2012 Ford Fusion
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 2,616 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 15 Fusion model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 111 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 66 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleMar 10, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
Campaign 21V158000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalFeb 16, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Campaign 21V081000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 16, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2011 Ford Ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the specific part numbers. These parts may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Campaign 21E013000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleDo not drive until repairedJan 7, 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
Campaign 19V001000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleDo not drive until repairedJan 10, 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Campaign 17V024000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemJun 2, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
Campaign 15V340000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
1,511 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jan 6, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Power Steering How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The likelihood of accidents when traveling at lower speeds is increased. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the Ford dealership reproduced the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, the message appeared only when the power steering stopped functioning.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 31, 2025
I recently started to experience hard steering while in transit the power assist light came on and so does the advanced track warning light. I discovered there was a recall so I took it in to the Ford dealership, which was JC Lewis Ford in Savannah, Georgia, but the technician told me that there were too many miles and after 150,000 miles, the recall was null and void
Steering, Dec 29, 2025
UNKNOWN. I have no power steering. I have contacted Ford and they were supposed to fix my car for free which they did not because it was up for recall.
Steering, Dec 24, 2025
My car lost my electric power steering on November 15, 2025. Ford has a Safety Satisfaction Program15V340000 for this vehicle. The Dealership refuses to honor the program since it has over 150,000 miles on it. Reading through the paper work for the program 15v340000 I never noticed a mileage exclusion. Any help on this issue would greatly be appreciated.
Steering, Dec 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the messages "Service Power Steering Assist Fault" and "Advancetrac" were displayed, and the steering wheel suddenly became very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the steering rack had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering); however, the contact related the failure to the recall. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Steering, Dec 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the “Service Advancetrac” and “Service Power Steering Now" messages were displayed. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the residence, and the vehicle was shifted into reverse(R), and the steering wheel became firm. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into drive(D), the steering wheel remained firm. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
Steering, Dec 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle on two occasions, the "Power Steering Assist Fault" message was displayed on the instrument panel, and excessive force was required to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a defective electric rack and pinion. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
Steering, Dec 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH in the snow, the message "Service Power Steering" was displayed, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle became difficult to maneuver, and the contact had to use force to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact's stepfather used a handheld scanner to diagnose the vehicle and retrieved DTC: C1963-20 and C1511. The vehicle remained at the residence. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Steering, Nov 17, 2025
The power steering of the vehicle was lost along with illumination of “power steering sensor assist fault” and “service advance trac.” The difficulty of steering made it very dangerous on the road. The problem has been diagnosed and confirmed as code 15N01 (formerly safety recall 15S18). The 15N01 is an extended program under safety recall 15N01. I am issuing this complaint as the 15N01 program has an expiration of 150,000 miles and/or date of 10 years since purchase. My car had the original safety recall 15S18 done in 2015 but now is not qualified for the steering gear (15N01). This shows that this program shouldn’t have any limits as these steering gears were shown defective from the factory. Safety recalls never die and what they did as a quick fix for those cars in 2015 that were not showing those DTC’s was not an adequate repair . They should have addressed the steering gear issue instead of just the reprogramming of the PSCM.
Steering, Nov 5, 2025
Warning light on dash indicating "Service Power Steering Now" suddenly while driving car. Nearly complete loss of steering.
Steering, Oct 28, 2025
Power steering has recently failed. Vehicle unsafe to drive (had to cancel recall appointment to replace air bags). Found an old Ford Steering Technical Bulletin 15S18-S3 for this issue. Never received a recall notice & would never have known of the recall until the issue affected me. This seems to be a safety bulletin. Am I able to get this repaired by Ford on their dime? They are telling me no.
Steering, Oct 22, 2025
Purchased in October of 2024,12 Ford Fusion steering failure. Vehicle suddenly became difficult to steer. Issues match 15N01 recall by Ford. Car has under 60,000 miles and Ford refuses to repair. After stating that it should be covered under the recall. Definitely a safety concern. Now stating it was not an actual "recall" now listed as a customer satisfaction program instead of a recall.
Steering, Oct 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 50 MPH, the steering wheel locked up. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the steering gear and power steering control module needed to be reprogrammed or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on the inspection notice, she observed NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 197,150.
Steering, Oct 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the contact had to drive the vehicle in manual steering mode. The failure had occurred three times. The contact became aware that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering), and the previous owner had taken the vehicle to be repaired under the recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with Advancetrac failure, causing the steering wheel angle sensor to fail. The steering wheel angle sensor was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The mechanic reset the power steering function after each failure. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Steering, Engine, Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the power steering assist fault message was displayed. The power steering function was inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated due to a possible canister purge valve failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 165,461.
Steering, Sep 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring an increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rack and pinion. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 126,000.
