2017 Ford Fusion
Common Problems
Ranked from 413 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
20 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Dead battery issue
276complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe battery frequently discharges or fails to start the car after being parked for extended periods.
$150–$700est. parasitic-drain diagnosis + battery · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Transmission Shifting Issues
51complaintsHigh severityTransmissionGear shifter malfunctions leading to shifting failures and stuck gears.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 17V427000
- 3
Engine Misfire
50complaintsHigh severityEngineEngine misfires due to various issues including coolant intrusion and spark plug failures.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Transmission shift cable issues
47complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission shift cable can break or become jammed, causing the car to get stuck in a gear or not change gears properly.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 17V427000
- 5
Coolant Intrusion into Cylinders
39complaintsHigh severityEngineCoolant leaks into the cylinders causing engine misfires, overheating, and potential engine failure.
- 6
Engine Overheating
13complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine overheats due to coolant intrusion or other cooling system failures, leading to check engine light and potential engine failure.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Engine Overheating and Power Loss
8complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine overheats and loses power due to coolant intrusion, leading to engine misfire and potential engine failure.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Engine Overheating and White Smoke Emission
8complaintsHigh severityEngineEngine overheats and emits white smoke due to coolant intrusion, potentially leading to engine failure and fire risk.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Engine Stall During Operation
8complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine stalls during operation, often accompanied by check engine light and misfires.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Check Engine Light Issues
5complaintsLow severityOtherCheck engine light illuminates for various reasons, indicating potential underlying issues with the engine or other systems.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Engine Overheating Due to Coolant Intrusion
5complaintsHigh severityEngineCoolant intrusion into the engine leads to overheating and potential engine block cracking.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Shifter Cable Bushing Failure
5complaintsMedium severitySteeringShifter cable bushing fails, causing the shifter to become loose or detached, leading to shifting issues.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V167000
- 13
Engine Block Cracking Due to Coolant Intrusion
4complaintsHigh severityEngineCoolant intrusion into the engine block leads to cracking and potential engine failure.
- 14
Backup Camera Malfunction
3complaintsLow severityElectricalThe backup camera malfunctions, displaying errors or becoming unavailable, posing a safety risk when reversing.
$250–$800est. backup camera replacement · 1–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 15
Battery Failure
3complaintsLow severityElectricalBattery fails to charge properly and shows dead cell warnings, leading to unexpected shutdowns.
- 16
Brake Pedal Failure to Respond
2complaintsHigh severityBrakesBrake pedal fails to respond, leading to loss of vehicle control and potential accidents.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 23V162000
- 17
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Misfire
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine misfires, causing the vehicle to stall at idle.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 18
Shift System Error and Gear Shifter Malfunction
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe shift system errors and gear shifter malfunctions, causing difficulty in shifting gears.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V167000
- 19
Shift System Failure
2complaintsLow severityOtherShift system fails, preventing vehicle from moving and requiring repair.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 20
Torque Converter Failure
2complaintsMedium severityFuel systemTorque converter clutch fails, causing transmission issues and engine misfires.
$1,500–$3,000est. torque converter replacement · 6–10 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.