The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, there was a loud whining sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine flex plate had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but…
2019 Ford Fusion engine problems
moderate 155 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
155
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 155 engine complaints filed for the 2019 Ford Fusion, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 43% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 155 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2019 Ford Fusion with EcoBoost engines has a documented coolant intrusion defect affecting cylinders and engine blocks starting around 80,000–90,000 miles, causing misfires, white exhaust smoke, overheating, and eventual engine failure—repair costs run $6,300–$10,700. Ford's repair program excludes many 2019 VINs despite the same design flaw, leaving owners stranded with warranty denials and expensive engine replacements.
Owners of 2019 Ford Fusions consistently describe coolant entering the engine cylinders—a failure that develops between 28,000 and 143,000 miles. The problem manifests as a check engine light (often showing misfire codes P0300–P0304), loss of coolant from the reservoir with no visible external leak, white smoke from the exhaust on startup, rough idle, engine shaking or hesitation, and occasionally an "Engine Coolant Overtemperature" warning. Some owners refill coolant weekly; others find the reservoir empty within days. In advanced cases, coolant mixes with engine oil, the engine overheats, stalls mid-drive, or loses power on highways—creating immediate safety hazards.
Owners report taking vehicles to independent shops for spark plug or coil replacement (which proves temporary), only to have the check engine light return within days. Dealership diagnostics consistently confirm coolant intrusion into the cylinder head or engine block. Repair quotes range from $6,261 to $10,681 for long-block or complete engine replacement.
Several owners reference Ford Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229 and Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 (which Ford issued for 1.5L EcoBoost engines). Owners note Ford created a replacement long block for the 1.5L but claim the 2.0L EcoBoost—which exhibits the same defect—was excluded. Many VINs do not appear in recall databases despite matching the problem profile, leaving owners ineligible for no-cost repair. Ford repeatedly declined coverage citing mileage limits or VIN exclusion, even when damage occurred shortly after a previous CSP repair.
Same Ford Fusion engine reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Coolant intrusion into cylinders (head gasket/block defect)
Coolant leaks from the engine block or head gasket into one or more cylinders, mixing with engine oil and combustion gases. Owners report no visible external coolant leaks yet constant coolant reservoir loss. The root cause is described by owners as a manufacturing defect in the engine block or head gasket design of the 2.0L (and 1.5L) EcoBoost engine.
When: 28,000–143,000 miles; median approximately 80,000–90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0316); Persistent coolant reservoir loss requiring frequent refilling (weekly or daily); No visible external coolant leaks; White or blue smoke from exhaust, especially on cold start; Rough idle, engine shaking, or hesitation upon acceleration; Engine overheating warning light; Reduced engine power or limp mode; Engine stalling while driving or on highway; Abnormal engine knocking or rattling noise; Coolant mixing with engine oil; Cylinder head or engine block cracks (internal damage)
Codes mentioned: P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285, P1299
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report long-block (complete engine) replacement required, costing $6,261 to $10,681. Some owners cite spark plug and ignition coil replacement as temporary initial repairs that fail to resolve the underlying issue. One owner reported short-block replacement at a dealer followed by subsequent failure requiring flywheel replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229 acknowledges the coolant intrusion issue and directs replacement of the long-block engine assembly. Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 provides one-time no-cost repair for certain 2013–2019 Fusion EcoBoost engines (primarily 1.5L), but many 2019 models with 2.0L engines report their VINs are excluded from the program despite matching the problem description. Program ended November 30, 2022. Ford declined coverage for most owners citing either mileage limits (typically 84,000 miles) or VIN exclusion, even those claiming prior CSP repairs. Some owners report Ford service advisors stated the issue was 'known' but had no fix available.
Cracked flexplate
The flexplate (the metal ring connecting the engine to the transmission) cracks, causing severe engine vibration and noise. One owner explicitly states Ford issued a fix for flexplate cracks in some models but not theirs.
When: Approximately 101,000 miles reported; timing unclear
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal rattling sound from engine compartment at idle or while driving; Engine shaking or vibration while stopped; Vehicle stalling and unable to restart
Repairs/costs cited: Flexplate replacement required. One owner reported the part disintegrated; another shop diagnosed cracked flexplate requiring replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner notes Ford issued a fix for flexplate cracks in some models. No broader recall or CSP mentioned.
Engine failure secondary to coolant damage
After coolant intrusion compromises cylinder integrity and mixes with oil, the engine develops internal damage including metal shavings in the oil, seized components, and complete loss of function.
When: Varies; can occur rapidly after initial coolant intrusion symptoms (days to weeks) or after extended operation with coolant loss
Symptoms owners cite: Engine seizure; Metal shavings in engine oil; Total loss of engine power; Engine will not start after stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required. One owner paid for replacement due to program exclusion; others left vehicles inoperable.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under TSB 22-2229 but denied under CSP 21N12 for most 2019 owners.
Synthesized from 155 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormally severe shaking and vibration coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the flex plate was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered.…
a coolant leak in my 2019Ford Fusion cause significant corrosion within the engine due to the coolant leaking into the cylinders, and now I have to pay out of pocket to replace the engine, a known problem that ford is aware of with their cars.
The contact's wife owns a 2019 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The contact discovered that smoke was coming out of the exhaust. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was…
Engine keeps having misfire issues. Taken to gary crossley Ford in april of 2021 and warrantied engine replacement. In march 2022 taken to throuroughbred Ford engine went bad again with antifreeze leaking into the oil , engine replaced again. Here we are in december 2023 and having same issues. And thoroughbred Ford is backed up until march of 2024 and cant fix the engine again until then. So I…
Vehicle has a known Ford 2.0L EcoBoost coolant intrusion / head gasket defect per multiple complaints on different forums on recently googled searches. At approximately 126,000 miles, vehicle began losing coolant with no visible external leaks, producing white smoke on startup, rough idle/misfires, and check engine light. Vehicle also began overheating intermittently. Heating system stopped…
Had engine trouble with your 2019 Ford Fusion?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2019 Ford Fusion?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 155 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 73 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 67,000 and 95,790 miles, with the median around 82,100. A quarter of owners report trouble before 67,000; a quarter make it past 95,790. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Ford/Fusion.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.