2015 Ford Fusion: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · FL · crash

Year/Make/Model: 2015 Ford Fusion Engine Type: 1.5L EcoBoost 4-Cylinder Description of Safety Flaw and Incident: My vehicle is experiencing severe overheating and internal engine fluid loss due to the widely documented Ford EcoBoost coolant intrusion defect. The vehicle routinely runs hot, losing coolant rapidly with no external signs of a visible hose or radiator leak as well as failure of the brake lighting stop bumper and purge valve connecting to the gasline after fueling. This issue causes the vehicle to rapidly overheat while in motion, forcing sudden loss of engine power (limp mode) during highway driving. Car not properly cranking after fueling and brake light continuously being on even when brakes not being pressed. This unexpected drop in speed creates an immediate crash hazard for myself and surrounding traffic. Coolant entering the combustion chamber also fouls the spark plugs, causing severe engine stalling, rough idling, and misfires. I've spent several dollars fixing these malfunctions that have continuously persist. Ford Motor Company has historically been aware of this structural defect involving coolant leaking across the cylinder bore walls, yet failed to issue a comprehensive safety recall for 2015 models. I am filing this complaint to urge the federal safety agency to open a formal defect investigation and mandate a safety recall, as this component failure leaves drivers stranded in hazardous traffic situations.

Filed Aug 19, 2026 · Steering · 177,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the messages "Loss of Traction Control" and "Advancetrac Off" were displayed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact safely pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering gear motor had failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 15V250000 (Steering) and 19V632000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V250000 (Steering); however, the recall repair failed to prevent the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.

Filed Apr 25, 2026 · Engine · AZ

While driving at 30MPH, vehicle lost power without any notice/warnings. Had the vehicle towed to dealer who misdiagnosed as transmission problem (quoted $8000 to swap). Had a second opinion and indeed it was the dreaded coolant intrusion in the engine, catalytic convertor which cause the loss of acceleration and the transmission was completely fine. This is a ridiculously common issue with the 1.5L engine and Ford has not offered any support other than "oh well" mentality. Prior to this, car lost coolant, I had to top it off every couple days, blew with smoke, sweet smell, all in line with coolant intrusion. Had the lines checked and repaired as recommended but about 6 months later this happened.

Filed Apr 14, 2026 · Steering · IL

My steering gear motor attachment bolts have fractured due to severe corrosion, which is the exact defect described in Safety Recall 19S26. This physical failure was confirmed by a Ford dealership technician on 1/11/2024. The technician documented the fractured bolts and recommended a full steering gear replacement. Despite this, Ford is denying the recall repair because this specific VIN was not included on the original mailing list. The vehicle is now undrivable due to a total loss of power steering assist. Before it failed completely, the car was making whining and grinding noises during low-speed turns. This failure occurred in Illinois, which is a high-corrosion 'Salt Belt' state specifically covered by the 19S26 bulletin. By denying this safety repair, Ford is forcing an unsafe vehicle to remain on the road or operate with manual steering, which is a major crash risk. The failure was physically confirmed and documented by a Ford dealer. I want to note that while the previous recall 18S08 for the steering wheel bolt was performed, that was an unrelated interior part and did not prevent this exterior motor bolt failure. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate why a vehicle with a confirmed 19S26 failure in a covered state is being denied the mandated safety remedy.

Filed Dec 29, 2025 · Steering · OH

I have lost power steering in the vehicle. The dash is popping up Service Advance Trac and Hill assist unavailable. I was looking into sensors and rack and pinion when I seen a recall, 19S26, which was listed for 2013-2016 ford fusions and Lincolns, but the recall isn’t specific to my VIN. As of now, the dealership of course won’t fix what is an expensive repair, although it does appear that my car should be included. The information cited salt corrosion in winter as a contributor. It is now late December in Northeast Ohio.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Transmission · NC

