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2017 Ford Fusion problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
71%
812 of 1,146 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

71% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Ford Fusion are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 50 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 68%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Ford Fusion have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 812 of 1,146 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Fusion concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (71%), and the largest group is filed under engine (404). For comparison, the 2016 scores 54% and the 2018 scores 77%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
812
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
1,196
this model year
Fires reported
10
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
45 crashes · 38 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE404 · 34%
POWER TRAIN334 · 28%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM146 · 12%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING133 · 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER119 · 10%
SERVICE BRAKES112 · 9%

The years either side

2010
38%
1,709 of 5,129
2011
23%
573 of 2,786
2012
14%
301 of 2,616
2013
46%
817 of 1,956
2014
39%
504 of 1,429
2015
48%
473 of 1,061
2016
54%
878 of 1,709
2017
71%
812 of 1,196
2018
77%
377 of 507
2019
60%
275 of 470
2020
51%
115 of 234
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Ford Fusion

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN04/06/2022CRASH2 INJURED
My 2017 for fusion stopped changing gears and when trying to change gears it sounded awful and was very rough. Sheehy Ford said it was the torque converter and found numerous office issues with in the transmission. Repairs were $5k. Thank goodness for Ford customer support( my awesome rep Kiara) who provided financia…

One of 812 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Ford Fusion?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Ford Fusion involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: automatic transmission: torque converter17V427000 · Jul 2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Edge and Fusion vehicles. On vehicles with 2.0L gas engines and six-speed automatic transmissions, the torque converter weld studs may have been inadequately welded.

Risk: If the torque converter weld studs fail, the torque converter will not be connected to the engine flexplate and the vehicle will lose the ability to move, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford or Lincoln will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque converters, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings23V162000 · Mar 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
steering: steering wheel/handle bar18V167000 · Mar 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
seats: mid/rear assembly16V874000 · Dec 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 27, 2016, to September 28, 2016. The left rear seat backs pivot pins may have been improperly welded.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Ford Fusion? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2017 Ford Fusion

Does the 2017 Ford Fusion have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 812 of 1,146 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Fusion concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (71%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Ford Fusion?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Ford Fusion involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 17V427000 (power train: automatic transmission: torque converter). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Ford Fusion years are better?

Among the Ford Fusion years we track, the 2012 (14%), the 2011 (23%) and the 2010 (38%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (71%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Ford Fusion?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Ford Fusion has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.