Used 2017 Ford Fusion Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Fusion's Defective HVAC/Air System Makes Me Sick!
Highly Dissatisfied Ford Customer, 01/27/2018
updated 02/02/2023
2017 Ford Fusion SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 13 people found this review helpful
To update, Ford's own new car warranty is not accepted by most Ford dealers--including over a half-dozen that we attempted to use before the warranty was up--with the common excuse being that Ford is only paying them in "warranty dollars," which is defined as insufficient to do repairs. Even the dealer where I bought the defective Fusion refused to honor Ford's warranty, requiring that I first affirm financial liability before any work could begin, and denying me the loaner car promised new vehicle purchasers for when service issues came up. Even after my horn got stuck on, and the defective steering wheel and airbag needed replacement, we could only find one Ford dealer willing to honor Ford's largely meaningless, difficult to impossible to use "warranty!" In addition to the Fusion's HVAC/dirty air problems, defective horn, steering wheel and airbag, is the horrible transmission--that since day one, constantly jolts passengers (and makes them feel car sick!) as gears attempt to shift without a modicum of smoothness from Ford's horribly defective, substandard transmission. Since Edmunds requested an update to the prior review, all I can say is that Ford has refused to honor its warranty, and refused to overhaul or repair the dangerously defective HVAC system on my 2017 Fusion, leaving me in an impossible situation with a horrible vehicle! No matter what the function, from AC to Heat to Defroster/Defogger, the air emitted from the vents is thick and stale - never fresh and clean smelling - and is sometimes accompanied by a cycling of exhaust or something burning. It causes me to gag, cough, become light headed and have my sinuses seal shut, forcing me to have to turn it off, or keep the windows rolled down when operating the HVAC, defeating its purpose. That poses another problem, because it's a horrible scenario to have to choose between running the DEF system to clear an obstructed window of fog or ice, and being able to breathe. The transmission on the Fusion is horrible, and is getting worse. Hesitation is extreme, with constant joltiness and difficulty accelerating and switching gears. The ride is simply not smooth, and lane changes where getting up to speed quickly is necessary can be dangerous. The horn lost half its pitch last spring, and then started going off uncontrollably by itself earlier this year! Ford dealers in Northern NJ - including the dealership where the car was purchased in Mahwah - repeatedly refused to do any major warranty work, claiming they would not be adequately compensated by Ford, only get paid pennies on the dollar, and have a cap on hours expended. Ford's warranty is worthless! We are beyond dissatisfied! (Original Review) The AC-Heat system is beyond horrible, making it impossible to use, while Ford (and the dealer) does nothing! Despite being sold as a "new" car (although bounced from one dealer to another), the air is not clean, fresh or pristine - the way AC air on a new car should be. 3,000 miles later, absolutely no improvement! The air smells thick and rubbery, like stale hotel air, or bad car vent air, that is hard to breathe in, and seals up my sinuses. It is simply unhealthful. Ford's reaction: too bad, sucker! Adding insult to injury, the "Sync" system that is used to adjust coldness/hotness, intensity of air blow, etc., is a total failure,, in that it requires constant work - even when it is responsive to the touch, which is not always the case - and constant setting change. There's never a comfortable temperature, in that you just can't make the air a little colder, or a little warmer, as there's no traditional incremental adjustment. Instead, your only option - and this is on their advanced Sync system - is to adjust the AC or Heat by a temperature number, or a corresponding arrow keyed to temperature, like 65, 68, 71 etc. But the temperature immediately sets off a computer that often puts both heat and AC on simultaneously, one fighting the other. The net result is that the heat becomes way too hot, and if you try to lower it to comfort level, the AC will kick in. Either option yields the thick, rubbery, unhealthful air -- making the AC/Heat system unusable for any prolonged period. WARNING: Imagine buying a new car, and having to drive with the window down for fresh air, either in sub-freezing temperatures, or summertime heat. That's the best description of the miserable experience you'll encounter with a "new" 2017 Ford Fusion--lemons that many Ford dealers are still trying to get rid of, along with their 2018 inventory (I just bought mine at the end of the year, but wish I hadn't). On top of all this, the gear shift on the transmission spikes and jolts when descending up typical grades on a highway, and the seats are incredibly uncomfortable - particularly when your skin hits the rough middle part that is made of a hard, chafing material. The passenger seat was so cheaply made that a protruding object, or hard patch, literally juts up from the inside of the cushioning. I have totally thrown away my money on this car, and tried to get the dealer to take the car back the immediate week following purchase, but was told to call Ford's "Customer Relationship" line if I wasn't satisfied, which proved fruitless. I believe the first dealer that had the car (and remained title holder when I bought it) was fully aware of the defects, but failed to document them -- all of which are inherent to the car's cheap, poor manufacture and design flaws. I've repeatedly asked Ford for a buy back, after taking the car out of operation after only 3,000 miles. To date, Ford has ignored my requests, and told me to go back to the same dealers who wanted to dump the car -- leaving me in an impossible position. Bottom Line: Don't buy a new Ford Fusion or other Ford product car with the current AC/Heat/Sync Control system, or prepare to encounter unhealthful air, impossible temperature set controls, and a company with zero regard for customer care or satisfaction. [contact info removed]
