Model year 2020 · Midsize Cars

2020 Ford Fusion: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2020 Ford Fusion at 23–42 mpg combined across 8 versions. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 235 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

23–42

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as FUSION ENERGI, FUSION HYBRID.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Ford dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2020 Ford Fusion recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 3 safety recalls for the 2020 Ford Fusion, newest first.

Equipment: Electrical: Engine block heater

NHTSA 25V685000 Reported Oct 10, 2025

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25SA4)
Units affected: 59,006 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Remedy: 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 December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Back over prevention: Software

NHTSA 25V442000 Reported Jun 27, 2025

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25S72)
Units affected: 200,237 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Remedy: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Electrical system: Propulsion system: Traction battery: Management system/energy control module (bms/becm)

NHTSA 23V440000 Reported Jun 23, 2023

Filed by: Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 23S33)
Units affected: 14,452 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Remedy: 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 vehicle refund. Please see Ford's owner notification letter or contact Ford for full details. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S33.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2020 Ford Fusion fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2020 Ford Fusion EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Electric range	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Fusion AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/29/23 mpg	—	$2,900	384
Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid	2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gas and Electricity / Electricity	43/40/42 mpg 103 MPGe on electricity	26 mi	$1,600	99
Fusion FWD	1.5L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	23/34/27 mpg	—	$2,500	327
Fusion FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	21/31/25 mpg	—	$2,700	355
Fusion FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	21/31/24 mpg	—	$2,800	364
Fusion Hybrid FWD	2.0L 4-cyl hybrid	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	43/41/42 mpg	—	$1,600	211
Fusion Hybrid Taxi	2.0L 4-cyl hybrid	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	43/40/41 mpg	—	$1,650	217
Fusion Special Service PHEV	2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gas and Electricity / Electricity	43/40/42 mpg 102 MPGe on electricity	26 mi	$1,600	101

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2020 Ford Fusion crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2020 Ford Fusion NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2020 Ford Fusion 4 DR AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	10.9%	Standard
2020 Ford Fusion 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	10.9%	Standard
2020 Ford Fusion Energi 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	4 stars	10.9%	Standard
2020 Ford Fusion HEV 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	10.9%	Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2020 Ford Fusion owner complaints

Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Fusion, most recently on Oct 20, 2026. 11 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 6 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2020 Ford Fusion complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Electrical system	77
Power train	64
Engine	57
Unknown or other	32
Fuel/propulsion system	12
Steering	11
Service brakes	10
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings	8
Engine and engine cooling	7
Air bags	5

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Ford Fusion model years

Ford Fusion by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2019 Fusion	20–42 mpg	4	473	5/5
2018 Fusion	20–42 mpg	2	509	5/5
2017 Fusion	20–42 mpg	4	1,204	5/5
2016 Fusion	25–41 mpg	13	1,731	5/5
2015 Fusion	25–41 mpg	14	1,065	5/5

All Ford Fusion years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2020 Ford models

2020 Ford EcoSport 2020 Ford Edge 2020 Ford Escape 2020 Ford Expedition 2020 Ford Explorer 2020 Ford F150 2020 Ford GT 2020 Ford Mustang 2020 Ford Ranger 2020 Ford Transit Connect 2020 Ford Transit T150 Wagon

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Ford.