2017 Ford Fusion: Coolant leak into the cylinders
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2017 Fusion report: coolant leak into the cylinders. CarComplaints.com lists 13 owner complaints, average mileage 79,400 miles.
NHTSA has 499 owner complaints for the 2017 Fusion in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11772488 (filed 10/20/2026): “While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost engine power (it shut off) and displayed "auto start stop shift to p, then restart engine". the vehicle has never done this before, and thank goodness my wife did not have the kids in the car at the time. she was able…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11767414 (filed 09/28/2026): “We purchased this 2017 ford fusion 1.5l ecoboost in august 2022 at 48,968 miles. at 55,940 miles, the vehicle developed a documented coolant leak requiring water-pump replacement. at approximately 75,520 miles, the coolant level was again documented as requiri…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: engine replacement (12 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $3,390 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: engine replacement (used or remanufactured engine)
Average shop cost
$1,435
Range $800–$2,225 (labor)
8.0–16.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$2,150
Range $1,200–$3,335 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Engine seized · 2012 Toyota 4Runner: Engine blew up · 2015 Subaru Forester: Blown engine · 2018 Chevrolet Cruze: Engine failure · 2018 Ford Edge: Leaking coolant killed engine · 2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Timing chain pieces ruined the engine
Page last updated .