2020 Ford Fusion

Routine

Owners filed 180 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

56 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles; the median is 71,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train47
100
Engine37
000
Electrical System25
010
Unknown or Other16
111
Steering6
200
Service Brakes6
200
Fuel/Propulsion System6
000
Structure › Body5
011
Engine and Engine Cooling5
000
Suspension4
100

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Electrical › Engine Block Heater25V685000
Filed Oct 10, 202559,006 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Risk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

Back Over Prevention › Software25V442000
Filed Jun 27, 2025200,237 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

Risk. A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery › Management System/Energy Control Module (bms/Becm)23V440000
Filed Jun 23, 202314,452 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Fusion PHEV vehicles. The battery energy control module (BECM) may become damaged due to excessive voltage and current flow.

Risk. A damaged BECM can result in a loss of drive power or fire, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will replace the battery and update the BECM software for free, or Ford will repurchase the vehicle. If your vehicle is currently operating normally, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the fuse block and a software update as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). As an alternative remedy, Ford is offering a vehicle refund. Please see Ford's owner notification letter or contact Ford for full details. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S33.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Sep 17, 2026IN

Coolant Intrusion. Started with thick white exhaust when starting up in morning. Turned into acceleration lags, car shutting engine off when parked, and exhaust smell coming inside of car. 2014-2019 models have a recall for cracked engine block allowing cooling to leak inside, but 2020 models do not although there is an increased problem with this year and model of car.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 16, 2026NJ

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V440000 (Electrical System); however, the part to complete 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.

Engine
Filed Aug 15, 2026MI

COMPONENT THAT FAILED: The engine cooling fan on my 2020 Ford Fusion SEL (1.5L, non-hybrid) became inoperable and blew three fuses. With the fans not operating, the engine overheated, destroying the head gasket and engine, requiring complete replacement. Failure occurred 07/08/2026 at 49,118 miles. WARNING SYMPTOMS: The A/C began blowing warm air roughly 2 days earlier. The engine temperature lamp illuminated on 07/08/2026 — the first and only time it ever came on. No prior overheating, no coolant loss, no leaks, no other alert. I stopped driving immediately on that single warning and had the vehicle towed. SAFETY RISK: A cooling fan failure progressing to engine destruction risks overheating, loss of motive power, and stalling in traffic or at highway speed. I stopped safely; a driver getting this same lone warning on a freeway would face a serious hazard with no notice. The vehicle's protections did not prevent a low-cost part from destroying the powertrain, and the sole warning came immediately before catastrophic damage. CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTERS: Yes. A certified technician at a licensed independent shop found the cooling fan assembly inoperable and identified it as the cause of both the A/C failure and the temperature warning, noting these vehicles are known to fail head gaskets this way. A second licensed engine shop documented the sequence: the electric cooling fan failed, which blew three fuses, causing an overheat condition that caused engine failure.

Steering
Filed Jul 31, 2026AL

I was backing out of my drive way when a shift system fault message appeared on my dashboard. When I went to change gears the rotary dial locked up and shifted to park. My safety as well as other people’s safety was put at risk because my car stopped in the middle of the street with little warning. My problem was confirmed by an independent service center with a obd scanner.

Engine
Filed Jul 12, 2026AZ

While driving at 75mph on the freeway, my 2020 Ford Fusion suffered a sudden, catastrophic EcoBoost engine coolant failure. The vehicle instantly lost power and dropped to 35mph in active traffic, creating an extreme highway collision hazard. A mechanic has confirmed internal coolant intrusion in the engine block.

