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Total NHTSA Complaints
1119
Owner filings recorded
#1 Reported Problem
Engine & Cooling
478 reports (42.7%)
Crash Incident Reports
38
Filings citing a crash
Fire & Injury Reports
33
9 fire • 24 injury filings
Defect Investigation Analysis

Executive Problem Findings

AutoUtility currently tracks 1119 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2017 Ford Fusion. Engine & Cooling issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 478 complaints (42.7% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 38 filings cite a crash, 9 cite a fire, 24 report one or more injuries.

Methodology Notice: Consumer complaints are unverified voluntary submissions to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Filings are not normalized for sales volume or vehicle mileage and do not constitute an audited component failure rate.
Incident & Severity Profile
  • • Total Owner Reports: 1119 complaints submitted under federal penalty.
  • • Primary Subsystem: Engine & Cooling accounts for 42.7% of submissions (478 reports).
  • • Secondary Systems: Powertrain & Transmission (311), Electrical System (132).
  • • Crash Incidents: 38 filings cite an impact or collision.
  • • Thermal Incidents: 9 filings cite smoke or fire.
  • • Reported Casualties: 24 injury filings • 0 fatality filings.
Category Distribution

Reported Defect Categories for 2017 Ford Fusion

Factual proportion of owner complaints categorized by automotive subsystem in NHTSA records

Engine & Cooling
478
42.7%
Powertrain & Transmission
311
27.8%
Electrical System
132
11.8%
Brakes & Traction Control
113
10.1%
Steering System
53
4.7%
#1 42.7% SHARE

Engine & Cooling

478 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

🔥 5 Fire 🩹 1 Injury
#2 27.8% SHARE

Powertrain & Transmission

311 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 5 Crash 🔥 1 Fire 🩹 6 Injury
⚠️ 1 Associated Recall Campaign
#3 11.8% SHARE

Electrical System

132 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 3 Crash 🔥 1 Fire 🩹 1 Injury
#4 10.1% SHARE

Brakes & Traction Control

113 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 12 Crash 🔥 1 Fire 🩹 7 Injury
⚠️ 1 Associated Recall Campaign
Deterministic Text Analysis

Recurring Symptoms Identified in Owner Reports

Specific mechanical, electrical, and driver-assist defect symptoms identified via deterministic narrative analysis

Engine & Cooling 19.8%

Engine Coolant Intrusion / Oil Leak

222 complaint narratives describe this symptom.

NHTSA Narrative Match
Powertrain & Transmission 3.8%

Loss of Motive Power While Driving

43 complaint narratives describe this symptom.

NHTSA Narrative Match
Engine & Cooling 2.4%

Engine Overheating / Temperature Warning

27 complaint narratives describe this symptom.

NHTSA Narrative Match
Engine & Cooling 0.8%

Engine Stalling / Sudden Shutdown

9 complaint narratives describe this symptom.

NHTSA Narrative Match
Brakes & Traction Control 0.7%

Reduced Braking / Brake Pedal to Floor

8 complaint narratives describe this symptom.

NHTSA Narrative Match
Federal Oversight

Official NHTSA Defect Investigations (2)

Formal engineering analyses and preliminary evaluations opened by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

ODI Action #DP22005 CLOSED Defect Petition (DP)
Opened: 2023-01-27 • Closed: 2023-08-07
Subject / Subsystem
Pedestrian alert sounds
Affected Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
Recall Linkage
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
ODI Action #RQ22004 CLOSED Recall Query (RQ)
Opened: 2022-08-08 • Closed: 2023-03-24
Subject / Subsystem
Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures
Affected Component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Recall Linkage
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 50 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging front brake jounce hose ruptures on model year (MY) 2013-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A ruptured front brake hose results in a brake fluid leak. As a result, the driver may experience an increase in pedal travel and a reduction in the rate of deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash. It should be noted that the subject vehicles identified fell outside the scope of NHTSA Safety Recall 20V-469, which addressed front brake hoses rupturing on certain MY 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The result causes a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needing to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.On March 10, 2023, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted to NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-162 (Ford Recall 23S12) to address front brake jounce hoses that may rupture. Ford found the rupture occurs from a localized failure of the internal reinforcement braid due to cyclic fatigue through tensile/bending and torsional inputs during suspension and steering articulations. The supplier for the front brake jounce hoses is Hitachi. This recall affects the subject vehicles equipped with non-hybrid engines and the suspect front brake jounce hoses (a total of 1,280,726 vehicles). The recall covers subject vehicles built from February 3, 2012 to July 19, 2017 when the suspect hoses were used in vehicle production. The remedy is for dealerships to replace both front brake jounce hoses with new hoses that have a revised braid material at no cost. The vehicles equipped with hybrid engines are excluded from the recall because the internal hose pressure is much lower due to the regenerative braking provided by the hybrid brake system. No failures of brake hoses on hybrid vehicles have been reported to ODI or Ford.Ford's actions address ODIs concerns at this time. Hybrid vehicles will be monitored for related failures. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by new circumstances.The 103 ODI numbers cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ID numbers:11511014, 11510867, 11510318, 11509030, 11505993, 11504989, 11504400, 11502147, 11502082, 11501820, 11501283, 11498439, 11498296, 11496842, 11496335, 11494931, 11494851, 11494252, 11493001, 11492084, 11492070, 11491444, 11491274, 11488858, 11488027, 11487627, 11487416, 11487233, 11486150, 11484924, 11484526, 11484080, 11483948, 11483926, 11483739, 11483723, 11482773, 11482690, 11481077, 11480788, 11480294, 11480052, 11479338, 11479334, 11479252, 11479247, 11479187, 11479094, 11479048, 11478985, 11478953, 11478729, 11478216, 11476892, 11476282, 11470558, 11468994, 11467109, 11466294, 11462746, 11461217, 11456065, 11455367, 11444848, 11436419, 11436376, 11430685, 11428329, 11425083, 11421026, 11420738, 11420735, 11420298, 11418197, 11403926, 11397549, 11366991, 11366757, 11361016, 11359968, 11354569, 11352165, 11350344, 11348799, 11343929, 11343205, 11331947, 11329020, 11319596, 11310529, 11292271, 11288455, 11254787, 11253479, 11253244, 11234622, 11230669, 11230050, 11228240, 11221111, 11143630, 11129392 and 11120228.
Consumer Filings

Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2017 Ford Fusion

Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Powertrain & Transmission ODI #11759124
Filed: 08/24/2026
Defect Report

"Flexplate cracked 5 months ago, and now it has cracked again. This is due to troqeu converting failure and faulty transmission mounts."

Fuel & Propulsion System ODI #11757803
Filed: 08/18/2026
Defect Report

"If i do not run my car for atleast 10 minutes before driving, my gas tank will start making a loud horn sound, and when this happens and i go to slow down, the car will shut off. Mechanics say there’s an issue with the purge valve and the charcoal filter. I’ve already had this issue fixed three..."

Powertrain & Transmission ODI #11756818
Filed: 08/13/2026
Defect Report

"I am reporting a serious recurring safety concern involving a 2017 Ford Fusion SE with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle was purchased used in August 2022 with approximately 50,000 miles. Within months, significant coolant and engine problems began. In February 2023, at approximately 55,940..."

Powertrain & Transmission ODI #11752546
Filed: 07/23/2026
Defect Report

"I was coming home from work and when I tried to shift the gear from drive to park it was stuck on drive and Neutral I contacted the car dealer and they said ford has had this issue that it was a recall on it so I researched and found out that Ford issued major safety recalls (Recall 22S43 and..."

Engine & Cooling ODI #11752388
Filed: 07/23/2026
Defect Report

"See attached document for complaint."