My transmission was serviced under the cable bushing recall - since then the main complaint is the grinding, loss of power, losing gears etc. the rear camera also fails to function over half of the time. this has been validated by fletcher car care. they said the transmission is now faulty. i have seen this issue repeated throughout the other safety reports on your website. this is an overarching issue that should've been addressed by the manufacturer. there were no warning lamps messages or symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. this car is a safety hazard and it is negligence to allow the issue to persist. the problem was reproduced by the shop, fletcher car care - Fletcher Car Care is an auto repair shop located at 38 Heritage Park Dr, Fletcher, NC 28732 - the issues i believe began when the cable bushing began changing the linkage between the shifter and transmission around march. this was when i started having issues with the rear camera - the rear camera at times is full of artifacts and interference because i believe it is in a intermediate (out of full engagement position)

Filed Oct 20, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

I have been having issues with the vehicle where it will stall. This even happened when I was driving on the NJ turnpike, it stalled while driving and I had to pull over (thankfully I could) to restart the vehicle. It took the dealer 3 weeks to finally figure out the issue and tracked it down to a bad BCM (Body Control Module). I researched this further and found some interesting information. A significant number of 2015 Fusion owners report similar electrical glitches, with some experiencing a complete loss of power to multiple systems, including the center console, AC, and power windows. Diagnostics have identified water intrusion and corrosion in specific connectors, such as C134 near the front bumper, as a root cause, which can be resolved by cleaning and applying electric grease. However, a failing BCM itself is a common diagnosis, especially when multiple systems fail simultaneously and no other obvious cause is found. Replacing the BCM is a known solution, but it requires programming with the vehicle's specific as-built information and PATS key programming to function correctly; a new OEM BCM typically costs around $500. The BCM must be programmed using specialized diagnostic tools like Ford IDS software or equivalent, and the process includes steps like parameter reset, CEI configuration, and battery monitor sensor reset. While some owners have successfully bypassed the BCM using an external relay for specific functions like parking lights, this is a complex workaround and not a standard fix for a failing BCM. Persistent issues, especially those that recur after resets or component replacements, often point to a defective BCM, though other factors like a faulty wiring harness or a bad ground connection should also be ruled out. Given the prevalence of these problems across 2010–2019 Ford Fusions, some owners have advocated for a recall, citing safety concerns.

Filed Jun 6, 2025 · Engine · NJ

My 2015 Ford Fusion with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine experienced a complete engine failure due to a coolant intrusion in cylinder 3, which is consistent with Ford TSB 20-2100. In December 2023, I brought the car to the dealership due to rough starting and a non-start issue. No coolant related codes were detected at the time. In May 2025, the vehicle began running roughly and showed codes PO316 and PO303. The dealership diagnosed low coolant and coolant intrusion into cylinder 3, with a rust and fouled spark plug. I believe this is a progressively safety-related engine defect that can lead to sudden loss of power and unsafe driving conditions.

Filed Apr 11, 2025 · Engine · CA

The engine (1.5L EcoBoost) has suffered a failure due to coolant intrusion into cylinder 3, which has led to repeated engine misfires. Trouble codes P0303 (misfire cylinder 3) and P0316 (misfire on startup) were found. The vehicle is currently available for inspection, and a diagnosis was performed by two Ford-certified mechanics using a borescope, confirming the presence of coolant in the combustion chamber. The misfires cause rough running, hesitation, and potential stalling, especially during startup and acceleration. This creates dangerous situations in traffic, such as loss of power while merging or crossing intersections, increasing the risk of a collision. Both technicians concluded the engine has coolant intrusion and recommended a short block replacement as the only viable fix. I was quoted approximately $10,000 for the repair. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer (Ford), but despite acknowledging this is a known issue with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine in various Ford models, they are unwilling to assist with covering the cost of the repair in my case. The Check Engine Light initially came on intermittently and then became constant. Symptoms such as engine misfires, rough idling, and hard starts appeared around the same time, several weeks ago, and have progressively worsened since.

Filed Sep 5, 2024 · Steering · FL

Complete loss of power steering/ABS/Traction Control

Filed Feb 29, 2024 · Engine · SC

This car has cut off (lose power)twice while driving. Crank back up fine . It’s definitely a hazard if your on the interstate.

Filed Feb 9, 2024 · Steering · 108,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel locked. The message “Steering Locked. Stop Safely” was displayed. The contact exited the highway, and the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound and decelerated independently. Additionally, the steering wheel shuddered significantly. The contact drove to a parking lot and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering suspension and the steering column were locked. The dealer determined that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.