2020 Ford Fusion
Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas Midsize car
The 2020 Ford Fusion is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas midsize car with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid, is EPA-rated at 42 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 229 complaints, most often about electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 68 kW DCPM | 43 | 40 | 42 (61 MPGe blended) | 26 mi electric | 33 | 2.6 h | $1,500 |
| Fusion Special Service PHEV | Plug-in hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 68 kW DCPM | 43 | 40 | 42 (60 MPGe blended) | 26 mi electric | 33 | 2.6 h | $1,500 |
| Fusion Hybrid FWD | Hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 280V Li-Ion | 43 | 41 | 42 | — | — | — | $1,500 |
| Fusion Hybrid Taxi | Hybrid | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl + 280V Li-Ion | 43 | 40 | 41 | — | — | — | $1,500 |
| Fusion FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 34 | 27 | — | — | — | $2,300 |
| Fusion FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 31 | 25 | — | — | — | $2,500 |
| Fusion FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 21 | 31 | 24 | — | — | — | $2,600 |
| Fusion AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 29 | 23 | — | — | — | $2,700 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
The 2020 Ford Fusion is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (3)
Equipment
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 September 2026. Owners may contact Ford
Back Over Prevention
minorProblem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: A damaged BECM can result in a loss of drive power or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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
NHTSA investigations
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds (closed)
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005
Owner complaints
229 complaints filed
11 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 6 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2019: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 24 · 2023: 45 · 2024: 55 · 2025: 58 · 2026: 32
Most-cited components
- Electrical System — 80
- Power Train — 66
- Engine — 53
- Unknown Or Other — 30
- Steering — 13
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
| 4 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Other Fusion model years
2019 Fusion
4 recalls · 467 complaints
B2018 Fusion
2 recalls · 502 complaints
D2017 Fusion
4 recalls · 1,191 complaints
F2016 Fusion
13 recalls · 1,688 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 41899, 41900, 41802, 41803, 41798, 41800, 41801, 41799). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.