Home · 2020 Ford Fusion Energi · Complaints

What 42 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 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 (42)Crash / fire / injury (1)Electrical system (37)Engine (4)Brakes (1)Fuel system (1)Speed control (1)Wheels (1)

4 of 42 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Apr 29, 2024Electrical systemEngine

I am aware of the recall on the ford fusion plug in hybrid and for that reason I do not plug it in. We are supposed to use this as a regular hybrid until the fix comes out. That said, my car turns off randomly in traffic. All the warning lights turn on and the car fully shuts down and has to restart. This happens without warning, while in traffic. Last week it happened 3 times on one single drive home from picking up the kids from school. This is not supposed to happen if we aren’t plugging it in, but it’s happening and ford said they think it’s related to the recall (they’re holding on to it for the next five days and I’m on my own for car rental fees). Totally unsafe to just stop working in traffic, even when not using EV mode. This is going to hurt someone.

NHTSA ODI 11585961

Jan 30, 2024Electrical systemEngine

This car is a plug-in hybrid. Ford told owners NOT to charge their cars as of June 16, 2023, and they still don't have a solution. It's January 30, 2024. That's 228 days or 62% of a year or 7.6 months. I don't consider that a timely recall. Jun 16, 2023 Manufacturer Recall Number23S33 NHTSA Recall Number23V440 Recall Status Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available

NHTSA ODI 11568684

Jan 30, 2024EngineFuel system

Ford has issued a recall for which they have offered no remedy. The recall recommends not using the DEFINING feature of the vehicle; the entire purpose for which it was purchased: i.e. the short but meaningful electric range. Ford say the vehicle should not be charged due to an engineering fault that may lead to a fires. The issue has led to thousands of dollars in extra fuel cost and, in my state at least, Ford is refusing to buyback the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11568916

Oct 18, 2022EngineFire

The contact stated their son owned a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that their son was driving at approximately 35 MPH, when the vehicle's instrument panel illuminated all possible warning lights. Then there was smoke emitting from the vehicle near the driver's feet. The driver pulled to the side of the road where they turned off the vehicle. The vehicle then caught on fire under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called and distinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and then opened a case regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11489756

Working with the data? Download all 42 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

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 2020 Ford Fusion Energi verdict →