2020 Ford Fusion Electrical Problems

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!

NHTSA ID

11730018

Incident

Mar 28, 2026

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 specific recall. I am now left with a charred, unusable vehicle. I demand a full investigation into the failure of the recall remedy process and manufacturer liability for these life-threatening damages. ( Form fields about my location are place holders. Contact me in [XXX] (Country) at [XXX] / [XXX] ]. I hope you do don't ignore our lives due to geography. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11725471

Incident

Dec 4, 2025

I keep getting SHIFT SYS FAULT error. My car will not move out of P (park). I towed my car to repair shop on 2/11/2026 - 02/13/2026 the mechanic told me he replaced the bushing kit and the gear dial. Less than a week later on 02/26/2026 I got the same error and was able to drive my car to Village Ford Dealership (my car is still there) I was told on Monday that the technicians thought they fixed the issue but the same thing happen and now they are unable to get the car out of P (park) and that the technicians would have contact FORD HOTLINE because the repairs are not working. The issue was once recalled on older Ford fusions but according to google 2020 fusions have reported the same issue.

NHTSA ID

11720342

Incident

Feb 11, 2026

"The incident occurred immediately after shifting the vehicle into reverse and starting to move. The engine suddenly shut down with a 'System Performance' alert, and cooling fans engaged at maximum speed. Moments later, a thermal runaway event began in the high-voltage Li-ion battery pack, leading to a catastrophic fire. This is directly related to Recall 23V440 / 23S33 (BECM failure). The fire was extinguished by the local fire department in Telavi, Georgia (Country)."

NHTSA ID

11717716

Incident

Dec 4, 2025

COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE I HAVE HAD THIS SENSOR THAT MAKES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON 3 SEPARATE TIMES! THIS NEEDS TO BE RE CALLED I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME CONCERN

NHTSA ID

11717438

Incident

Dec 28, 2024

I don't know what failed, but my vehicle spontaneously combusted this morning in front of my apartment.and is a total loss. Fire Marshal's [XXX] ) Case# XX-XXX. The fire also destroyed the vehicle sittling next to it. We are lucky the building didn't catch on fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11711625

Incident

Jan 17, 2026

I am the second owner on my Ford fusion 2020 SE all-wheel-drive I got the car at 21,000 I had warranty since I had the warranty. I've been going for this power training code and having them check my car out all the time they always say there's nothing wrong with it. It's just the code is being erased so by the time my warranty went out all these problems are coming up and now they could find those problems I've been inquiring about

NHTSA ID

11709990

Incident

Jun 10, 2023

When these problems started it was only 6 months after purchase and I was already having issues with power train malfunctions and it didnt want to switch gears. I purchased this at roughly 47,000 miles and it didnt make it to 70,000 miles before I ultimately decided it was not the safe vehicle that was advertised to my family and I. It was taken to the dealership over 3 times in under a year and for some reason the problem never got resolved. I have been sued for the remaining balance now despite that toward the end of my time owning it the vehicle was reving out with barely any pressure on the gas pedal, having issues braking on its own (anti-collision assist), and occasionally the steering wheel would jerk me in to oncoming traffic. I am just trying to get a recall issued at this point because this car is going to kill someone if it stays on the road.

NHTSA ID

11705924

Incident

Jan 19, 2025

2020 Ford Fusion SE- Transmission problems. Only 98,000 miles on the car and have had issues with this transmission after a year of having it. Transmission fluid was good but there is a small leak, slipping gears, winding, and gear auto shifting back to park. No combustion or power until it hits 60 mph. Has been checked by mechanics. No lights on dash at all!

NHTSA ID

11698498

Incident

Oct 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V440000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do 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. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11680697

Incident

Aug 14, 2025

RANDOMLY 'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC', 'PRE-COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE', LANE ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE', POWER ASSIST STEERING NOT AVAILABLE', HILL ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE', WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR. WHEN THEY DO I COMPLETELY LOSE POWER STEERING. WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. MOST THE TIME I CAN TURN OFF AND RESTART THE CAR AND IT GOES AWAY. HOWEVER, NOW IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND HAS STARTED LOSING COMPLETE POWER OF THE CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I ALMOST DIED ON THE INTERSTATE. FORD DEALERSHIPS ONLY RECOMMENDATION WAS A NEW CIRCUIT BOARD THAT WAS LIKE $5K, MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING COMMON WITH THE FORD FUSIONS, THATS WHY THEY WERE QUIT BEING MADE. I RESEARCHED AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE, BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE???!!???

