2020 Ford Fusion Problems

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 of warning before resulting in complete transmission failure.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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)

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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.

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.

Speed sensor radar on right front tire sending alerts to car all at once — Antilock Brake Fault, Pre Collision Assist not available, Hill start assist. Steering wheel gets heavy randomly. And brakes start slipping. This is a safety hazard I have a baby. My car is only 5 years old problems like this shouldn’t be happening. Ford checked it and said it’s a speed sensor but would cost $450 that’s not a fair deal. And those sensors shouldn’t show all at once randomly. I barely drive my car. I have 57,000 miles on it. Happens randomly.

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.

Vehicle Make/Model/Year: Ford Fusion, 20XX (replace with your year) Component Affected: Suspension – lower control arm bushing or mount Summary of the problem: I am reporting a recurring and well-known issue with the lower control arm bushings on Ford Fusion models from 2013 and newer. In my case, the bushing wore prematurely, causing a clunking or cranking noise when turning, especially at low speeds. The bushing or bolt appears to shift even when torqued properly. This problem has been acknowledged by many other owners as well. Safety risk: This affects the vehicle’s handling and stability. It can cause loose steering, misalignment, premature tire wear, and could result in suspension failure while driving. This poses a real safety concern, especially during cornering or evasive maneuvers. Repair history: This issue is so common that owners often have to replace the bushings or the full control arm multiple times. Even after replacement, the problem can come back, suggesting a design flaw. Community evidence: There are many online complaints and forum threads about the same issue in Ford Fusions from 2013–2020. This appears to be a widespread defect that has not been formally acknowledged by the manufacturer. Request for action: I’m asking NHTSA to investigate this recurring suspension issue and determine if a safety recall is warranted. This is a design defect that affects vehicle safety and should be addressed by Ford.

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)

On hot days the Forward Collision will show as unavailable, but there is no notification saying when it will be available again. This is dangerous in that a safety feature on the vehicle is unavailable when it is hot outside and has been sitting in the sun. Outer door panel skins are becoming unattached from the door frame, which could cause an issue if the skin fails elsewhere that it would be totally unattached to the door frame and fall off when driving. The rear package tray trim (carpeted trim piece behind the rear seats covering the speakers) disintegrates when it is touched due to it being exposed to the sun. Discovered when attempting to clean inside of my rear window. This has caused black particulate to be scattered throughout the vehicles interior. They are small enough that you could be breathing them in as the debris has been found all over the dashboard, seats, infotainment console, and trim all around the car. This is a health hazard due to breathing in fabric/carpet particulate that can irritate the lungs. Link to forum of other people having the same issue: https://www.fordfusionforum.com/index.php?app=forums&module=forums&controller=topic&id=20981#comments

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.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while making a turn in either left or right direction, the Traction Control warning light had displayed, and the vehicle had reduced speed independently. During failure, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a mailbox. During the crash, no injuries were reported. No police report was filed and the vehicle was driven home. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 81,000.

The contact owned a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the contact briefly lost control of the vehicle. As a result, he collided with the center guard rail on the drivers side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy, which he held responsible for his resulting injuries. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility and deemed a total lost by the contacts insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact was transported to an area hospital by EMT and treated for neck pain, back pain, and leg paralysis in both legs. The contact stated that the leg paralysis lasted for 3 days, after which a walker was required for several months. In addition, the contact mentioned being unconsion on the scene when paramedics arrived. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 67,343.

As I was crossing an intersection, a vehicle ran through a red light and hit the front of my vehicle. There was significant damage to the whole front end and my vehicle was shifted to the left due to the impact. My air bags did not deploy. I injured my head and neck by striking the sun visor which cause a laceration and a cervical strain. My vehicle has been maintained well and there was no indication of air bag malfunction prior to the crash. Insurance adjuster has not inspected the vehicle yet.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, with an abnormally loud vibration coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that either the flywheel or the flex plate was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced Customer Satisfaction Program: 22N12 as the possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the gear was shifted, and the vehicle reverted to park. The vehicle was restarted approximately five to ten times on all but one occasion, and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable bushing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,200.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the car wash, water entered through the closed sunroof. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the sunroof drain needed to be cleaned. The sunroof drain was cleaned, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V260000 (Visibility); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and instructed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer to have the sunroof replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the hood latch was no longer functioning and the hood was not able to be raised. The contact stated that he had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was unable to repair the failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's side low beam headlight failed to illuminate as needed. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the front passenger's side low beam headlight assembly wiring harness was burnt, and there was light smoke coming from the wiring harness. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the low beam headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 53,000.

The locking mechanism that keeps the seat belt safely locked into place is malfunctioning. I have to ensure the belt is firmly in place and will not tug out of the lock before going anywhere. The seatbelt will not lock in place properly.