What 175 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Fusion

I don't know what failed, but my vehicle spontaneously combusted this morning in front of my apartment.and is a total loss. Fire Marshal's [XXX] ) Case# XX-XXX. The fire also destroyed the vehicle sittling next to it. We are lucky the building didn't catch on fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11711625

I am the second owner on my Ford fusion 2020 SE all-wheel-drive I got the car at 21,000 I had warranty since I had the warranty. I've been going for this power training code and having them check my car out all the time they always say there's nothing wrong with it. It's just the code is being erased so by the time my warranty went out all these problems are coming up and now they could find those problems I've been inquiring about

NHTSA ODI 11709990

In early October 2025, the vehicle was taken to an independent dealership service department for a routine oil change. Several weeks later, the vehicle appeared to be leaking fluid and began experiencing loud knocking/clacking noises, significant vibration, and drivability concerns, especially during acceleration. On October 10, 2025, while parked at a family member’s residence, the vehicle would not start. Due to safety concerns, the servicing dealership arranged for the vehicle to be towed for inspection. Technicians found a split transmission hose causing transmission fluid loss, which was repaired; however, the abnormal noises, vibration, and drivability issues persisted. Further inspection identified loud popping/clacking noises from the bell housing area. The technician physically inspected the flex plate and documented that the flex plate was cracked. The dealership advised that a cracked flex plate can worsen, cause severe vibration, damage related components, and lead to drivability issues or potential loss of propulsion. Because of the nature of the failure and symptoms, the vehicle was removed from regular use due to safety concerns. The vehicle was later taken to a manufacturer-authorized Ford dealership, which confirmed flex plate failure but stated the vehicle did not qualify for a customer satisfaction program due to engine variant. A goodwill/financial assistance request was submitted and denied. Technician diagnostic documentation from the manufacturer-authorized dealership was requested but not provided prior to filing this complaint. No crash or injury occurred; however, the failure created a risk of sudden inability to propel the vehicle while driving, including at highway speeds. The vehicle remains unrepaired and parked due to cost and safety concerns.

NHTSA ODI 11706177

When these problems started it was only 6 months after purchase and I was already having issues with power train malfunctions and it didnt want to switch gears. I purchased this at roughly 47,000 miles and it didnt make it to 70,000 miles before I ultimately decided it was not the safe vehicle that was advertised to my family and I. It was taken to the dealership over 3 times in under a year and for some reason the problem never got resolved. I have been sued for the remaining balance now despite that toward the end of my time owning it the vehicle was reving out with barely any pressure on the gas pedal, having issues braking on its own (anti-collision assist), and occasionally the steering wheel would jerk me in to oncoming traffic. I am just trying to get a recall issued at this point because this car is going to kill someone if it stays on the road.

NHTSA ODI 11705924

My Ford started making a loud noise whenever the accelerator wasn't being pressed, after taking it to the mechanic, he said it is the cracked flex plate. After some light research, it was aparent that this is an issue that Ford's cars have, and ford has tried to make it better by offering free fixes. I contacted the local ford dealer and since the car has 90,000 miles, it would have been covered. However, since it doesn't have a clean title, I was declined this service free of charge. I don't agree with this decision since I've been driving this car for over a year since it was purchased off IAA auction, and this issue was made clear only yesterday, but this issue is prevalent in cars like mine.The damage to my car specifically was to the back, and only affected the rear bumper and trunk. Therefore I don't think it is fair that I was declined the serve even though Ford has made it clear it is there manufacturing mistake and they are willing to fix it, just not with cars with my type of title. I was hoping to send in this incident so that this issue becomes a national recall, and more people can get their cars rightfully fixed and aware of this serious issue that can make the car completely unusable before it gets too late. I wasn't aware this was a common issue when purchasing this car, so a recall would protect more people since it will become mandatory information for owners to be aware of this issue. Thank you!

NHTSA ODI 11705731

2020 Ford Fusion SE- Transmission problems. Only 98,000 miles on the car and have had issues with this transmission after a year of having it. Transmission fluid was good but there is a small leak, slipping gears, winding, and gear auto shifting back to park. No combustion or power until it hits 60 mph. Has been checked by mechanics. No lights on dash at all!

