The Lemon Index2017 Ford Fusion.
The 2017 Ford Fusion is worse than average by owner complaints: 285 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 119, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 20 to 42 mpg combined. The best Ford Fusion year is 2008.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2013–2020 Ford Fusion, 20.9M views. The 2017 is the same generation.
- Gauges, lights & wiring1.6M views
Ford Fusion Headlight bulb replacement 2013-2020 *UPGRADE* // HOW TOThe Driver Mod · 877K views · 5 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical1.1M views
2013-2020 Ford Fusion 4" to 8" Sync 3 Touchscreen Upgrade - Infotainment.comInfotainment · 269K views · 6 videos - Transmission & shifter669K views
2015 Ford Escape or Ford Fusion Shifter ProblemArkland Farm · 212K views · 5 videos - Brakes & ABS617K views
How To Put A Ford Fusion's Electronic Park Brake Into Service Mode (2013-2018)How to Automotive · 235K views · 4 videos
Show 2 more
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors238K views
How To Reset The 2007-2019 Ford Fusion TPMS Light Low Tire Pressure SensorVehicle Freak · 156K views · 2 videos - Steering & suspension82K views
How to Replace Front Lower Control Arms 2013-2020 Ford Fusion 2.0L I4TRQ · 82K views
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Ford Fusion Sedan 2013-2020 2nd Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 232K views
Ford Fusion (2013-2020): A Complete Reliability GuideThe Long Last Expert · 160K views
What You Should Know before Buying 2015 Ford Fusion "Common Problems"Flat Rate Mechanic · 82K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 1,200 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fusion year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 40K to 96K miles on the car (662 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 53K–99K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 60K–101K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 7K–60K miles
Recalls 4
- brakes 2023
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
- steering 2018
The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
- transmission & drivetrain 2017
On vehicles with 2.0L gas engines and six-speed automatic transmissions, the torque converter weld studs may have been inadequately welded.
Show all 4 recalls
- seats 2016
The left rear seat backs pivot pins may have been improperly welded.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 259 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some 2015-2017 edge/mkx, escape/mkc, fusion/mkz and explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.0l or…
- Illuminated mil with dtc p0071
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedFront brake jounce hose failures2022–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fusion 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Fusion 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Fusion Energi 4 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1550–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
We bought this vehicle brand new and we had this problem since day one at deliver, the vehicle had more batteries than days in my driveway.
2017 Ford Fusion owner · NHTSA complaint 11042193
More owner reports
The electric Charger that plugs into the 120v wall outlet is over heating on every charge. Started happening within the last month.
NHTSA complaint 11328717
Battery discharges when car is parked for more than a day. This has happened regularly since the vehicle was new.
NHTSA complaint 11044542
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Ford Fusion reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 119; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fusion year by this measure since 2010 is 2018.
What are the most common 2017 Ford Fusion problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (30%), transmission & drivetrain (25%) and engine (24%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Ford Fusion have?
4 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Ford Fusion get?
20 to 42 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Ford Fusion safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 Ford Fusion problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 40,000 and 96,200 miles. The middle report was at 70,000 miles, from 662 complaints.
Does the 2017 Ford Fusion have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 25% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 Ford Fusion cost in fuel a year?
About $1550 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Ford Fusion have?
1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
What Ford Fusion year is better than the 2017?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works