2017 Ford Fusion Powertrain (other) Problems

I was driving my 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum on my way home and the wrench light came on and said check manual when i looked in my app the only thing that was in the maintenance was my 90k maintenance . my car is driving fine no RPM jumping no smoking no burning smell no shaking nothing ( the wrench light was off when i cranked it to take my daughter to work Saturday morning ) well Saturday on my way home from bring my daughter to work my check engine light came on still my car is driving fine when i looked in my Ford App at the check engine light warning which was these two warnings The transmission control system has detected the transmission torque converter clutch is not operating as expected. Additional alerts that may provide additional information may accompany this alert .A reduction in vehicle fuel economy may also occur when the fault is present. The transmission control module has detected that the torque converter clutch failed to apply. This system failsafe logic disables the torque converter clutch when this condition is present. This results in a higher than normal engine RPM's during higher vehicle cruising speeds and reduced fuel economy. now my car is still driving fine. i took it to auto zone to put the computer on it and it read this code P0741 which gives this Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off, which indicates that the vehicle's computer commanded the torque converter clutch to lock up, but it is failing to do so. i took it to our ford dealer ship and he stated oh yes you need a whole new transmission which is 7200$ do you want to pay now .... Im shocked that my car would need a new transmission... i have seen recalls for Torque Converter for the fusion .. but my vin is not showing this recall is there anyone else experiencing this

NHTSA ID

11766215

Incident

Sep 19, 2026

Orange wrench light came on dash with see manual ( symbol represents powertrain malfunction). Car lost power and started jerky shifting between second and third gear. We limped the car home and parked until we could get an appointment at the dealership for service. Took it to dealership. They found the powertrain maintenance light wasn't on and no current or historical codes present. Dealership road tested vehicle and verified delayed harsh shifting between 2-3 gears with no codes present. Dealership states most likely has an internal failure starting in the forward, direct or intermediate clutch. Transmission would have to be torn down to diagnose cause. They recommend replacing the transmission as being more cost effective. Transmission has approximately 145000 miles (engine was replaced under 36000 miles due to head gasket failure- replace under warranty as manufuring defect found at a scheduled oil change) so odometer only shows 117000 miles. This car was purchased new and we purchased the extended warranty and service package. It has been consistently serviced on schedule by the dealership.

NHTSA ID

11764843

Incident

Sep 5, 2026

The transmission shifter cable bushing on my 2017 Ford Fusion has failed and completely disconnected from the transmission housing on two separate occasions.When this happens, the gear shifter inside the cabin operates freely, but the transmission fails to engage the selected gear. The vehicle shows it is in "Park" on the dash, but the actual transmission remains stuck in Drive or Reverse. This creates an immediate and severe rollaway risk and unintended vehicle movement, as the vehicle cannot be safely secured. Ford previously issued Safety Recall 22S43 for millions of 2013–2016 Fusions for this exact identical defect (degraded Hytrel 4556 shifter bushings). Despite utilizing the same design and experiencing identical, dangerous failures, the 2017 model year was excluded. The NHTSA needs to investigate and force Ford to expand Recall 22S43 to include the 2017 model year before an injury occurs.

NHTSA ID

11764762

Incident

Aug 11, 2026

2017 Ford Fusion. Transmission replaced February 2026 at 98,175 miles by independent repair facility. Check engine light illuminated immediately following replacement and has remained on continuously since. Autozone scan showed emissions-related code only. On August 28, 2026 at approximately 120,064 miles, orange wrench light and "See Manual" message appeared moments after hot restart. Acceleration became heavy and hesitant. Drove approximately 70 miles home via I-15; heavy traffic required engine shutdown at multiple stops. Following morning, wrench light was no longer illuminated but hesitation persisted. Using manual paddle shift to select 5th gear improved drivability. Replacement transmission accumulated approximately 22,000 miles over 6 months. Ford Motor Company has issued multiple recalls for 2013-2016 model year Fusions involving identical transmission, shifter cable bushing, and torque converter defects, but 2017 model year vehicles with identical 6F35 transmissions and failure symptoms have been excluded from all campaigns. No crash, fire, or injury occurred.

