I can hear the coolant sloshing around and gurgling while the vehicle is in park with the heat on. When I turn the heat off, the sloshing and gurgling goes away. It appears that I do not have a coolant leak.
2020 Ford Fusion engine problems
moderate 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 24 engine complaints filed for the 2020 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2020 Fusion engine has multiple serious, expensive failure modes—cracked flex plates, coolant intrusion into cylinders, and internal engine failures—occurring at relatively low mileage (40K–150K miles). Owners report inadequate warranty coverage, selective recall eligibility, and repair costs in the thousands; get a pre-purchase inspection and ask the dealer directly about any open campaigns or known issues.
The 2020 Ford Fusion engine displays recurring failures across multiple systems. Flex plate cracks are the most commonly cited issue, producing rattling or knocking sounds during idle or with AC running—typically starting around 45K miles and progressing. Ford issued a customer satisfaction program (22N12) in 2022 but only covers 2.0L engines, leaving 1.5L owners paying out of pocket despite reporting identical symptoms.
Coolant intrusion into cylinders appears in multiple narratives: coolant migrates internally despite a full reservoir, causing overheating, white exhaust smoke, and engine block failure. One owner noted zero compression in two cylinders at 96K miles on a 1.5L EcoBoost. Other reported failures include head gasket breakdown, purge control valve failure, and camshaft thrust plate damage.
Most owners report no warning lights before failure or only a check engine light after the problem develops. When vehicles are diagnosed, repairs typically mean engine replacement—a five-figure job that goes unpaired in nearly every narrative because warranty denies coverage or the cost is prohibitive. Dealers consistently refer owners to NHTSA rather than offering assistance. One owner found a class action lawsuit addressing coolant intrusion in earlier Fusion models (2013–2019), suggesting this is not a new problem.
Same Ford Fusion engine reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Cracked or broken flex plate
Flex plate cracks and fails, causing rattling or knocking sounds from the engine. Multiple owners report this issue at relatively low mileage. Ford issued a customer satisfaction program (22N12) for 2.0L engines, but owners of 1.5L engines report being denied coverage despite identical symptoms.
When: 45K–117K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rattling or knocking sound from engine, especially while idling or with AC on; Sound becomes progressively worse; No check engine light in many cases
Repairs/costs cited: Flex plate replacement; dealership quoted $3,000 for replacement. Some owners report the vehicle remained unrepaired due to cost or warranty denial.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford customer satisfaction program 22N12 issued in 2022 for 2.0L engines at Hermosillo plant; denied for 1.5L engines. Manufacturer referred owners to NHTSA hotline but offered no assistance in most cases.
Coolant intrusion into cylinders
Coolant leaks into the engine cylinders without visible external leakage, causing overheating, engine block failure, or complete engine failure. Owners report the coolant reservoir appears full but coolant is migrating into cylinders internally.
When: 40K–132K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine coolant over-temperature warning light; Temperature gauge warning light illuminated; Check engine light; White or colored smoke from exhaust; Engine sputtering; Gurgling or sloshing sound from coolant system; Coolant level dropping without visible external leak
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required in most cases; expensive repair that owners report going unpaired due to cost. One owner mentioned coolant leaking into cylinders identified by independent mechanic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known issue; Ford warranty does not cover. Manufacturer referred owners to NHTSA hotline. Owner mentioned existing class action lawsuit against Ford for 2013–2019 Fusions with same problem.
Engine block or short block failure
Engine block fails, requiring full engine replacement. Failures include cracked engine blocks and short block failures. Multiple owners report this at low to moderate mileage.
When: 68K–112K miles
Symptoms owners cite: White smoke from exhaust or mufflers; Engine sputtering; Smoke from engine compartment; Check engine light (in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; expensive repair that went unrepaired in all reported cases due to cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; referred owners to NHTSA hotline. No assistance or warranty coverage provided.
Loss of compression in cylinders
Engine loses compression in one or more cylinders, causing loss of engine power and breakdown. Owner with 1.5L EcoBoost reports zero compression in two cylinders.
When: 96,448 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power while driving; Vehicle breakdown/stall
Repairs/costs cited: Ford diagnostic indicated zero compression in 2 cylinders; repair cost not stated.
Camshaft thrust plate and crankshaft damage
Camshaft thrust plate becomes damaged and crankshaft sustains damage, preventing transmission engagement and causing abnormally loud engine sound.
When: 99,964 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormally loud sound from engine; Vehicle fails to shift into drive or reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Specific repairs not stated; vehicle towed to dealer for diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted and referred owner to NHTSA hotline.
Head gasket failure
Head gasket fails, causing engine smoke and breakdown. Service center reports seeing multiple 2020 Fusion head gasket failures simultaneously.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: White smoke from exhaust pipes; Vehicle breakdown; No warning signs prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket replacement; service center reports performing this repair on multiple 2020 Fusions at the same time.
Acceleration hesitation and engine stalling
Engine hesitates or stalls when accelerator is depressed at low speeds. Check engine light illuminates. Multiple attempts at repair, including camshaft sensor replacement, fail to resolve the issue.
When: 65K–152K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to accelerate as intended when pressing accelerator pedal; Engine stalls while driving; Check engine light illuminated; Abnormal sound from engine (in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft sensor was replaced in one case but failure persisted. One case ended with engine replacement recommendation due to internal engine failure.
Purge control valve failure
Purge control valve fails, causing smoke and abnormal odor from the rear of the vehicle at startup.
When: 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke and abnormal odor from rear of vehicle during startup; Check engine light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; repair cost not stated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure.
Rotten egg smell from exhaust
Persistent rotten egg smell enters cabin while driving. Dealer runs tests but finds no problems. Issue recurs immediately after vehicle is returned from dealership.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Rotten egg smell in cabin during driving; Occurs almost every drive; Persists after dealer inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer tests found no problems; vehicle not repaired.
Transmission component failures (flexplate, transmission fluid pump, torque converter)
Flexplate, transmission fluid pump, and torque converter fail together. Owner reports this is the same issue covered under a 2022/23 Ford customer satisfaction program (CSP), but owner was never notified.
When: Around 9/20/24 (timing on 2020 model not specific)
Symptoms owners cite: No lights or warnings prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs not completed; costs not stated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford evaluated and confirmed this is the same CSP issue from 2022/23, but owner was not notified of recall or CSP.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated the vehicle was started and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #2, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure and…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a ticking and knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The cause of the issue was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 79,000.
There was a recall on 2020 Ford Fusions in 2022 on flex plate. My car miles at 90,000 and I started to hear the ticking noise. I did my research and I seen that it has the same noise that my car is making now. I called the dealership and the dealership said that I had no active recalls on my car and that the recall was specific to certain cars. Even though my car wasn’t apart of the specific VIN.…
Had engine trouble with your 2020 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 2020 Ford Fusion?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 70,000 and 112,000 miles, with the median around 84,994. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 112,000. 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/2020/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.