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, Oct 2, 2012
WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65MPH. SERVICE POWER STEERING SOON LIGHT CAME ON THEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. OWNERS MANUAL SAID I NEEDED TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. AFTER I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOW" LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE HAD COMPLETELY LOST THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE STEERING BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO USE. IT BECOMES VERY STIFF AND JERKS HARD TO WHICHEVER SIDE YOU TURN IT TO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. AFTER A WEEK IN THE SHOP THEY REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND RESET THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. MANY FUSION FORUMS SAY THAT THIS DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR MORE REPAIRS. *TR
Steering, Sep 1, 2012
POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. WARNING ON THE DASH FOR "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" THEN POWER STEERING FAILS. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. HAPPENED IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE AS WELL AS MAKING A TURN IN A PARKING LOT WHICH NEARLY LED TO A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR SINCE I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. SINCE IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE I KNOW TO PUT IN NEUTRAL THEN TURN OFF AND TURN ON THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, PREVIOUSLY FORD DEALER REPLACED LOWER FRONT ARM IAW FORD TSB. THIS OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. MOST RECENT FAILURES WERE WITHIN 150 MILES OF EACH OTHER. I CANNOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR AS SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE. *TR
Steering, Aug 10, 2012
3 DIFFERENT INCIDENTS. 1 ON 8/8/12, 2 ON 8/10/12. ALL DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS DURING SHORT DISTANCE TRIPS ( LESS THAN 15 MILES ). FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAR CHIMED, SHOWED WARNING TO SERVICE ADVANCETRACK, POWER STEERING FAILURE ( DO NOT RECALL EXACT WORDING OF WARNING ). CAR WAS MANUEVERABLE BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ABLE TO RESET POWER STEERING BY STOPPING, TURNING OFF / RESTARTING CAR. *TR
Steering, Jul 16, 2012
POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 45 MINUTES IN 102 DEGREE OUTDOOR WEATHER HEAT. CAR OPERATED NORMALLY FOR AN HOUR BEFORE PARKING THE CAR. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, THERE WAS NO FUNCTIONING POWER STEERING ASSIST. CAR WAS DRIVABLE, AND STEERABLE WITH GREAT EFFORT. REPAIR MADE AT FORD DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY (CAR WAS 11 MONTHS OLD WITH 5140 MILES ON ODOMETER). THE ELECTRONIC ANTI-LOCK CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. SERVICE STAFF SAID THE ELECTRONIC MODULE ALSO CONTROLLED THE POWER STEERING AND ADVANCETRAK VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS. *TR
Steering, Jul 11, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE DROVE THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WAS RESISTANT WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130. ...UPDATED 08-10-12 *BF
Steering, Jun 18, 2012
STARTED THE CAR, MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT.STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY TIGHT. FOLLOWED MANUAL DIRECTIONS TO TURN OF IGNITION,RESTART AFTER 10 SECONDS,MESSAGE RETURNED. TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED. IN AN EFFORT TO GET TO SAFE LOCATION, DROVE THE CAR SLOWLY USING INCREDIBLE UPPER ARM STRENGTH TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. TOWED TO DEALER NEXT DAY..INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION NEED REPLACING. DEFECTED FROM MANUFACTURE. JUST PURCHASED THE CAR, ITS ONLY 90 DAYS IN MY OWNERSHIP. I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR AT ALL. I HAD AN 11 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Steering, May 2, 2012
MULTI FUNCTION SCREEN SHOWED POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION AT STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WARNING WAS GONE AND STEERING WAS NORMAL. NEXT DAY WARNING APPEARED WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. VEHICLE PULLED OVER, RESTARTED AND WARNING WAS GONE, NORMAL STEERING. IN ONE HOUR IT HAPPENED AGAIN, VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO LOCAL FORD DEALER, AND THE FIRST DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN AS "CODES" DID NOT INDICATE STEERING PROBLEM. TODAY THEY CALLED AND STATED THE CAR NEEDS AN ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SET REPLACEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK LOG AND NO PARTS AVAILABLE. CAR IS INOPERABLE. WORKING WITH FORD CUSTOMER CARE SOLUTIONS CENTER FOR RESOLUTION. *JS
Steering, Jan 19, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ONCE AS THE STEERING FAILED. THE WRECKER SERVICE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500. UPDATED 02/15/12*BF UPDATED 03/08/12
Steering, Nov 23, 2011
AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND PULLING OFF TO CITY AREA, CAME TO A STOP AND THEN RELEASED BRAKE AFTER STOP SIGN AND GLIDING THRU INTERSECTION THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SOMETHING TO THE AFFECT OF "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION". TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND CAR WORKED FINE AGAIN. LITTLE SCARY THOUGH CONSIDERING IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN LESS SAFE CIRCUMSTANCES. MAKING APPOINTMENT TO HAVE LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER. *TR
Steering, Oct 27, 2011
POWER STEERING FAILURE. "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" WARNING ON MY DASH, ALTERNATING WITH "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC" WARNING. POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES AND TURN ONTO OFF-RAMP. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF IGNITION, RESTARTED CAR AND FAULT WENT AWAY AND POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO A SAFE AREA; I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO AND HAS LESS THAN 3,000 MILES.
Steering, Aug 31, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING RACK WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.