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: other or unspecified
127 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Nov 17, 2021
The power steering goes out and a warning message comes on saying power steering assist fault. Called a Ford dealership and they said there was no recall for this.
Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2021
Driver passenger side door would not open from the interior requiring the driver to roll down the window and open the car door from the external handle
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after parking and exiting the vehicle, the vehicle was rolling away. The contact jumped back into the vehicle and restarted the vehicle and then depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed that the shifter was in park however, the gear shift indicator displayed that the vehicle was in reverse. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact who is a mechanic, diagnosed that the shifter cable needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Other or unspecified, Oct 23, 2021
On 1/25/21 the vehicle power steering completely locked up and the car was towed to Ford dealership for fix. Ford fixed and car was picked up on 1/27/21. This happened at mileage of 67593 while my teenage son was driving putting him and his passenger in danger of an accident. On 9/13/21 once again the vehicle power steering completely locked up and the car was towed to a Ford dealership to fix and car was picked up on 9/16/21. This event happened at mileage of 74341 again while my teenage son was driving putting him and his passenger in danger of an accident. On 10/11/21 for the 3rd time the power steering went again and the car is currently at a Ford dealership to be fixed. This time the mileage is at 74544 and again my son was driving this vehicle putting him in danger of having an accident. On all 3 of these instances the warning lamp came on immediately before the loss of power steering. My concern is clearly the fix being performed is not solving the problem, putting my teenage son at risk of an accident.
Other or unspecified, Oct 1, 2021
Driver and passenger door handles are not working. Cannot open the drivers side door from the inside. Cannot lock the passenger door.
Other or unspecified, Aug 17, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering and excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The contact also stated that the traction control, power steering, and tire pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer where they informed him that his vehicle was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact the same information as the dealer. The contact stated that only a software update was performed with the prior recall and that no actual repairs were performed on the power steering. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Other or unspecified, Jul 3, 2021, crash
Unknown Front driver side tire came off the car causing the vehicle to crash into a wall passenger side airbag malfunction Thankfully my girlfriend had the seat all the way to the back and was laying down when the accident occurred. Idk what would've happened if she seating down correctly. The car was unrepairible.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2021
DEFROST/AC/VENTS BLOW OUT HOT AIR REGARDLESS OF SETTINGS...FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE ONLINE AND AN EXPENSIVE PERMANENT FIX...VENTS/DEFROST/AC MAY BE TRICKED INTO WORKING IF LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON BEFORE STARTING (THINKS IT'S NIGHTTIME OR COVER UP LIGHT SENSOR ON DASH)
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jan 11, 2021
POWER STEERING ASSIST CAME ON AND THE STEERING WENT OUT
Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2020, crash
THROTTLE BODY STAYS OPEND CAUSING WRENCH TO POP UP ON DASH AND CAR TO NO LONGER ACCELERATE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.. ALSO THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR IS FAULTY. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE SAY THEY HAVE THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH THE FUSION .. NOT TO MENTION THE TENSION PULLEY MAKES THE CAR WHILE IN MANY FORD FUSION CARS...
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Aug 16, 2020
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING WHILE I AM EITHER DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, TURNING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAYS IN NJ.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Mar 23, 2020
MY 2012 FORD FUSION IS REVVING HIGH AND SHIFTING WEIRD. NOT LIKE SLIPPING BUT IT'S REVVING A LOT IF HER THEN IT SHOULD BE. ALSO THE TACHOMETER SHUDDERS EVERY NOW AND THEN AT 1600 RPM. MY FATHER TOLD ME THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD FUSIONS TRANSMISSIONS AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS DRIVING IT.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jan 24, 2020
I BROUGHT THIS UNIT AT AN AUCTION, BUT THE WHEEL CONTINUES TO LOOK ON ME.... NOW SEVERAL LIGHTS ARE ON INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 4, 2020
THE INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE BREAKS AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW AND USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND MAKES EXITING THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY DIFFICULT AND COULD LEAD TO INJURY. THIS APPEARS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON WITH THE FORD FUSION.
