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, Mar 12, 2017
STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM IS OUT AND POWER STEERING IS NOT FUNCTIONING
Steering, Mar 8, 2017
POWER STEERING FAILED *WHILE DRIVING* VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREA. ACCORDING TO FORD SERVICE, THIS WAS PARTIALLY DUE TO THE RECALLED SENSOR FOR POWER STEERING (ACTION 15N01). HOWEVER, THERE WAS ALSO PHYSICAL STEERING GEAR BINDING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH SIMILAR REMEDY (ABOUT $2,000 TO REPLACE ENTIRELY). THE PHYSICAL ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE FORD RECALL (FSA TITLE: EPAS STEERING EFFORTS), BUT IS HAPPENING WITH SUFFICIENT FREQUENCY TO OTHER VEHICLES TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS POSES A CREDIBLE SAFETY RISK.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 7, 2017
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE TCS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST POWER STEERING. THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES ALSO CAME ON - "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" AND "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC"
Steering, Mar 6, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND I WAS TOLD MY POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD FAILED BUT MY VIN WASN'T ONE OF THE RECALLS. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY EVER SINCE IT HAPPENED. IT IS NOT DRIVABLE.
Steering, Mar 6, 2017
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED.
Steering, Mar 2, 2017
2012 FORD FUSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. *SMD
Steering, Feb 24, 2017
I CAN'T STEER MY CAR. MESSAGE SAYING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAIL" APPEARS ON THE DASH EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN MY CAR .
Steering, Feb 17, 2017
DRIVING 70 MPH ON FREEWAY AND POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT WENT ON AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR BUT WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY WITH NO ONE BEING INJURED. CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD OUR 2012 FORD FUSION SEL WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THE FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!!!
Steering, Other or unspecified, Feb 15, 2017
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. NOT ALL THE TIME DOOR LATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE
Steering, Feb 2, 2017
VEHICLE HAS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING AND NOT HYDRAULIC. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE POWER STEERING CUT OFF AND IT IS VIRTUALLY UN-STEERABLE AT ALL. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO BARELY MUSCLE THE CAR OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT SEEMS THAT IT RESPONDS TO HAVING THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTING IT AND RETURNS TO NORMAL. I LIVE IN FEAR THAT WE COULD BE IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE MAJOR HIGHWAY AND UNABLE TO CONTROL OUR VEHICLE WITH 18 WHEELERS ON ALL SIDES. WE WOULD HAVE TO STOP THE ENGINE AND RESTART TO REGAIN STEERING. WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. WE CHOSE TO RISK OUR LIVES AND NOT FIX IT. FORTUNATELY THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. I HAVE SEEN INTERNET REPORTS OF THIS BEING A KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Jan 17, 2017
MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, I WENT TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS AND CALLED THE DEALER SHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND THEY SAID NO RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I FOUND ON YOUR SIGHT A RECALL FOR (RECALL # 15V340000) AND THEY SAID THAT IS ALL DEPENDING ON WHERE YOUR CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. BOY I AM COMPLETELY DUMB FOUNDED. PLEASE HELP! CAR MILEAGE IS ONLY 93300. *TR
Steering, Jan 13, 2017
I WAS IN MOTION GOING ABOUT 30 MPH AND MY POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING. WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. SAYS SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC AND SERVICE POWER STEEERING NOW ON MESSAGE CENTER. CALLED FORD AND THEY DID NOT HONOR RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR WAS BUILT ON JULY 28 2012 AT THE HERMOSILLO PLANT AND THE RECALL WAS ONLY ISSUED THROUGH FEB 28 2012 FROM HERMOSILLO PLANT. SAME PLANT ! SAME CAR ! I'VE HAD NO ISSUES WITH MY CAR UNTIL THIS. PLEASE EXTEND RECALL DATES !
Steering, Jan 9, 2017
DRIVING ON CITY STREET, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS NOT WORKING. MAKING TURNING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE. CAR HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL (15S18) FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM BUT THAT MY FUSION WAS NOT PART OF IT. (RECALL COVERS CARS BUILT BETWEEN SEP 7, 2010 AND FEB 28, 2012) FORD OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM ON THESE LATER ASSEMBLED CARS (MINE WAS BUILT MAY 25, 2012), AS THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. AGAIN THE DEALER WANTS $2300 TO REPAIR. *TR
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2017, crash
WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP WELL AT LEAST FELT THAT WAY JUST WAS REALLY HARD TO STEER. I ENDED UP HITTING A POLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I COULDN'T REALLY CONTROL MY CAR. ALSO I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL AT ALL AND COULD'VE PROBABLY PREVENTED THIS INCIDENT IF I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL . NOW I HAVE NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE SO NOW I'M STUCK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I'M GOING TO GET MY DAUGHTER TO HER APPOINTMENTS AND HOW I'M GOING TO GO TO WORK AND MAKE MONEY TO PAY BILLS DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR IS NOW SITTING ON THE GARAGE SITTING THERE
Steering, Jan 7, 2017
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS DOWN. FIRST, WHILE DRIVING, A SERIES OF SENSOR LIGHTS COME ON. AFTER THIS, IF THE ENGINE IS SHUT OF AND THEN BACK ON, THERE IT A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO THAT IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN
Steering, Jan 7, 2017
UNEXPECTEDLY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A CITY STREET...NOTICED WHEN TURNING THE CAR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 3, 2017
I WAS DRIVING ON THE 15 N AT ABOUT 70 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE LEFT AND LOCKED. AT THIS TIME, THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS NO RESPONDING TO ANY INPUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Steering, Dec 29, 2016
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS DOWN. FIRST, WHILE DRIVING, A SERIES OF SENSOR LIGHTS COME ON. AFTER THIS, IF THE ENGINE IS SHUT OF AND THEN BACK ON, THERE IT A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO THAT IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THAT RECALL. *TR
Steering, Dec 28, 2016
APRIL, 2016: I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY WITH THE MOTOR OFF. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR I COULD BARELY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE IT TO SCHULTZ FORD IN NANUET, NEW YORK. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE ELECTRONIC GEARBOX HAD FAILED. THE REPAIR COST $2000. THE SCHULTZ FORD SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT CERTAIN MODELS OF 2012 FUSIONS WERE RECALLED FOR THE PROBLEM AND THEY WERE REPAIRED FOR FREE. UNFORTUNATELY, MY FUSION WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE MODELS. I APPEALED TO THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER. SHE REPEATED THE SAME INFORMATION AS SCHULTZ FORD. SHE ADVISED ME TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA IN HOPE THAT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINED FORD WOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS REPAIR AT THAT TIME. I AM CONFUSED AS TO WHY A PROBLEM THAT AROSE WITHOUT WARNING, AND WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL NOTICE ON A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MODEL, WAS NOT TREATED AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND REPAIRED FOR FREE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Steering, Dec 26, 2016
"POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE APPEARED AND STEERING WAS LOCKED. LUCKILY, BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY.
Steering, Dec 26, 2016
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2012 FORD FUSION WENT OUT JUST A FEW MILES AFTER THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON FOR POWER STEERING.
Steering, Dec 20, 2016
MECHANICAL CLUNKING NOISE WHEN INITIATING TURNS, EITHER DIRECTION. DIAGNOSED AS STEERING GEAR FAILURE BUT AS NOT A FAILURE RELATED TO THE ONGOING RECALL.
Steering, Dec 19, 2016
MY DAUGHTERS 2012 FORD FUSION POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN NOVEMBER 2016. WE TOOK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER & THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPROGRAM THE STEERING AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING ARM. THEY SAID THEY HAD SENT A RECALL LETTER IN JULY 15 WHICH SHE NEVER RECEIVED. NOW THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THE MILEAGE IS 158000. WHICH IS 8000 MILES OVER WHAT THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO COVER IT. IT IS A SAFETY RECALL THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. *TR
Steering, Dec 13, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SERVICE TRACTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE SERVICE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOW INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Steering, Dec 1, 2016
OUR POWER STEERING WENT OUT A FEW DAYS AGO WHILE WE WERE 5 1/2 HOURS FROM HOME. IT WAS WORKING FINE. WE STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT, AND MY HUSBAND COULD TELL SOMETHING HAPPENED WHEN HE TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN HE TURNED IT BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR OTHER FORD CARS LIKE OURS, BUT OUR VIN IS NOT ONE THAT WAS RECALLED. WE HAD A DIFFERENT ITEM FIXED ON OUR CAR, AND IT APPARENTLY RESET THE POWER STEERING. HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT COMFORTED BY THIS. WE ARE WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR