general problems of the 2017 Ford Fusion - part 1

404 problems related to engine and engine cooling have been reported for the 2017 Ford Fusion. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2017 Ford Fusion based on all problems reported for the 2017 Fusion.

1 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 09/26/2025

Coolant intrusion and requires short block replacement.

2 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 08/30/2025

Shift cable came off the transmission shifter bushing.

3 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 08/29/2025

Coolant leak into the cylinders. Replaced the first engine for the same issue, this is the second engine.

4 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 08/25/2025

The engine has suffered a complete failure due to a known defect in the 1. 5l ecoboost. This issue was already repaired once under Ford customer satisfaction program 19b37/21n12 (engine short block replacement) on 10/12/2020 at stilwell Ford, before I owned the vehicle. Less than 5 years later, the exact same defect has occurred again. Details of failure: •vehicle began running rough with loss of power and abnormal engine noise. •a compression test performed by my repair shop shows: cylinder 4 = 0 psi compression, with cylinder wall scoring and oil intrusion. •shop diagnosis: engine requires complete replacement (~$7,000 repair). •symptoms are identical to the coolant intrusion / cylinder failure defect covered by Ford’s prior csp. •this is the second time this defect has occurred on the same vehicle. Safety risk: •vehicle misfires and shakes violently, making it unsafe to drive. •sudden loss of power and potential stalling in traffic pose a serious risk of crash. •drivers are given no warning before engine failure occurs. Manufacturer response: •Ford acknowledges this defect under csp 19b37/21n12 but refuses further coverage since it was “already repaired” once. •as a second owner, I never received notice of the defect. •the fact that the failure recurred shows Ford’s repair program did not fully resolve the defect. Request: I am reporting this as a repeat safety defect. The failure has occurred again after Ford’s supposed remedy. Nhtsa should investigate whether Ford’s csp repairs adequately resolve the defect, and whether additional recalls or coverage extensions are warranted.

5 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/31/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the contact heard a slushing-type sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact also stated that the vehicle stalled, and would also violently shake, and the vehicle overheated with the check engine and powertrain warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136, 000.

6 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/28/2025

Vehicle is experiencing coolant intrusion from a crack in the engine block which is a known issue by Ford for my particular vehicle year (2017). Ford has issued a TSB/recall for model years 2017-2019, but when I contacted Ford, I was told my car is not eligible/included in the recall because of the plant that the vehicle was manufactured at. I believe this issue should qualify for manufacturer recall as this is known issue.

7 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/24/2025

My engine experienced coolant intrusion into cylinder #2, which caused misfiring and engine failure. This has been a known issue with this year model, but since I am just outside of the warranty mileage (69k) and my VIN doesn't have any recalls, I have been advised to purchase a replacement engine. I simply cannot afford to replace an engine in a car I am still paying a loan for. For this to be a known issue and not be recalled is a serious safety concern and has caused me to lose confidence in the manufacturer. I am currently trying to see what a shop near me would charge to replace it but I am not sure that I can afford the repair costs. I shouldn't be expected to need to replace an engine when the year model has known issues and I have taken care of any and all maintenance on the car to keep it running well. I expected to have this car for many more years, especially with the low mileage and how well I've cared for it.

8 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/20/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and it was determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the engine was out of warranty. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 110,000.

9 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/18/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe on cold starts and while driving at various speeds. The check engine warning light and the low coolant warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinders through a cracked engine block. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that it was known failure and referred the contact to a dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000.

10 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/17/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

11 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/17/2025

Engine is experiencing the all too common coolant intrusion.

12 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/16/2025

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. A week later check engine light comes back on and would not start properly. Vehicle taken to independent mechanic and was told transmission fluid was low and also old. Vehicle taken to Ford dealership where service was done month prior. Ford dealership said cylinder misfire, coolant intrusion, and engine failure. Also transmission fluid was found to be low. Ford recommended new engine.

13 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/16/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine and the service vehicle soon warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.

14 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/14/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was coolant inside the cylinders and advised the contact that the engine long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle did not qualify for an extended warranty coverage related to the failure. The failure mileage was 55,700.

15 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/11/2025

The contact's husband owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact used a vehicle code reader and scanner tool to scan the vehicle and retrieved a diagnostic trouble code indicating a misfire in engine cylinder #2. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where, the coil pack and plug wire were replaced; however, the failure recurred days later. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in engine cylinder #2. The mechanic informed the contact that the failure was related to Ford TSB number:19-2346. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 78,850.

16 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/11/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact heard a loud clanging sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the head gasket and short block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,791.