Other or unspecified, Sep 8, 2019
I STOPPED TO GET GAS, PUT MY CAR IN PARK, AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. IT STARTED ROLLING FORWARD AS I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT. I LEAPED BACK IN AND HIT THE BRAKE AND PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE IT WAS REGISTERING THAT THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN PARK. I WENT INTO THE GEAR SHIFT AREA BY PULLING OFF THE CENTER CONSOLE AND MANUALLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL SO I COULD START THE CAR AND DROVE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT SIMILAR ISSUES WERE FOUND IN 2013 AND NEWER FORD FUSIONS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. I'M THINKING THE 2012 YEAR FORD FUSION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.
Other or unspecified, Aug 28, 2019
UNABLE TO OPEN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE - DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS AND INSIDE HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. MUST PUT WINDOW DOWN AND REACH OUT SIDE TO OPEN DOOR
Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2019
THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CAN CAN BREAK INTERNALLY WHEN EXPOSED TO HIGH TEMPERATURES SUCH AS A HOT SUMMER DAY ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE PLASTIC USED OFF-GASES AND LOSES STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OVER TIME UNFIL FAILURE OCCURS POTENTIALLY TRAPPING A PERSON WHO IS UNABLE TO REACH THE EXTERIOR HANDLE IN THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH THIS IS A PATTERN OF HAPPENINGS WITH THE 2012 FORD FUSION DUE TO A CHANGE BY FORD IN DOOR HANDLE CONSTRUCTION. REPAIRS ARE OFTEN INEFFECTIVE AS IT IS REPLACED WITH A SIMILAR PART THAT FAILS IN THE SAME MANNER.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 8, 2019
DRIVING DOWN I35 AT 75 MPH ADVANCE TRACE CAME ON AND LOST STEERING AS IT TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND SAID RACKANDPINION NEED REPLACED TO GET SYSTEM TO TALK NO STEERING ON VECHEL I SEE RECALL ON THIS BUT DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT AND I MUST FILE A COMPLAINT ON FORD I ORDER TO GET IT FIXED WITH OUT PAYING 2600 FOR REPAIR
Other or unspecified, Jul 7, 2019
DOOR LATCH - DRIVER'S DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE - FAILED. SYMPTOMS APPEAR TO BE THE SAME FAILURE MODE REPORTED ON NUMEROUS FORD MODELS AND YEARS. THE HANDLE DOES NOT CONTROL THE DOOR. THE LOCK MECHANISM DOES NOT FUNCTION.
Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2019
I HAD A LEAK UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR, STAINING MY DRIVEWAY. EVEN AFTER HAVING THE PTU REPLACED, I STILL HAD A LEAK. I ONLY REALIZED IT WAS LEAKING WHEN I HAD TO PARK IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION IN MY DRIVEWAY. I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE. FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION TUBE WERE RUSTED, THUS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TUBES, AND REPLACED ALL THE FLUID.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, May 31, 2019
TAKATA RECALL - FORD DEALERSHIP HAS FAILED TO FIX THIS CARS AIRBAG. I'VE MADE NUMEROUS APPTS THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN CANCELLED OR FORGOTTEN BY THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO UNAVAILABLE PARTS, OR HUMAN ERROR. IVE BEEN TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON ORDER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE, THERE WERE FAR TOO MANY RECALLS AND THE DEALERSHIP COULDNT MERT THE DEMAND, AND ALSO COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ALTOGETHER! DEALERSHIP WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL US TO FIX THIS AFTER FAILED APPOINTMENTS AND NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH. MY CAR WAS JUST UPDATED WITH A $300 VALUE LOSS BECAUSE OF IT. THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY PAID OFF.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Mar 28, 2019
WHEN I WAS DECELERATING THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE. ONLY HAPPENED IN TOWN, NOT ON HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVESHAFT AND LEFT SPRING, WHICH WAS BROKEN!
Other or unspecified, Mar 9, 2019
WHEN MOVING, A STRONG BLOW AND VIBRATION OCCURS IN THE CAR AS A RESULT OF CHANGING THE CHANGES IN THE LIME
Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2019
THE DRIVER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR MODELS BEFORE AND AFTER 2012 FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM 70 YRS OLD AND CANNOT REPAIR THIS MYSELFLF NOT HAVE FUNDS TO HAVE REPAIR. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL AND PROBLEM
Other or unspecified, Feb 22, 2019
TAKATA RECALL TRANMISSION SOMETIMES DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY