Ford Fusion Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 3,928 of the 21,422 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2020 Ford Fusion (18.3%) name the engine, near the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2010, 2016 and 2017.
Engine complaints
3,928
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2020 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
18.3%
of 21,422 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Ford Fusion engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 39 | 2.9% | 3 | — | 21 |
| 2009 | 37 | 3.6% | 5 | — | 21 |
| 2010WORST | 793 | 15.5% | 10 | — | 27 |
| 2011 | 290 | 10.4% | 4 | — | 33 |
| 2012 | 124 | 4.7% | 6 | — | 26 |
| 2013 | 462 | 23.6% | 86 | 17V20900012V551000 | 49 |
| 2014 | 244 | 17% | 4 | 17V209000 | 55 |
| 2015 | 320 | 30% | 2 | — | 54 |
| 2016WORST | 557 | 31.9% | 8 | — | 55 |
| 2017WORST | 506 | 42.7% | 7 | — | 95 |
| 2018 | 281 | 55.8% | 0 | — | 44 |
| 2019 | 215 | 51.9% | 2 | 25V685000 | 41 |
| 2020 | 60 | 30.9% | 0 | 25V685000 | 5 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Ford Fusion engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 3,928 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Ford Fusion years to avoid for the engine
2010 Ford Fusion
793 engine complaints (15.5% of the year's 5,130). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving.
2016 Ford Fusion
557 engine complaints (31.9% of the year's 1,744). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss.
2017 Ford Fusion
506 engine complaints (42.7% of the year's 1,185). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Ford Fusion years to avoid.
Ford Fusion engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Ford Fusion model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 25V685000 · 2025-10-10 · 2019–2020 models
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
- 17V209000 · 2017-03-27 · 2013–2014 models
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
- 12V551000 · 2012-12-03 · 2013 models
Coolant system leaks may cause the engines to overheat and leak flammable engine fluids.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2010 Ford Fusion have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 793 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2010 Ford Fusion, 15.5% of all 5,130 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (293 complaints). 10 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2016 Ford Fusion have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 557 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Fusion, 31.9% of all 1,744 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (372 complaints). 8 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2017 Ford Fusion have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 506 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Fusion, 42.7% of all 1,185 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (369 complaints). 7 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Ford Fusion years have the most engine complaints?
2010 (793), 2016 (557) and 2017 (506), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Ford Fusion engine problems?
In the 3,928 engine complaints, owners most often describe overheating or coolant loss (42.4%), misfire or check-engine light (38.1%) and stalling or shutting off while driving (23.1%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Ford Fusion model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration