2017 Ford Fusion transmission and drivetrain problems
336 of the 1,197 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Fusion name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 52 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database6 of the 336 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 6 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 24 · 2021: 29 · 2022: 49 · 2023: 66 · 2024: 63 · 2025: 41 · 2026: 16
Half of the 206 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 60,000 and 101,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,197 complaints in all about the 2017 Ford Fusion, 16 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Fusion transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion Energi. The contact stated while attempting to drive out of the drive-thru, the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). The contact had experienced several failures. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift into drive.
Torque convertor weld studs fail the torque convertor will not be connected to the engine flexplate and the vechile will lose the ability to move, increasing the risk for a crash
1. Gear shift jammed (from 3 months of owning my car, until now -4 yrs). 2. Stop Safely Now Caution Light on. Vechile stops, then shuts off, can't turn it back on until about 20 minutes, Maybe Transmission? I am highly displeased! The transmission started to kick when this "Stop Safely Light" appeared. I could have been in a car accident
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated that while shifting into gear, the gear shifter defaulted back to park(P). The contact stated that the shift system fault warning light was illuminated.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Stop Safely Now" message was displayed and the vehicle then lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 17V427000 HighJul 6, 2017 · 6,026 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Edge and Fusion vehicles. On vehicles with 2.0L gas engines and six-speed automatic transmissions, the torque converter weld studs may have been inadequately welded.
52 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54366 Service bulletinNov 12, 2025
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1299 P1285 P0012 P0014 P0011 P0015 P0016 P0017
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Ford Fusion names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Ford Fusion
Source: the same files- engine problems 538 complaints
- electrical problems 146 complaints
- brake problems 112 complaints
- steering problems 65 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2017 Ford Fusion?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 336 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (28% of everything owners filed about it), and 52 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2017 Ford Fusion?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 17V427000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2017 Ford Fusion?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 79,921 miles; half of them between 60,000 and 101,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.