NHTSA ID

11675920

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

since day number one this vehicle has had an issue of maintaining a charge even when you drive it regularly , if you don't start it the next day it needs a jump , agew days after purchase a new battery was installed and the problem persisted , this vehicle has the same issues as the other 2020 Ford Fusion models that have been recalled?? But unfortunately under the VIN there has been no recall when this vehicle suffers from the same issues the ones that have been recalled suffer from Just add it like the others please . The incident has happened every day since 2020 If you miss a day starting it the next day it needs a jump even in warm weather , and it's been driven .,Just doesn't hold a charge I assume , needs a jump There's a record on the Ford app of the numerous jumps for rhe vehicle

NHTSA ID

11669622

Incident

Jun 27, 2025

I purchased a used 2020 Ford Fusion from Carmax n 2023 with about 56,800 miles. A week later was involved in a nor side impact accident on the back end driver side, insurance paid for a dinted door and there was no other issues with the vehicle according to SONS ford. In 2024 I was on the highway (going about 80 mph) when my engine light came on, no more than 3 minutes later all the lights in my car flickered and i lost power to my entire car almost causing me my life, roadside assistance and a mechanic who had thankfully pulled over explained that my alternator completely shredded my belt. I paid for both my alternator and belt to be replaced But most recently (2025) I continued to whirring and knocking noises for 3 days (no warning lights) , I took it to firestone who stated I needed a motor repair so I got it towed to the dealership. A Ford certified mechanic stated my Flex Plate was cracked and it begin breaking off and how I needed a new starter as well leaving the car inoperable. They confirmed this was very uncommon due to the car age and the miles on it (80,000 mi) I’ve also reviewed the complaints on NHTSA and it looks like a lot of 2020 ford fusions are having these issues but yet no recall.

NHTSA ID

11664928

Incident

May 2, 2025

Component or system that failed: Flex plate, engine electrical system, and alternator (possible related failures). The issue has been diagnosed by a licensed mechanic and is available for inspection upon request. Incident Description: On April 15, 2025, while driving my 2020 Ford Fusion SE 1.5L Turbo, the vehicle suddenly experienced a total power failure. The check engine light began flashing, and the battery light blinked rapidly. Within seconds, the engine shut down completely while I was mid-drive in traffic, leaving me stuck and unable to move for over 20 seconds. This was a terrifying and dangerous situation that nearly put my life at risk. I was eventually able to restart the vehicle, but it began shaking and rumbling violently — worse than ever before. This issue was never present before my car was involved in two separate collisions, where both other drivers were found 100% at fault. The vehicle was repaired at Fix Auto Santee (a USAA-assigned body shop), but they failed to inspect internal components. A licensed mechanic at J&L Auto Care later confirmed a broken flex plate and advised it was unsafe to drive. This problem has not been addressed or fixed by the responsible insurers (USAA and AAA) or the body shop. It has progressively worsened and now created a life-threatening situation. Warning lamps or symptoms before failure: A rattling and vibrating noise began immediately after I picked up the car from the body shop in March 2025. No lights were initially present. The electrical and engine lights only appeared on April 15 when the engine shut down mid-drive. Inspected by: •Independent service center (J&L Auto Care, diagnosed flex plate failure) •USAA and AAA were informed but refused to cover or further inspect the damage •Fix Auto Santee heard the issue but refused to inspect, citing body-only service Problem available for inspection: Yes — vehicle is currently undrivable and available for full inspection.

NHTSA ID

11654887

Incident

Apr 15, 2025

I have had 2 transmissions within the last year, making this the third Transmission on my vehicle. I had to have another common issue with the car replaced, which is a purge valve. My ABS light goes off often causing difficulty to steer the car and warning lights are activated showing that the safety features are not available. Lastly, there is a crack in the engine block caused by coolant in the spark plug due to overheating. This engine issue is one with the engines that Ford is aware of but I do NOT see a recall. The engine is blown due to this design and the warranties do NOT cover it. Case number [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11649219

Incident

Mar 10, 2025

My vehicle was in service with my dealer for several months 3 separate occasions for powertrain issues which werent resolved and now the alignment in my steering wheel is really off. My spouse and I believe the PCM is messed up but have had no progress with our dealership and suspect them of committing consumer fraud and selling us a lemon. The vehicle in question is around 70,000 and started messing up at 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11641230

Incident

Feb 6, 2025

The alternator was producing too many volts, which would short circuit the battery and electrical components in the car. This would cause the car to lose power and not be able to accelerate. My car would randomly lose power on the highway, with no warning, resulting in my car suddenly slowing down. This was dangerous for the cars around me who are going 60+ and then my car quickly drops to 40 or less mph. In addition, to solve the issue I would have to pull off onto a shoulder to shut the car off and back on. This issue started around 3-4 yrs ago and has gotten worse as time passed. The problem was identified and resolved by Firestone when they ran a diagnostic. No check engine light was on in the car to alert me of any issues. I replaced both parts on the car.