Power Train
Filed Jul 7, 2026FL

A failed transmission cooling line caused the transmission fluid to leak. At no point did the vehicle display a check engine light, transmission warning, or any other indication that there was a problem. According to the Ford dealership, the transmission fluid had been leaking for some time. Because the transmission pan is wrapped in a fabric-like insulating material, the leaking fluid was absorbed rather than dripping onto the ground, making the leak virtually impossible for an owner to detect during normal use. The dealership also advised that this condition could have created a potential fire hazard within the engine compartment. The vehicle has only approximately 40,000 miles, making this type of catastrophic transmission failure especially concerning for a relatively low-mileage vehicle. The first and only symptom occurred when I started the vehicle one day. It hesitated, struggled to shift out of first gear, and drove abnormally. I immediately drove it to the Ford dealership, where it was diagnosed with a complete transmission failure. The vehicle is currently at the dealership, and I have been presented with an estimated repair cost of approximately $12,000. My primary concern is that there was absolutely no warning before this major failure. No warning lights, no diagnostic alerts, and no indication that a significant transmission fluid leak or internal transmission damage was occurring. A safety-critical failure of this magnitude should provide drivers with some form

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 6, 202687,127 milesCO

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine stalled. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into cylinders 3 and 4. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,127.

Lane Departure › Blind Spot Detection
Filed May 29, 2026NC

I’ve learned a while ago that the vehicle doesn’t have a working horn, I’ve replaced the fuse at least five times and it’s still not working. Yes the car was sold to me this way. Also I’ve been getting this warning to my ford app: “The Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)/Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) has detected a fault and may not function. What Should I Do? If either BLIND SPOT NOT AVAILABLE/SENSOR BLOCKED SEE MANUAL or CROSS TRAFFIC NOT AVAILABLE/SENSOR BLOCKED SEE MANUAL is in the information display, the system may not function. Check the exterior vehicle sensors for damage or debris covering them (see Owner's Manual for sensor locations). If the problem persists, please have the system checked by an authorized dealer.” For the last month my car has become hard to drive as if there’s a power steering issue.

Power Train
Filed May 4, 2026TX

I have had this car for 6 years and the transmission has gone out on top of the purge valve, I have seen many people have the same issues with this model and year of this car. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED. I also see that there is a lawsuit against this issue with the transmission model 6F35

SteeringCrash
Filed Apr 30, 2026NJ

The front left lower control arm (driver's side) snapped off (broke) while turning a corner. There was no reason for the breakage other than turning. It was repaired through insurance. The driver's safety as well as the safety of pedestrians were put at risk because the breakage forced the car to turn sharply to the left. Because of this, the vehicle struck a utility pole. The pole had very little damage, but damage was done to the car. The policeman at the scene inspected the damage, as well as the insurance adjuster in the days following the accident. No warning lights or messages were displayed before the control arm broke. If this had happened at hi-way speeds, it is likely that the resulting loss of control would have resulted in a multi-vehicle accident, resulting in fatalities.

Power Train
Filed Apr 24, 2026FL

2020 Ford Fusion 1.5L EcoBoost engine completely failed. Ford dealership diagnosed need for complete engine and turbo replacement at $13,475. Believed to be related to known EcoBoost coolant intrusion defect.

Engine
Filed Apr 22, 2026FL

Coolant problems and cylinder damage on engine due to coolant intrusion. Ford has not issued a recall on this well known problem and issue on ALL Ford Fusion Models. Several complaints have been made by many Ford Fusion owners for putting drivers and vehicle owners at risk of driving unsafe vehicles and poor driving conditions.

SuspensionCrash
Filed Apr 19, 2026NJ

While turning into a parking lot the lower control arm snapped (broke in half, approximately). The picture I sent is of a front lower control arm, however it is not a picture of the actual control arm that broke. After it broke, the car was forced into a sharp left turn, resulting in the car crashing into a telephone pole. The pole was not damaged but there was damage to the car.