Steering, Sep 12, 2025
Subject: Concern Regarding Power Steering Failure and Recall Eligibility – 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid I own a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and recently ( around 2 weeks back) experienced a sudden failure of the power steering system. One morning, as I started the car in the parking lot to head to work, I noticed the power steering was not functioning. A warning light appeared indicating a problem with the power steering system. I contacted a mobile mechanic to inspect the issue. After examining the vehicle, he confirmed the power steering had failed and advised me to take the car to a dealership for repairs. I arranged for a towing service to transport my vehicle to Interstate Ford in Dacono, Colorado. The dealership diagnosed the issue as a failure in the power steering gear and estimated the repair cost to be approximately $3,500. Concerned about the nature of the failure, I researched online and discovered that Ford had issued a recall (NHTSA Campaign ID: 15V340000) in June 2015 affecting 393,623 vehicles, including certain 2012 Ford Fusion models, due to similar power steering issues. However, when I contacted Ford, I was informed that my vehicle’s VIN is not included in the recall. I believe this may be an oversight, as the failure in my vehicle matches the conditions described in the recall. A sudden loss of power steering while driving could have led to a serious accident. I respectfully request that Ford re-evaluate the recall criteria and consider including my vehicle’s VIN, as well as potentially others that may be at risk of the same issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Steering, Sep 10, 2025
I am filing a complaint regarding the ineffectiveness of Ford Recall 15S18 / NHTSA 15V-340 on my 2012 Ford Fusion (VIN: [XXX] ). On [XXX], immediately after starting the vehicle (prior to moving), the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system failed completely and a steering-assist warning illuminated. This occurred when a female driver attempted to operate the vehicle and could not drive it safely without power assist. Modern vehicles like the Fusion are not designed to be driven without EPAS, and as NHTSA has noted in prior recall actions, loss of assist requires significantly greater effort and poses a safety risk. Diagnostics showed U3000:49-08, confirming internal EPAS rack failure. The vehicle required full replacement of the steering rack at Lilliston Ford (Vineland, NJ), costing me $2,460.65 on July 18, 2025 (invoice attached). Following this repair, new diagnostic codes appeared (B10B9:14-08 and U0423:68-08), coinciding with complete A/C failure. These faults were not present before the EPAS repair. I purchased a blower motor on July 23, 2025 for $101.96 to attempt a fix. I requested reimbursement from Ford on July 29, 2025 and followed up on August 19, 2025. As of this filing, Ford has not responded. Because the recall remedy failed to prevent recurrence, and new electrical issues arose immediately after the EPAS repair, I request that NHTSA review whether Recall 15S18 has been effective and ensure Ford honors reimbursement obligations. Attached: repair invoice, diagnostic reports, recall proof, photo, blower motor receipt, and prior correspondence to ford can be provided if necessary. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Sep 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring an increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The service power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 151,000.
Steering, Aug 20, 2025
My 2012 Ford Fusion (VIN: [XXX] ) was previously repaired under Recall 15S18 / Customer Satisfaction Program 15N01 for a steering assist failure in 2016 at 83,000 miles. In March 2022, at 143,000 miles, the same defect occurred again—power steering warning light came on and steering assist failed while driving. The issue was diagnosed by Gillis Auto Center and confirmed again by Mullinax Ford in 2025. Ford refused to cover the repair, citing expired coverage, despite both dealerships confirming it is the same failure addressed by the original recall. I believe this is a safety defect that was not permanently remedied by the original recall repair. I am requesting NHTSA to review whether other vehicles are also experiencing repeat failures. I have attached all documentation in my email to Ford and will provide it to NHTSA upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Aug 20, 2025
Ford’s official website shows that my 2012 Ford Fusion (VIN: [XXX] ) is covered under Customer Satisfaction Program 15N01 – EPAS Steering Efforts, with instructions to schedule free service with a dealer. However, my local dealer refused to honor it, stating it had expired. I never received any notification of this program, and it involves the steering assist system which is a serious safety issue. Please review this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering, Aug 8, 2025
Our power steering failed while driving and is extremely difficult to turn. It is dangerous. We looked up safety recalls and found Safety Recall 15S18 and 15N01 to repair the power steering due to a manufacturer defect. The dealer charged us $250 to "assess" the issue and then refused to recall the vehicle or make the repairs. It claimed that the car was too old and out of warranty. But this is not a warranty repair it is a safety recall issue for a defective power steering system. Our car has error codes U3000:49, U3000:72, and U3000:96. They are DTCs in the PSCM.
Steering, Jul 28, 2025
My power steering went out while driving and then warning lights came on in dash. I have uploaded photos. I also have seen that there was a recall due to power steering issues with my year make and model in the past. Recall # NHTSA Campaign number 15V340000
Steering, Jul 28, 2025
My power steering rack and pinion went out after the Ford recall being completed
Steering, Jul 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel became firm. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the power steering rack and the rack and pinion were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,888.