NHTSA ID

11760693

Incident

Aug 28, 2026

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

NHTSA ID

11759124

Incident

Aug 23, 2026

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 miles, the vehicle developed a coolant leak. A pressure test confirmed the water pump was leaking and it was replaced. At approximately 84,189 miles, the vehicle experienced white/gray exhaust smoke, coolant loss, very low oil, and rough-running symptoms. The servicing Ford dealership referenced Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2322 in connection with the diagnosis and ultimately replaced the engine short block. Despite this major engine repair, the problems continued. The vehicle subsequently experienced additional smoking, hesitation and loss of power and required replacement of the turbocharger. The vehicle was returned again because it continued to smoke and required additional repairs. I am concerned this is a recurring engine defect rather than normal wear and tear. The repeated engine/coolant failures, smoking, hesitation and loss of power create a serious safety concern because the vehicle may unexpectedly lose power or experience engine failure while being driven. Ford has been notified of the repeated failures but declined further relief based primarily on the vehicle's current age, mileage and expired warranty. This ignores that the problems began years earlier at substantially lower mileage and that major repairs failed to permanently correct the condition. I request that NHTSA investigate whether the 1.5L EcoBoost engine in this and similarly equipped Ford vehicles has a safety-related defect involving coolant intrusion, engine failure and loss of power. The vehicle is currently at approximately 101,000 miles, but the documented problems began at 55,940 miles and continued despite major repairs.

NHTSA ID

11756818

Incident

Feb 20, 2023

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 18S20) for 2017 Ford Fusions regarding a degraded transmission shifter cable bushing. This defect can cause the shifter cable to detach. Consequently, the car may roll away unexpectedly because the transmission isn't actually in Park, even though the shifter says it is.Recall DetailsThe Problem: The underhood shift cable bushing can degrade and fail over time.The Remedy: Ford dealers will replace the transmission shifter cable bushing and add a protective cap over it free of charge (parts and labor). It my VIN# was not coming up as a recall and this is an ongoing issue for this car and I would like to get this resolved as soon as possible with ford recall please thank you

NHTSA ID

11752546

Incident

Jun 18, 2026

On 7/8/2026, the vehicle became undriveable. Placing the vehicle in reverse on the shidfter dial using registered a conflicting direction on the dashboard indicator. The vehicle was towed to a dealership and the repair consisted of replacing the shift cable bushing. This was the same fix required in recalls 18S20 & 22V413. On 7/9/2026 the issue was verified by a Ford dealership tech. I was advised that the protective cap is now contained in the repair kit with the shift cable bushing. A brief fleeting warning on the screen indicated a "Shift Fault - See Manual" or words to that effect. The manual only seemed to reference a "Steering Fault" Ford HQ was notified - Reference No: CXH-08533100

NHTSA ID

11749428

Incident

Jul 8, 2026

Upon starting my car, the check engine light illuminated. Took my car to my mechanic and they confirmed an engine issue. Also stated the Ford 2.0 Liter engine has a high failure rate. My 2017 Ford Fusion SE (2.0 L Turbo Engine – VIN # [XXX]) with only 82,300 miles, which was purchased new, that has developed a water intrusion issue as identified in the Ford TSB 19-2346. After two separate requests Ford has stated it is out of warranty and will not provide and assistance in repairs, however based upon numerous reports this is caused by a design flaw. Previous recalls on the 1.6 L engine confirm the issue is across this engine family. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11744002

Incident

Feb 6, 2026

While pulling into my parking garage at work I put my 2017 Ford Fusion into park to open the door and scan my card. When I tried to shift out of park the gear shifter indicated a shifting fault that required service. The car was towed to a Ford Service Center where the problem as diagnosed to be the shift control linkage, specifically the shift cable bushing. I have come to understand that this part has had issues in the 2013-2016 Ford Fusion models resulting in a recall. This issue appears to also be in the 2017 Ford Fusion as the results of the fault are identical to those of the 2013-2016 models. The component has been diagnosed by a certified ford service center. There were no warning lamps or prior indicators of this issue. Warning lamps only turned on after the issues occured.

NHTSA ID

11739535

Incident

May 19, 2026

The rotary gear shift knob occasionally gets stuck and refuses to rotate back to Reverse (R). This intermittent failure has occurred 3 times within this month. The dashboard does not show any warning lights or error codes during the incident. This is a severe safety hazard as it could leave the vehicle stranded in traffic or unable to back away from danger. Took the vehicle to the Ford dealership(Citrus Motors Ford) for inspection, but they returned it as "Could Not Duplicate" because no active diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) were stored. However, the physical shifting malfunction remains an active threat.

NHTSA ID

11739517

Incident

May 21, 2026

I was driving and the car just stopped it wouldn't let me put in park or drive it just stayed in neutral. And I was stuck it kept the the emergency break on. Then it wouldn't turn off all the way which caused the car to drain battery.

NHTSA ID

11737001

Incident

May 10, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the rear end of the vehicle unexpectedly locked up. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle became inoperable and was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V102000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11733558

Incident

Apr 24, 2026

Mileage

80,000 mi

The bushing on transmission cable to transmission is missing. We cause shift lever not to work, not being able to put transmission in gear or out of gear. Same problem as earlier ford fusions with automatic transmissions

NHTSA ID

11722809

Incident

Feb 17, 2026

I pulled in and got gas. I put the car in drive but it wouldn't stay in drive, it went back to park. So I had it towed.there were no warning before this happened!no it wasn't inspected. No it has been reproduced. I was stuck in an parking lot. The bushing for the shifter cable was missing. U would have to contact the dealership for the parts.