Power Train
Filed Apr 9, 2026150,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon rolling to a stop, the vehicle started shuddering while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the message "Transmission Not in Park" was displayed. The gear shifter then unexpectedly shifted to several positions independently. The contact discovered a YouTube video that assisted with correcting the issue. The contact used a screwdriver to manually shift the gear shifter back to park(P). The contact was forced to maneuver the shifter back and forth until the gear shifter engaged and resumed normal operation. The contact stated while his wife was driving the vehicle on one occasion, the failure recurred, and the driver was forced to tow the vehicle to a local dealer. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) and associated the failure with the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 8, 2026MI

I don't know if this qualifies as an immediate safety issue, however, if the vehicle is stopped and placed into park on a busy freeway, or in traffic in any way, then this absolutely is a safety issue after the fact because the vehicle cannot be moved due to not being able to get it into gear. This involves the shift linkage component and not being able to get the car out of park and into any other gear. It's already an active recall but it's VIN specific and my VIN was not included. It really needs to be though. It should be all Fusions at this point. I drive a 2020 Ford Fusion and the shift linkage bushing broke. Initially I got the "shift system error" message back in January and could not get my car into gear. It would just bounce right back into park. I had to call a tow truck but eventually the driver was able to somehow reset the system using the hidden reset button in the center console. It was enough to keep me running for a couple of months. However, two weeks ago it happened again and the reset option was no longer working. The car was towed to my dealership and they replaced the "missing" bushing and I was charged $511.00 for the repairs. Considering how widespread this issue this seems to be, I would like to see a full model-specific recall issued for these Fusions and possibly reimbursement for the costs I was subjected to due to the issue. I can provide the service receipts from the dealership showing that it was replaced and the total cost. Thank you!

Power Train
Filed Mar 26, 2026MI

Automatic transmission failed No warning No smells no shaking no jerking no light on dash board until it went out that's when it jerk and still no check engine light just a wrench that popped up once

Engine
Filed Mar 23, 2026MO

HEAD GASKET FAILING, common problem in car. Broke down in the middle of busy Main Street and started smoking out of exhaust pipes. It has been confirmed by my service center that they now have 3 ford fusions, including mine, that they are replacing a head gasket on right now. They were no warning signs, it happened out of nowhere.

Structure › BodyFire1 injured
Filed Mar 19, 2026DE

I am reporting a life-threatening incident involving my 2020 Ford Fusion PHEV. On December 5, 2025, while my wife was driving on a public street, the vehicle suffered a sudden, complete engine failure followed by smoke and fire originating from the high-voltage battery pack in the trunk. There were no prior warning signs or dashboard alerts before the incident. This vehicle was sold via IAAI auction in September 2023 without disclosing the active, critical safety recall (NHTSA 23V440 / Ford 23S33) issued in June 2023. This non-disclosure placed my family in extreme danger. When the fire started, my wife was in a state of panic. I arrived at the scene before emergency services. Being a technician, I performed a high-risk manual extraction of the burning battery pack to prevent the entire vehicle and the surrounding residential area from a potential explosion. I risked electrocution and toxic chemical exposure to save lives. The damaged battery pack is currently preserved and available for professional inspection upon request. As a result of the fire and exposure to extinguisher chemicals, I suffered respiratory distress and asthma-like symptoms for several days. I have contacted Ford Motor Company through official channels and documented all interactions. Ford representatives stated that they 'only assist customers in the United States' and local representatives in [XXX] have officially refused to provide the remedy, stating they are not authorized or equipped for this specifi

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 17, 2026LA

Purge solenoid unplugged, several times for years, which causes the vehicle not to start up after getting fuel. Check engine light come on often due to this. When I bring vehicle to Mecanic shop they plug it right back. P0443 evap purge control valve “a” circuit

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 9, 2026OH

Shifter Cable broke in multiple vehicles of the same year make and model in our fleet of vehicles within a short amount of time. Car would not change gears properly. Issue confirmed and fixed by a local mechanic shop. No warning messages or other symptoms prior to failure.

20 of 180 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2010
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2020 — this page180330Routine
2019314300Above average
2018438210Above average
20171,109480Above average
20161,6201360High concern
20159931350Above average
20141,3301990High concern
20131,79019901Fatalities reported
20122,514693Do not drive
20112,7859101Do not drive
20105,1271391Do not drive
20091,022750Do not drive
20081,353660Do not drive
20071,064551Do not drive
2006730540Do not drive

Compare every Fusion year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 10, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.