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Fusion Platinum AWD is like I have My Audi A6 Back
david_zier@yahoo.com, 02/16/2017
updated 05/04/2020
2017 Ford Fusion Platinum 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
13 of 23 people found this review helpful
I owned a few Audi A6 vehicles when I was a consultant, but I have owned several fords in a row since then. I have kept with Ford because the cars are built well, and reliability has been outstanding. I've only had to perform routine maintenance and the Ford Dealer prices and customer service have been very good. I traded in a 2015 Fusion Titanium AWD for a 2017 Platinum AWD. I have no complaints about either car. But the Platinum interior looks and feels like I am driving an Audi. The interior is luxurious. The side profile with the polished aluminum wheels looks sharp. The LED running lights, turn signals and head lights are sharp. The new twin scroll 2.0 ecoboost is even more refined than the previous in my 2015 Titanium, and it is just a tick faster but it is noticeable. The sport mode is where you can really tell the difference. The sport mode on my 2015 was only a slight difference, but on this 2017 Platinum, you can really feel the difference as you accelerate. The car is buttoned down and rides and drives like I am in my previous Audis. One disappointment is the tires. It would be better to come with Michelin Primacy MXM4, like the Lincoln MKZ, and not Continental tires. The Michelin's ride even smoother without sacrificing handling. I could have purchased a low end Lincoln MKZ cheaper than the Fusion Platinum AWD. However, it would not have all the safety equipment, the leather dash, the premium leather seats and doors, and AWD. I dislike the MKZ rear end anyway, so I would not consider. This is my 4th ford in a row. Very happy. I wish the mileage was a bit better but the 2 liter turbo is very refined and feels better than the V6 in my Taurus.
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A sleeper that combines practicality with fun! Ger
Brent, 02/02/2017
2017 Ford Fusion Sport 4dr Sedan AWD (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)
13 of 23 people found this review helpful
Ford has stepped up their game with this version of the Fusion. The twin turbo V6 breaks the 300 HP ceiling with a 325 HP, 380 lb/ft engine with quick response & a flat torque curve. Zero to sixty in low 5 second range - the straight line acceleration is awesome for a 4000 pound vehicle. The 6 speed automatic transmission is a bit on the sluggish side for upshifts, but this is a car that is designed to be a daily driver that offers a bit of fun when open roads beckon, not a true performance car. Downshifts in Sport mode are a bit more crisp. The ride is pleasant in normal mode - quiet & smooth. In Sport mode it gets a bit more stiff and the active noise cancellation switches off, so you get a bit of induction noise from the twin turbos as well as a bit of synthetic sound piped in. It isn't the roar of a Porsche being challenged, but remember this is primarily a family car that is upgraded. The AWD keeps you firmly planted during spirited cornering, and the brakes are adequate though not awesome. The safety technology available on this model include accident warning with automatic braking, pre-tensioning of brakes when obstacles are detected, automatic following & braking with the Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Dampening of the suspension with electronic stability control, automatic lane departure monitoring with active steering, rear obstacle detection, and pedestrian detection with automatic braking. It is a vehicle with advanced technology that equals the best the Germans have to offer. All of this in a car that you can get out the door loaded for about 40 K, which won't buy you a similar German car stripped down. It is a great value! A practical family car that offers near BMW / Audi level acceleration & handling with good if not great brakes. If Ford can get a bit more road feel into the steering, add a bit more style (leather dash, please!) to the interior, and make the automatic transmission a bit more crisp, they will have an Audi slayer. As it is it is a much better value than the German comparables - you give up a little but get it at a price the Germans cannot approach for the same loaded vehicle.
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Great Car for the Money
Average Joe, 03/19/2019
2017 Ford Fusion SE 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The Ford Fusion is really a great mid-size car. I would recommend the 2.0L engine with AWD if you live in a cold climate. It really has some punch. Resale value is poor though. My car listed for over $33,000 brand new and I got it for $17,900 used with 19,000 miles. It was fully loaded with options too. Sunroof, leather, etc. You can't beat the price for a very well built comfortable low mileage car especially with AWD.
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Love My Fusion Sport
James, 01/14/2019
2017 Ford Fusion Sport 4dr Sedan AWD (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Traded in my 2014 Fusion SE w/luxury package for a Certified Pre Owned Fusion Sport. Like many I have been extremely pleased with the power and performance. It out performs our 2015 Mustang Ecoboost, although the Mustang does get better fuel economy. This thing makes driving to work fun every day. It certainly surprises many when you accelerate away from them.
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