NHTSA ODI 11698498

Check engine light keeps coming on saying evap emissions. Have replaced purge valve, gas tank inlet and solenoid. This is the 6th time for check engine light

NHTSA ODI 11698431

During a road trip, received an error message indicating "SHIFT SYS FAULT" after the vehicle would not shift out of park. Upon inspecting the vehicle, it was noticed that the transmission linkage cable bushing was missing. The error message had appeared the day before, but the vehicle would still shift and the error message went away after a few seconds. I was unable to recover the original bushing as it was missing when the vehicle was inspected after the error message. Luckily the error did not happen while driving and instead was noticed while the car was in park. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than myself, and I was able to buy a replacement bushing from a local dealership to replace the missing bushing.

NHTSA ODI 11696130

While driving down the road I start getting warning lights about lane assist, adaptive cruise control, power steering and so forth not working. The steering wheel jerks hard out of my hands and the brakes will automatically apply. I’ve tried talking to the dealership I bought it from and I never get a response. They told me that ford bought it back from the original owner cause it was a great car but this seems to not be the case. Seems more like it’s because of its very dangerous drivability features. I’m extremely concerned about my wife driving the car and I’m constantly getting alerts through the ford app. Took it to a different ford dealership and was showed to me on ford data link where this car has had this problem long before I purchased it. It’s extremely dangerous

NHTSA ODI 11695548

VIN: [XXX] Issue Category: Powertrain / Flex Plate / Transmission Failure Dealerships Involved: Freeway Ford – Bloomington, MN J.C. Lewis Ford – Savannah, GA Summary: I am requesting reimbursement from Ford Motor Company for repeated flex plate repairs and a resulting transmission failure on my 2020 Ford Fusion. The vehicle has had five flex plate replacements — three at Freeway Ford in Bloomington, MN, and two at J.C. Lewis Ford in Savannah, GA. Despite all repairs being performed by Ford dealerships, the issue persisted, and the transmission ultimately failed. I was required to pay for a new transmission out of pocket, even though the repeated flex plate failures clearly caused the damage. Ford has a Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP 22N12) addressing flex plate issues on this model, but I received no reimbursement or coverage. I contacted Ford via email to crcfmc@ford.com with documentation but received no response. I have copies of all invoices, repair orders, and service notes from both dealerships to support my claim. I am requesting full reimbursement of all related costs under goodwill or warranty consideration, as this is a known manufacturer-related defect that led to a major drivetrain failure. Total $3,103.93 Requested Resolution: Reimbursement for all flex plate repair costs and the transmission replacement due to defective parts covered under CSP 22N12. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11694895

The contact owned a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the contact briefly lost control of the vehicle. As a result, he collided with the center guard rail on the drivers side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy, which he held responsible for his resulting injuries. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility and deemed a total lost by the contacts insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact was transported to an area hospital by EMT and treated for neck pain, back pain, and leg paralysis in both legs. The contact stated that the leg paralysis lasted for 3 days, after which a walker was required for several months. In addition, the contact mentioned being unconsion on the scene when paramedics arrived. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 67,343.

NHTSA ODI 11694128

Previously reported as a fuel pump issue, incorrect. The mechanic was incorrect. The fuel injectors failed releasing fuel into the engine and the entire system. High risk of fire.

NHTSA ODI 11690306

This makes the third time the transmission had to be redone and I have only 95.000 miles on it the first time was about 2months after I purchased the car brand new in December 2020 and each time the transmission gets repaired it cost more and more and they tell me that it need other stuff with it that needs to be replaced nothing in the dash showed failure to any thing

NHTSA ODI 11690227

Speed sensor radar on right front tire sending alerts to car all at once — Antilock Brake Fault, Pre Collision Assist not available, Hill start assist. Steering wheel gets heavy randomly. And brakes start slipping. This is a safety hazard I have a baby. My car is only 5 years old problems like this shouldn’t be happening. Ford checked it and said it’s a speed sensor but would cost $450 that’s not a fair deal. And those sensors shouldn’t show all at once randomly. I barely drive my car. I have 57,000 miles on it. Happens randomly.

NHTSA ODI 11687799

Fuel pump failure. Vehicle is emitting gas from the exhaust system in the back. Not processing fuel as it should. High safety risk.

