The Lemon Index2020 Ford Fusion.
The 2020 Ford Fusion is better than average by owner complaints: 84 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 73, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 23 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 2020 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 234 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fusion year. 2020 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 30K to 96K miles on the car (66 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 49K–103K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 45K–117K miles
Recalls 3
- equipment 2025
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
- back over prevention 2025
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
- electrical 2023
The battery energy control module (BECM) may become damaged due to excessive voltage and current flow.
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 98 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- SSM 48659 - 2019-2020 Fusion/MKZ - Cooling Fans Inoperative Due To Open Fuses F59, F60 And F63…
- Rattle noise
- Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2020-2022 Escape, 2021-2022 Corsair, 2022 Maverick…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
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 $1550–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Battery drains very quickly and needs to be jump-started repeatedly, which has risks to safety and equipment. This is a fleet vehicle.
2020 Ford Fusion owner · NHTSA complaint 11395770
More owner reports
(Fleet Vehicle) Car was dead; had to jump start; battery replaced under warranty
NHTSA complaint 11453743
Car has the same 6f35 transmission issues as previous years and nothing is being done about it my car has 63k on it with a dead transmission because of the flexplate issue from previous years
NHTSA complaint 11554094
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Ford Fusion reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 73; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fusion year by this measure since 2010 is 2018.
What are the most common 2020 Ford Fusion problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (43%), transmission & drivetrain (21%) and automatic emergency braking (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Fusion have?
3 safety recalls (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Ford Fusion get?
23 to 42 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 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 2020 Ford Fusion problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,000 and 96,800 miles. The middle report was at 67,000 miles, from 66 complaints.
Does the 2020 Ford Fusion have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 21% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 Ford Fusion cost in fuel a year?
About $1550 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Ford Fusion have?
1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Ford Fusion year is better than the 2020?
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