2014 Ford Fusion · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 32owner reports
- 88,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Jun 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
230 of the 1,289 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 32 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 32 reports
Transmission shudder on other Fusion years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (3 reports) and the clutch (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
6 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.
The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission.
Also included are four 2017 Ford Focus vehicles that had clutch replacements with potentially affected parts. The clutch may fracture, resulting in damage to the transmission assembly and possibly a transmission fluid leak.
In the affected vehicles, the key may be able to be removed even while the transmission is not in Park.
All 19 recalls on the 2014 Ford Fusion, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 53,000 and 126,000 miles, from the 23 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Ford Fusion that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
MULTIPLE 2014-2016 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6F35 TRANSMISSION AND BUILT ON 1-JAN-2014 AND THROUGH 31-DEC-2015 MAY EXHIBIT HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENT AND HARSH/DELAYED 3RD AND 5TH GEAR UP/DOWN SHIFTS WITH NO DTCS PRESENT.
Some 2014-2016 Fusion and 2015-2016 Edge vehicles equipped with a 6F35 transmission and active start/stop feature may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with a harsh transmission engagement after an active stop/start event.
FORD: SOME VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WILL EXPERIENCE, AFTER A COLD SOAK OR AN EXTENDED PERIOD WITH ENGINE OFF, A 2-3 SHIFT HESITATION DUE TO POSSIBLE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT DRAIN. MODEL 2013-16 VARIOUS VEHICLES. *PE
What owners wrote
“The transmission is idle high and hard and yes it is available for inspection My safety and the safety of other is the car jerks and it accelerate unvoluntary Yes it was confirmed by a certified mechanic No it have not been inspected my manufacturer or others No there is no warning lights or messages that prior to failure”
Filed Mar 26, 2025
“*Car shifts hard when transitioning into second gear. *The hard shift causes a bit of whip lash *No *No *No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms. This has been ongoing issue for the last year. Other Ford Fusion owners have expressed the same issue with their vehicles. *A transmission flush was done at 140k miles”
Filed Aug 11, 2022 · 140,000 miles
“Transmission was previously slipping 200 miles prior, but I was on a road trip and unable to visit a mechanic for inspection. At a certain point, the engine temperature gauge began climbing to HOT and would only come down when the accelerator was released. Eventually, this remedy stopped working, and the car fully overheated.”
Filed Jun 17, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 32 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 203 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 125 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 118 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 101 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 96 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 89 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 81 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 79 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 40 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 39 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 38 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 31 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 27 reports
- Rolls away in Park or will not shift out of Park 25 reports