Your vehicle report
2020 Ford Fusion
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 185
- Received Jun 2020 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion28 complaints · 15% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips14 complaints · 7.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Transmission fails or loses power while driving9 complaints · 4.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #25V685000Ford 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.
- Recall #25V442000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slipsFirst signal: Feb 2023
- Transmission fails or loses power while drivingFirst signal: Jun 2025
- Gear shifter fails to register ParkFirst signal: Oct 2026
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 10 crashes, 3 fires, 5 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 17 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 32 |
| 2025 | 56 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 37 |
| Total | 185 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion | 28 | 15% | 12.3× | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 14 | 7.6% | 3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Feb 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 4.0% |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 9 | 4.9% | 3.2× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jun 2025 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.5% |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 8 | 4.3% | 1.6× | |
| Battery drains and dies when parked | 8 | 4.3% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 6 | 3.2% | 2.3× | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 5 | 2.7% | 2.3× | NHTSA recall #25V685000 |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 5 | 2.7% | 4.8× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2026 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.3% |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 4 | 2.2% | – | |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 4 | 2.2% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 4 | 2.2% | – | |
| Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration | 4 | 2.2% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 3 | 1.6% | 1.8× |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #25V685000October 10, 202559,006 vehicles affected
equipment: electrical: engine block heater
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.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
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 element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
NHTSA recall #25V442000June 27, 2025200,237 vehicles affected
back over prevention: software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. 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.
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
NHTSA recall #23V440000June 23, 202314,452 vehicles affected
electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery: management system/energy control module (bms/becm)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Fusion PHEV vehicles. The battery energy control module (BECM) may become damaged due to excessive voltage and current flow.
A damaged BECM can result in a loss of drive power or fire, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will replace the battery and update the BECM software for free, or Ford will repurchase the vehicle. If your vehicle is currently operating normally, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the fuse block and a software update as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). As an alternative remedy, Ford is offering a vehicle refund. Please see Ford's owner notification letter or contact Ford for full details. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S33.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2020 Ford Fusion.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN