The Ford Fusion was the last sedan produced by the Blue Oval and was perhaps one of the best, but it was not without its flaws. Bad welds, problematic transmissions, and disconnecting steering wheels top the list of faults.
Key Points
- The 2017 Ford Fusion has had three recalls issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pertaining to rear seatback pivot point pins failing, torque converter connection failures, and a steering wheel that may detach.
- Consumers reported issues with the shifting behavior of the transmission, with harsh or delayed shifts.
- The biggest area of concern for the 2017 Fusion involves bolts in the steering wheel that may loosen over time to the point the steering wheel could detach.
2017 Ford Fusion has Three Recalls Over a Loose Steering Wheel, Unreliable Torque Converter Connection, and Faulty Pivot Pins in the Rear Seats
According to the NHTSA, the 2017 Ford Fusion has three open recalls as of this writing. However, it is not necessarily the number of recalls that is most alarming, but the level of seriousness of each. The most mentionable recall was launched in early-2018 and involves an issue where the steering wheel on affected vehicles may detach due to a loose bolt.
In July 2017, the NHTSA issued another recall over a torque converter connection that may fail and cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 2017 model’s first recall was launched in late-2016 and is somewhat less serious. The recall involves rear seatback pivot pins that may fail during a crash, allowing any stowed luggage to shift into the passenger area, increasing the risk of injury.
Owners Complain about Poorly Shifting Automatic Transmissions
More than 1,000 owners have taken to Repair Pal to complain about troubles they are experiencing with their automatic transmissions. This is the number one complaint on the site for the 2017 model year. Complaints range from erratic and delayed shifts, harsh shifts, or even revving to high rpms without shifting.
These complaints are not relegated solely to the 2017 model, but 13 different Fusion model years. Lower mileage vehicles experiencing transmission woes may seek out a software upgrade to the powertrain control module (PCM) and the transmission control module (TCM).
Higher mileage vehicles may have actual hardware damage that could result in the need to replace parts or rebuild the entire transmission.
Per Repair Pal, the typical mileage for Fusion models experiencing transmission issues is just over 80,000 miles.
Premature Wear and Battery Drain is Another Common Complaint that Has an Easy Fix
The number one complaint for the 2017 Ford Fusion on Car Complaints is a dead battery. While batteries are typically replaced throughout the lifecycle of a vehicle, it is strange to see a replaceable third-party item creep to the top of a complaint list for a vehicle. Several things, including bad wiring and systems not properly shutting off when not in use, could cause premature wear and battery drain.
The Chicago Tribune notes how simply leaving a proximity access key in a parked vehicle can cause parasitic drain on a battery while nothing else remains on.
The report indicates that the presence of the key in the vehicle keeps the car’s internal systems in the “ready” position for the driver to start the vehicle, even if no driver is present. Removing the key from the vehicle when not in use may be the solution to avoid dead batteries.
2017 Fusion is a Reliable Vehicle Despite its Three Moderate Recalls
Since its introduction for the 2006 model year, the Ford Fusion sold exceptionally well. However, while sales were consistently above 100,000 annual units, Ford discontinued the Fusion after the 2020 model year. But you can still find a reliable Ford Fusion in the used market. And when you consider that the 2017 Ford Fusion has been on the road for a while and still only has three recalls that were not too serious, you can be confident that a pre-owned 2017 model year will serve you well.
The NHTSA recalls pertained to two rather light recalls over a faulty pivot pin in the rear seat, and a torque converter connection prone to failure. The one recall to watch is over a steering wheel that may detach. A VIN check and careful research is sure to easily land you a 2017 Ford Fusion you can count on.
Photos: Ford
