2020 Ford Fusion transmission and drivetrain problems
67 of the 234 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 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: 26 manufacturer bulletins. 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 database1 of the 67 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 15 · 2025: 25 · 2026: 9
Half of the 24 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 63,000 and 103,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
234 complaints in all about the 2020 Ford Fusion, 9 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 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start the following day and was parked.
Tapping / knocking coming from the driver side of the engine bay . Slow engagement now knocking while parked and in gear ...was told it was the transmission which is a known issue for this car now my car won't move ... Wondering why this year model and setup has not been recalled
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while attempting to drive forward after reversing the vehicle, the vehicle failed to move. The wrench symbol displayed stating there was a system malfunction however, the contact was unsure of the system failure.
Fusion is surging while shifting or lack of. Some of them being more violent than others, sometimes pulling the steering wheel to the left or right. When coming to a stop in city driving when the fusion doesn’t shift the fusion stalls. The initial shift is also very rough into any gear (drive, reverse, and/or back to neutral
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications26 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
B156D U2100 P0011 P0012 P0014 P0015 P0016 P0017
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Ford Fusion names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Ford Fusion
Source: the same files- electrical problems 81 complaints
- engine problems 64 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2020 Ford Fusion?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 67 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (29% of everything owners filed about it), and 26 manufacturer bulletins 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 2020 Ford Fusion?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 3 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2020 Ford Fusion?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 79,127 miles; half of them between 63,000 and 103,000. 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.