2020 Ford Fusion problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
51% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Ford Fusion are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Ford Fusion have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 115 of 234 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Fusion concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%), and the largest group is filed under power train (67). For comparison, the 2019 scores 60%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. 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.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Ford Fusion
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Ford Fusion said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 115 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 2020 Ford Fusion?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Ford Fusion involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
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 2020 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.
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Does the 2020 Ford Fusion have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 115 of 234 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Fusion concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Ford Fusion?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Ford Fusion involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 25V685000 (equipment: electrical: engine block heater). 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 2020 (51%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2020 Ford Fusion?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Ford Fusion has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental 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.