17 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 07/10/2025

The vehicle's engine is experiencing coolant intrusion. As such, when starting the car, white and sweet-smelling exhaust exits the exhaust pipe. Furthermore, the coolant reservoir continually runs low; however, we find no coolant on the driveway or apparently leaking from the car. That supports the mechanics assessment of a coolant intrusion. This issue, if left unaddressed, will cause the engine to run improperly, the spark plugs to become fouled, the engine to overheat, etc. I took the vehicle to a local certified mechanic. Although after looking at Ford's service bulletin, it became apparent that the vehicle is experiencing a similar issue to other 2017 models that were included in the recall. The mechanic listened to what we said and pulled up supporting documentation in the form of a technical service bulletin. The check engine light just came up, within the past couple of days, well after the coolant intrusion was started. The disrepair seems to be a matter of timing. The subject has been driven quickly and cautiously.

18 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/24/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jolted and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a coolant intrusion and a blown head gasket. The mechanic related the failure to the customer satisfaction program: 21n12. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

19 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/23/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine experienced a rough start and idling, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine was faulty due to coolant intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

20 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/16/2025

While driving the car, the engine indicator kept blinking then the car kept shaking. The Ford service did inspection and found that there has been a coolant leak to engine oil which caused engine failure due to cylinder break.

21 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/11/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that there was coolant leaking into the engine and there was smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that the engine was overheating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a pressure test was performed and determined that the engine was not maintaining the proper engine pressure, and coolant was entering the cylinder walls. The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed there was no recall coverage for the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

22 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/10/2025

Engine is losing coolant into the cylinders which causes car to overheat. When this happens car shakes and runs rough. When this occurs while driving down the road, thick white smoke comes from the exhaust blinding the cars behind us. If car dies, you lose power steering and brakes become very difficult to push. We had a repair shop check it out and coolant is leaking on top of the piston and exiting through the exhaust. The engine light comes on just before car begins to act up. According to our mechanic, it appears the engine block has a design flaw and Ford has issued a technical service bulletin explaining the problem. Attached a picture of when it just begins to smoke. After a few seconds it fills the entire shop.

23 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/10/2025

Check engine light came on at around 80,000 miles after 30 min drive. Next day would not start. Jumped it and drove to autozone. Autozones check engine reader stated spark plugs. Drove it to local Ford dealership where test came back the third cylinder misfiring because coolant is low and leaking into the engine. Quick google search states many 2013-2018 Fusions have a recall for this issue however my specific VIN is not included. Dealership never mentioned other Fusions being recalled for this. Could have started an engine fire or lost control.

24 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/10/2025

What malfunctioned- car did not give any notice that it was in engine failure for months other than under performing and upon taking it to the Ford dealership was never helped with the problem they took money for an oil change and works package but failed to make sure my car was safe. My car was a safety hazard bc it gave zero warning that it was loosing power and when the engine did fail I knew something had been wrong for almost a year and felt it went ignored by Ford and was taken advantage of. The product has been confirmed by multiple mechanics that what causes it is the hose cracks and thus the engine coolant wrecks a working engine. Ford knows it’s a problem but isn’t acknowledging it and makes more money off of parts.

25 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/09/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to start and was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 130,000.

26 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 06/04/2025

Coolant leak in the 3# cylinder mechanic said I need a new engine.

27 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/28/2025

When turned on airconditioner car shuddered engine light came on started blowing white smoke alot and blow buy engine oil in crank case.

28 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/22/2025

Check engine light came on took to dealer 2017 Ford Fusion 2. 0 engine. Tech said code p0304 showed on the pcm. Did a scope on cylinder found coolant leaking cylinder said he referred to tsb22-2229 and it showed replace long block that was may 22 2025. Price for parts and labor$7923. 77. 82 years old fixed income can not afford. Car still sitting in my driveway. Ford gave me a case # but said car was to old to do anything about it.

29 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/22/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and occupied, and attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse and reversing out of the driveway, the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the deale,r where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into cylinder #4. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 47,183.

30 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/21/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power with a misfire coming from the engine. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the next day, when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a misfire coming from the spark plugs. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The contact stated that while driving to the residence, the temperature gauge went to hot. The contact checked the coolant reservoir and became aware that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant. The following morning the vehicle was started, and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

31 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/15/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle started sputtering with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

32 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/12/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the engine became overheated with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact's son drove the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed to be engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 83,595.

33 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 05/08/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

34 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 04/30/2025

The contact’s daughter owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal amount of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while starting, with the message "coolant level low" displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced coolant intrusion and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

35 Engine And Engine Cooling problem

Failure Date: 04/28/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and went into limp mode. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 102,900.



Fusion Service Bulletins
Fusion Safety Recalls
Fusion Defect Investigations