NHTSA ODI 11687311

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the flywheel was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11685052

My 2020 Ford Fusion has experienced three separate flexplate failures, as well as transmission issues following the most recent repair. Failure #1: Occurred before I owned the vehicle (confirmed later in the vehicle’s history). The flexplate was replaced by a prior owner in 2022. Failure #2: [8/2023] – While I owned the vehicle, a loud rattling noise came from the engine area. My vehicle was towed to Foothill Ford, where it was purchased, and they replaced the flexplate. No power loss occurred. Failure #3: [5/2025] – The same rattling sound returned. I drove it to Green Ford, who confirmed the flexplate needed to be replaced, and they replaced it. No power loss occurred, but the noise was severe. After the third flexplate replacement, the transmission began slipping during acceleration. This issue did not exist before the repair, and Green Ford had told me the transmission was fine before they replaced the flexplate. Safety concern: Repeated flexplate failures and subsequent transmission slipping could cause loss of propulsion or difficulty maintaining speed if the problem occurs at highway speeds or in heavy traffic, creating a potential crash risk. I did lose power on the highway, but was able to pull safely off the shoulder and called a tow truck.

NHTSA ODI 11680924

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V440000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11680697

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant intrusion into the cylinder had caused the engine to fail. 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 NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 112, 000.

NHTSA ODI 11677234

The check engine light came on. The car was regularly losing coolant but none was leaking out. I topped it off but the coolant level lowered again. My mechanic suspects it is a problem with the Ecoboost engine where the coolant leaks into the cylinders. I know there is currently a class action lawsuit against for for Fusions from 2013-2019 addressing this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11676543

RANDOMLY 'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC', 'PRE-COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE', LANE ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE', POWER ASSIST STEERING NOT AVAILABLE', HILL ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE', WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR. WHEN THEY DO I COMPLETELY LOSE POWER STEERING. WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. MOST THE TIME I CAN TURN OFF AND RESTART THE CAR AND IT GOES AWAY. HOWEVER, NOW IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND HAS STARTED LOSING COMPLETE POWER OF THE CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I ALMOST DIED ON THE INTERSTATE. FORD DEALERSHIPS ONLY RECOMMENDATION WAS A NEW CIRCUIT BOARD THAT WAS LIKE $5K, MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING COMMON WITH THE FORD FUSIONS, THATS WHY THEY WERE QUIT BEING MADE. I RESEARCHED AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE, BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE???!!???

NHTSA ODI 11675920

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle as taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The cam shaft sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving 8 MPH, the engine seized. The message "See Manual" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to several dealers and independent mechanics. The contact was recently informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

NHTSA ODI 11676035

Vehicle Make/Model/Year: Ford Fusion, 20XX (replace with your year) Component Affected: Suspension – lower control arm bushing or mount Summary of the problem: I am reporting a recurring and well-known issue with the lower control arm bushings on Ford Fusion models from 2013 and newer. In my case, the bushing wore prematurely, causing a clunking or cranking noise when turning, especially at low speeds. The bushing or bolt appears to shift even when torqued properly. This problem has been acknowledged by many other owners as well. Safety risk: This affects the vehicle’s handling and stability. It can cause loose steering, misalignment, premature tire wear, and could result in suspension failure while driving. This poses a real safety concern, especially during cornering or evasive maneuvers. Repair history: This issue is so common that owners often have to replace the bushings or the full control arm multiple times. Even after replacement, the problem can come back, suggesting a design flaw. Community evidence: There are many online complaints and forum threads about the same issue in Ford Fusions from 2013–2020. This appears to be a widespread defect that has not been formally acknowledged by the manufacturer. Request for action: I’m asking NHTSA to investigate this recurring suspension issue and determine if a safety recall is warranted. This is a design defect that affects vehicle safety and should be addressed by Ford.

NHTSA ODI 11675220

Tire Pressure Monitor System Warning Action Now Issue Since 09-22-2024 The tire pressure monitoring system has detected one or more tires are significantly under-inflated. Suggested Actions: Check the tire pressure to ensure the tires are properly inflated. WARNING: The tire pressure monitoring system is NOT a substitute for manually checking tire pressure. The tire pressure should be checked periodically (at least monthly) using a tire gauge. See Inflating Your Tires in the Wheels and Tires chapter of your Owner's Guide. Failure to properly maintain your tire pressure could increase the risk of tire failure, loss of control, vehicle rollover and personal injury.

NHTSA ODI 11674798

The ball joint broke off while driving and the car only has 44,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11673586