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2020 Ford Fusion: fire, smoke or burning smell

6 of the 186 complaints about the 2020 Ford Fusion describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints
6
of this car's complaints
3%
typical mileage
71,000
recalls
1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 32 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

What owners say

Filed Jan 17, 2026 · Electrical · TX

I don't know what failed, but my vehicle spontaneously combusted this morning in front of my apartment.and is a total loss. Fire Marshal's [XXX] ) Case# XX-XXX. The fire also destroyed the vehicle sittling next to it. We are lucky the building didn't catch on fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 30, 2025 · Engine · 112,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant intrusion into the cylinder had caused the engine to fail. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 112, 000.

Filed Jun 10, 2025 · Engine · 71,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was started, there was a large amount of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe, with the engine sputtering. The vehicle as taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with engine block failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Filed May 13, 2025 · Engine · 111,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, her husband noticed white smoke coming out of the mufflers. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine short block had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Filed Nov 27, 2024 · Lights · 53,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's side low beam headlight failed to illuminate as needed. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the front passenger's side low beam headlight assembly wiring harness was burnt, and there was light smoke coming from the wiring harness. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the low beam headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 53,000.

Filed Feb 1, 2021 · 4 miles · TX

There was white smoke coming out of the hood and there was a smell of burned rubber. I had reached my destination and had just parked.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery: management system/energy control module (bms/becm)Reported June 23, 2023 · 14,452 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 23V440000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2020 Ford Fusion fire or smoke

Is fire, smoke or burning smell a common problem on the 2020 Ford Fusion?

6 of 186 owner complaints about the 2020 Ford Fusion (3%) mention fire, smoke or burning smell. The model year with the most reports is 2013.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2020 Ford Fusion?

There is 1 recall and 32 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2020 Ford Fusion

Check engine light 27Loss of power 12Knocking 11Stalling 11Jerking 9Hesitation 7Overheating 7Engine failure 6Harsh shifting 6Backup camera 5Slipping 5Transmission failure 5

All model years of the Ford Fusion

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