2013–2014 Ford Fusion: Overheating, coolant loss or fire risk (1.6L EcoBoost recalls)
Likely causes, ranked
- Coolant leaks and cylinder head overheating$0–$0Shop
Real-owner fix counts will appear here as reports come in.
DIY or shop: See DIY or shop section
Parts to check
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Symptom: A rising temperature gauge, coolant loss, steam or smoke from under the hood, or an oil smell after overheating.
Likely causes
- Coolant leaks and cylinder head overheating. Ford's recalls cover overheating that can crack the head or leak fluids onto the exhaust. The fixes are new software and a coolant level sensor.
DIY or shop?
Dealer. Recall repairs are free.
Useful steps
- Check your VIN for both recalls.
- Check the coolant level often until the repairs are done.
- Pull over and shut the engine off if it overheats.
Vehicle focus: 2013–2014 Ford Fusion.
Safety / mechanic note
Pull over at once if you see smoke or the gauge spikes. Fire risk. Verify with a mechanic or dealer.
Recalls & service bulletins
Recalls
- 12V551000 2013 Fusion and Escape 1.6L: coolant leaks can make the engine overheat and leak flammable fluids. Dealers check for leaks and update engine and cluster software with a new overheat strategy. Details
- 17V209000 2013–2014 Fusion and other 1.6L GTDI models: driving with low coolant can overheat and crack the cylinder head, letting oil leak onto hot parts. Dealers add a coolant level sensor. Details
NHTSA complaints: 470 keyword-matched complaints for Ford FUSION 2013–2014 (of 3,377 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-15).
Always check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Sources
What actually fixed it?
Had this problem? Tell other owners what the real fix was. Reports are counted above; we never show made-up numbers.