Multi-Year Trend

Complaint History for Ford Fusion

Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2015–2020)

Model Year NHTSA Complaints Crash Reports Safety Recalls Detailed Report
2015 Ford Fusion 1059 39 14 View 2015 Problems →
2016 Ford Fusion 1685 60 13 View 2016 Problems →
2017 Ford Fusion Current Page 1119 38 4 Current
2018 Ford Fusion 443 10 2 View 2018 Problems →
2019 Ford Fusion 428 5 4 View 2019 Problems →
2020 Ford Fusion 229 11 3 View 2020 Problems →
Exhaustive System Audit

Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2017 Ford Fusion

Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 113 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications

Vehicle Component / System Total Complaints Crash Reports Fire Reports Injury Entries Fatality Entries
Engine NHTSA category: ENGINE 280 0 3 0 0
Powertrain NHTSA category: POWER TRAIN 229 1 0 2 0
Engine & Cooling NHTSA category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 99 0 2 0 0
Electrical System NHTSA category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 61 1 1 0 0
Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER 51 3 1 3 0
Steering NHTSA category: STEERING 42 3 0 1 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 41 3 0 2 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES 27 4 1 3 0
Air Bags NHTSA category: AIR BAGS 23 8 0 8 0
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE 22 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 21 0 0 1 0
Wheels & Hubs NHTSA category: WHEELS 19 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 6 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 0 0 0 0
Seat Belts NHTSA category: SEAT BELTS 6 1 0 1 0
Fuel & Propulsion System NHTSA category: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES 5 1 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 5 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 4 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 1 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 4 0 0 0 0
Visibility & Wipers NHTSA category: VISIBILITY/WIPER 4 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER 3 0 0 0 0
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 3 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 0 1 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN 3 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 3 0 0 0 0
Structure & Body NHTSA category: STRUCTURE 3 0 0 1 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 1 0 1 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 0 0 0 0
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN 2 0 0 0 0
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
Doors, Latches & Locks NHTSA category: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 1 0 2 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
Visibility / Glass NHTSA category: VISIBILITY 2 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 1 1 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SEATS 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
Seats & Restraints NHTSA category: SEATS 1 1 0 2 0
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS 1 1 0 1 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 1 0 1 0
STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS 1 1 0 1 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 1 0 0 0
STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,WHEELS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 1 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 1 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA category: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 1 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 0 0
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Common Problems & Reliability Questions for the 2017 Ford Fusion

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2017 Ford Fusion

What are the most common reported problems with the 2017 Ford Fusion?

In official NHTSA consumer records, the most frequently cited issue area for the 2017 Ford Fusion is Engine & Cooling, appearing in 478 records (42.7% of submitted filings).

Secondary reported categories include Powertrain & Transmission (311) and Electrical System (132).

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Is the 2017 Ford Fusion a reliable vehicle?

AutoUtility does not issue subjective reliability scores or commercial ratings. In official United States government records, NHTSA tracks 1,119 consumer defect complaints and 4 safety recall campaigns for the 2017 Ford Fusion.

Reviewing documented component complaint distributions, recall remedy notices, and active federal investigations provides an objective, evidence-based view of the vehicle's historical safety and defect record.

Source: NHTSA ODI & Safety Recalls Databases

Are there crash, fire, or injury reports associated with the 2017 Ford Fusion?

Among consumer complaint records on file with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Fusion, 38 filings cite a crash, 9 cite smoke or fire, and 24 report one or more injuries.

Incident entries represent consumer descriptions at the time of submission to federal authorities and do not establish mechanical causation or legal liability.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Consumer Logs

Has NHTSA formally investigated defects on the 2017 Ford Fusion?

NHTSA ODI records list 2 formal defect investigations involving the 2017 Ford Fusion (all closed).

Federal defect investigations are formal engineering evaluations opened when safety defect trends emerge, and do not by themselves establish a confirmed defect or mandatory recall.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Registry
Official US Government Data Provenance

The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database under 49 CFR Part 576.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.