NHTSA ID

11721019

Incident

Feb 26, 2026

Wrench light came on my car while driving 30mph, then the engine light. Had it diagnosed & I am told my car that went to the shop with code p0741 needs a NEW transmission!! 54, 618 miles only. Fix is $6800.00. I was told not to drive the car as it could seize up.

NHTSA ID

11705988

Incident

Oct 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after shifting to drive(D), the vehicle erroneously rolled backwards up a slight incline. The failure had occurred on several occasions. Additionally, while driving down a hill and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes malfunctioned, the vehicle failed to stop, and drove through a 4-Way intersection and drove approximately a half mile before stopping. During the failure, the message "Transmission not in Park" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11705282

Incident

Oct 16, 2025

Mileage

160,000 mi

Technical Safety Bulletin 19-2346; coolant infiltrating cylinder #2. Quoted $8350 for long block repair.

NHTSA ID

11697426

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

The Transmission in the Ford Fusion 1.5 L engine just stop working. The car will go and then the transmission would just stop working. The you could turn the car off and it would drive again and stop working again. It took me turning the car off about 12 times to get it home. This was just a test drive after my daughter had it towed home after being stranded. This is a safety issue for not only young girls being stranded, but everybody being stranded without any warning! Ford knows there is an issue, hopefully the Ford Executives are warning their love ones not to buy a Ford Fusion Model that has this issue.

NHTSA ID

11694091

Incident

Oct 12, 2025

2 separate dealerships made me pay to replace faulty tires when the new ones blew out within less than a month of purchase. They also pocketed the mail in rebates I was promised for buying new sets of tires from their locations. I started taking my car to an independent garage for regular maintenance. My traction control light has been on since shortly after I bought the car in 2018 but I never imagined I'd be spending my entire savings on repairs immediately after the useless warranty expired. First it was a cracked flex plate which I'm lucky happened when I was driving on a side road as opposed to the interstate. I was going roughly 55mph when I lost my ability to steer, accelerate, or even cut power to the ignition. My car has been towed 4 times with total cost of almost 10K and it still isn't fixed. I reported everything to Ford they don't stand by anything Ford manufactures. I'll probably be living in this piece of trash soon enough as that savings I just wasted was a down payment for a house

NHTSA ID

11692641

Incident

Jul 13, 2025

In 5/2025 I had the transmission light come on my dashboard, then it went away. 2 days later I could not shift my car into drive only reverse or neutral. When I popped the hood the Shifter cable was detached and the bushing was in pieces. I purchased the ford OEM parts and replaced it. Today 10/8/25 The light appaired on my dash again. When I got home I popped the hood and the bushing was in pieces. Luckily I had purchased 2 replacement parts in May. I replaced it and it seems to be working. But I should not have to replace them this often. Today 10/8/25 I am purchasing 2 more just in case. But can we get this fixed with something more sturdy.

NHTSA ID

11692215

Incident

May 13, 2025

BUSHING FOR SHIFTER BUSTED, PERVIOUS RECALLS ON 2013-2016 MODELS, NUMEROUS REPORTS KNOWN FOR THIS HAPPENING ON 2017-2019 MODELS AS WELL. CURRENTLY HAVING VEHICLE BUSHING REPAIR AFTER CAR BEING IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A WEEK AFTER HAVING FRONT LINE BRAKE HOSES REPLACED AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11691816

Incident

Sep 30, 2025

Vehicle purchased used at Simmons & Rockwell on [XXX] Mileage 16,323. Mileage 38,559 First Engine Failure & replaced "NEW" July 2019, *** indications & doc of 2nd engine failure about 70k mileage) Mileage 121,163 Second Engine Failure & replaced "NEW" August 2022 and finally Mileage 189,323 with Third Engine Failure Sept 2025 This vehicle had regularly interval oil changes. ALWAYS Serviced & maintenaced regularly INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11691457

Incident

Sep 29, 2025

While changing my car from park to drive my vehicle got Stuck in reverse and wouldn’t come out even after turning car off which usually force vehicle to go into park. This was most likely due to the shifting cable bushing no longer being there and possibly disintegrating. Due to left over residue in the general area. I saw this was a recall for fords from I believe 2013/2014 up 2016 for the same issue. I go online and their are a couple of pages claiming this has happened to them as week or to check it to make sure it’s still on.

NHTSA ID

11688698

Incident

Sep 14, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11687392

Incident

May 28, 2025