 19, 2021Seat beltsCrash1 injury

WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION I WAS HIT ON MY DRIVER'S REAR DOOR AND MY SEATBELT UNLATCHED AND I WAS THROWN OUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11396961

Dec 4, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemFire

THE OWNER/MYSELF DRIVING VEHICLE HOME MY 2017 FORD FUSION SE 1.5L ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN WHITE SMOKE BILLOWED OUT FROM THE EXHAUST LEADING TO A SEIZED ENGINE ON A HIGH TRAFFIC DENSITY HIGHWAY. THE CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER, CLUNK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT FLASHING AS I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS CAR HAD ISSUES BEFORE THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WITH CYLINDERS MISFIRING, SPARK PLUGS BEING FOULED AT LOW MILEAGE AND ENGINE LOSING COOLANT. PER MY VEHICLES BREAKDOWN I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WORKED FOR FORD AND STATED MY ENGINE LOCKED UP AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR A SECOND DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS THE SAME ANSWER AFTER A FULL LOOK AT IT. I TRIED CALLING FORD IN MICHIGAN THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND, MY DEALER FRED BEANS OF FORD GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND SAYING I HAVE TO COVER THIS REPAIR DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF MY WARRANTY. I DID THE PROGRAM 19B37 RECALL FROM FORD WHICH RESET THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT ENTERING THE ENGINE. CLEARLY, THAT ISSUE THAT FORD TRIED TO PATCH UP DIDN'T WORK. MY MECHANIC & FORD DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED AND HAVE FOUND BULLETINS STATING THIS IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT KNOWN BY FORD AS FORD HAD RELEASED THE BULLETINS. THIS DEFECT LEADS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND IS NOTHING CAUSED BY THE DRIVER BUT SOLELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN CERTAIN ENGINES WERE MANUFACTURED THEY WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY. FORD IS UNWILLING TO PAY FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THIS IS FAULT DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES IF THE ENGINE IS TO STALL OR SEIZE DURING DRIVING THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY, ACCIDENT, AND EVEN DEATH. FORD IS NOT RECALLING THIS ENGINE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE - RECALL THIS ISSUE. 1.5 & 2.0 ENGINES ARE VERY PROBLEMATIC. THE COST FOR MY REPAIR IS $4,800.00 THAT I DON'T HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 11377879

Dec 4, 2020EngineFire

I / THE OWNER OF MY 2017 FORD FUSION SE 1.5L HAD A SEIZED ENGINE OCCUR ON MY COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK. WHITE SMOKE BILLOWED AND BREWED OUT MY EXHAUST AS I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING WRONG AND ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION FOR THE PERSON BEHIND ME.. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I BROUGHT IT TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC STATING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEMATIC ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND MY ENGINE BLOCK FAILED & CRACKED. PROCEEDING THIS, I WENT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO GET A SECOND THOUGHT, JUST IN CASE. SAME RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE 1.5L. I WAS QUOTED $4,800 TO FIX THIS ISSUE, MONEY I DON'T HAVE LAYING AROUND, MY WARRANTY RECENTLY EXPIRED AND BOTH FRED BEANS OF LANGHORNE & FORD MOTOR COMPANY BOTH TOLD ME TO "POUND SAND" BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THAT THIS WHOLE ISSUE IS ON ME TO BE FIXED. EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE PROGRAM 19B37 RECALL - WHICH FIXES THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO "PREVENT" THIS ISSUE." THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE LOCAL SHOP FOR CYLINDER MISFIRES, SPARK PLUG FOULS & ENGINE START UP ISSUES. WHICH APPARENTLY ARE LEADING SIGNS TO THE VEHICLE ENGINE BLOCK ISSUE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED AND HAVE FOUND BULLETINS STATING THIS IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT KNOWN BY FORD AS FORD HAD RELEASED THE BULLETINS. THIS DEFECT LEADS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND IS NOTHING CAUSED BY THE DRIVER BUT SOLELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN CERTAIN ENGINES WERE MANUFACTURED THEY WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY. SUCH AS THE 1.5L. FORD IS UNWILLING TO PAY FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THIS IS FAULT DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES IF THE ENGINE IS TO STALL OR SEIZE DURING DRIVING THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY, ACCIDENT, AND EVEN DEATH. FORD IS NOT RECALLING THIS ENGINE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE RECALL THIS, NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11377892

Nov 12, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel systemCrash

BACK IN 2018, 1.3 MILLION FORD FOCUS VEHICLES WERE RECALLED DUE TO A FUEL PURGE VALVE. WHO'S TO SAY THE SAME ISSUE IS STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN, BUT TO THE FORD FUSIONS? MY 2017 FORD FUSION THAT I PURCHASED 6 MONTHS AGO HAS THIS ISSUE. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN! ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, DURING MORNING TRAFFIC, MY CAR DECIDES TO TURN OFF CAUSING A ACCIDENT, BUT LUCKILY NOBODY GOT HURT! WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE WAITING FOR THE POLICE TO ARRIVE, I TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON, AND LUCKILY IT DID, BUT SURPRISE SURPRISE NOW WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. WHEN I GOT OFF OF WORK MY CAR TURNED BACK ON (STILL WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON) AND THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN 4 TIMES ON MY WAY BACK HOME. I DROVE ALL THE WAY BACK ON THE RIGHT HAND PASSING LANE BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A ACCIDENT AGAIN! WHAT IT DID EXACTLY IS IT STARTS LIKE A HUMMING/VIBRATING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE DASHBOARD, I COULDN'T PUSH ON MY GAS, TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, AND AUTOMATICALLY GOES DOWN TO 0 MPH, AND ON THE DASHBOARD IT ASKED ME TO PUT THE CAR IN P, AND THEN TURNS OFF. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED DIDN'T WANT TO COVER IT, AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY $425 TO HAVE THIS FIXED! FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE SERIOUSLY GETS INJURED!

NHTSA ODI 11374338

Sep 17, 2020SteeringCrash

I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT ON GORDON DR IN RUSTON, LOUISIANA WHEN AN ANIMAL ENTERED THE ROAD SO I STEERED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE ANIMAL AND SUDDENLY LOSS CONTROL OF STEERING. THIS CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO A DITCH WITH A CEMENT DRAIN. MY CAR PROCEEDED TO DRAG ON THE GROUND SO I DID NOT DRIVE IT AND REPORTED IT TO INSURANCE AND IT WAS DECLARED TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI 11355663

May 19, 2020Engine & coolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TEMPERATURE GAUGE REMAINED HIGH AS SHE FELT HEAT ON HER FEET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE MALFUNCTIONED AND COOLANT WAS LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AT THAT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO CROSSROADS FORD OF INDIAN TRAIL (88 DALE JARRETT BLVD, MONROE, NC 28110) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HEATING CORE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,246.

NHTSA ODI 11325119

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Ford Fusion Energi verdict →