NHTSA ID

11632218

Incident

Dec 23, 2024

The entire media display gets stuck off or will freeze up, when I place the vehicle in reverse the rear camera comes on but parking assist, the rear sensors and cross traffic sensors won't work. Once I place the car in drive the display will either stay all blue or shut completely off. I cannot adjust the climate control, use GPS, or use the media. I have to shut the car off and then after about 10 minutes there is a bunch of clicking noise under the dash and after it stops clicking I can restart the car, the display will sometimes begin to work and if it dossent then I have to shut off the car again and go through the motions again. It has started to be more and more frequently, at first it was maybe once a week and now it is happening at every start.

NHTSA ID

11585519

Incident

Apr 26, 2024

APIM is faulty per the ford dealer ship. (Rusty Eck Ford) They state that it is a known issue but there has not been a recall. This affects the SYNC, navigation, instrument panel, connectivity to ford connect app, etc. In order for some things to be used temporarily, it has to be hard reset on the console. Nothing leading up to the issue.

NHTSA ID

11549347

Incident

May 5, 2023

At first the check engine light was on and the car would not start. The dash would display all the lights and at one point it turned off while driving luckily I was going 20-30mph. Took it to the dealership and they said an Intake Valve had to be replaced and it was covered by the warranty. Next the engine light was on and a MAP censor had to be replaced which wasn’t covered. Once again the engine light and service light came on and the code is saying the same censor needs to be replaced. Each time it has effected how the car drives and is dangerous especially on the interstate because it will not go over 20mph. When the car is in reverse it will shake and turn off displaying auto start stop issue and place the car in park. It will then turn off. It is hit or miss on when the check engine light and maintenance light will come on and each time the symptoms are the same. No one has provided a solution. This has been on going for almost a year.

NHTSA ID

11546929

Incident

Sep 27, 2023

the first time the incident happened I was driving home from work, i took and a turn and lost power, the car indicated a message that read " Auto StartStop Shift to P, then restart Engine. I tried starting my car a few times and it turned on. A week later I was driving on the highway and it happend. I pulled over and same thing. I took it to a Ford dealership and they couldn't replicate the problem.

NHTSA ID

11540585

Incident

Aug 15, 2023

Issues with Ford Sync Infotainment system have been occurring for over a year now, with the latest being on May 25th. Backup camera stays on when in drive, and then turns to a blue or black screen that says contact dealer. GPS will fail randomly and will show my vehicle driving off roads and not following the route I am driving. A/C will randomly stop working and show a Fan Speed of 0 no matter how many times you try to increase the fan speed, then once you are able to adjust the fan speed after restarting the car it will only blow very hot air at any temperature setting except in Max A/C. Which even in Max A/C the air coming out is not very cold. The backup camera staying on is dangerous you are not able to control any other functions of your vehicle because the vehicle believes its still in reverse, and at night when the screen is bright blue it impairs visibility. The GPS failure does not allow for proper navigation when traveling. The A/C issue is dangerous during the summer time when you are unable to cool your vehicle with passengers, especially young children from the over 100F temperatures you can experience during the summer. The dealership has seen the A/C issue, and I have videos of the backup camera and GPS issues. Dealership has inspected the vehicle and has been unable to diagnose the issue. They have reset and updated the software, but issues are still intermittent. Multiple calls with Ford and they are unable to provide additional assistance without there being any fault codes or the issue being present. When the A/C issue was present at the dealership, they were unable to diagnose the issue and Ford did not respond back to customer service inquiries to know who at Ford to contact for additional support. No warning signs about the issues. Will just happen randomly at times with no advance warning of anything happening. Most of the time the issues happen after starting the vehicle, but A/C and GPS issues have occurred during middle of a drive.

NHTSA ID

11530920

Incident

May 25, 2023

According to dealership, the 12-volt, 7 year battery passes all testing and has a "Good" (best) rating (battery is only 3 years old). Diagnostics reveal batter at 80%. When battery falls below 85% (such as frequently happens in cold weather), the computer program shuts down several features including remote car starting. Electrical programming must be changed to when a battery falls below 50%...when a car battery should be changed out. Please recall these vehicles and require Ford Motor Company to reprogram the electronic system. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11505193

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

If the car is parked in directly sunlight and I start the car a "Front camera temporarily unavailable" message will appear. It happens more when the outside temperature is warmer.

NHTSA ID

11499117

Incident

Jun 17, 2022

Water is leaking into the trunk of our vehicle through the tail light assembly and soaking all the electrical wiring in the base of the trunk. The wheel well is becoming flooded with water. All the wiring going in and out of the trunk is soaking wet. If you Google this issue. Other Ford Fusion owners with older model vehicles and the same tail light assembly are having the exact same issue where water is coming into the trunk from the tail light assembly. This is clearly a design flaw and with water coming inside and covering the electrical system I want to believe this is major safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11494404

Incident

Sep 30, 2022