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Ford FusionModel year report

2012 Ford Fusion Problems

Compared with other Ford Fusion years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 4.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2009, 2014, 2015

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
2,517filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
74,450miles, 1,734 complaints with mileage
Recalls
52 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford Fusion (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Ford Fusion most often describe a sudden loss of power steering assist, usually accompanied by a "Service Power Steering" and/or "Service Advancetrac" message and a steering wheel that becomes very hard to turn. These reports span a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 miles to well past 150,000, and many owners link the symptom to a 2015 steering recall that their VIN was not included in. Brake pedal travel to the floor and fractured interior door handles also appear repeatedly in the sampled complaints.

  1. Steering

    Sudden loss of power steering assist

    • 1,258 complaints (50%)
    • median 85,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (980 state mileage)
    • 41 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,850 (median of 115 quotes)
    • filed 2011–2026

    Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, often at low speed, on startup, or shortly after a warning chime and a "Service Power Steering" or "Power Steering Assist Fault" message. Many say the message is sometimes paired with "Service Advancetrac," and that restarting the car occasionally restores assist temporarily before it drops out again. Complaints frequently mention that dealers diagnosed a failed steering rack or power steering control module and quoted replacement, and many owners state their VIN was not covered by the 2015 steering recall or that the failure returned after a prior recall or customer-satisfaction reprogram. Reported across a wide range, from roughly 30,000 to over 220,000 miles, with many under 100,000 miles.

    Recall 15V3400002 related service bulletins

    What to check: On a test drive, start the car and watch for a "Service Power Steering" or "Advancetrac" message, and check whether the wheel turns easily from a stop. Ask whether the vehicle ever had the 2015 steering recall (15V340000) or the 15S18 reprogram performed, and whether the steering rack or control module has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “There is currently a recall for the part I had to replace for $3000 under code 15s18, but for some reason, my vehicle was not covered under this recall though it is the exact problem described in the recall and other Ford fusions of the same timeframe are covered. I lost and regained control of steering for some time until it eventually stopped working altogether.”

    NHTSA complaint #11413850, filed 2021-04, 96,000 miles

    “I left work and everything was working fine, no trouble steering or anything. I stopped to get gas and turned off the car when I was done and started the car back up lights turned on the dash and my steering wheel wouldn't move. It was saying service electric power steering now. I didn't have any problems before and now it just quit working out of nowhere. So I was parked when it quit working.”

    NHTSA complaint #11350261, filed 2020-08, 113,000 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brake pedal goes to the floor (long pedal travel)

    • 101 complaints (4%)
    • median 83,206 mi at 7.5 yrs old (70 state mileage)
    • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2026

    Owners describe the brake pedal traveling almost to the floorboard before the brakes engage, sometimes requiring several pumps to restore normal braking, and in some cases a rear caliper seizing. Complaints mention shops replacing pads and rotors without resolving the long pedal and suspecting the hydraulic control unit for the ABS. Several owners note that similar complaints led to recalls on earlier Fusion model years but say their 2012 was not included. Reported from roughly 68,000 to 142,000 miles.

    What to check: Test the brake pedal at a stop with the engine running: it should feel firm and should not sink toward the floor. Ask for brake service records and whether the ABS hydraulic control unit has ever been inspected.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While traveling at a slow rate of speed the brakes on my 2012 Ford Fusion hybrid failed to engage, with the pedal traveling all the way to the floor. The car was tuned off and restarted and the brakes seemed to work again. I had the vehicle towed tot he dealership and turned out the the hydraulic control and the electronic control units are both faulty. This is a recall item for 2010 Fusion hybrids, but not my year.”

    NHTSA complaint #11312038, filed 2020-02, 174,823 miles

    “The rear brake calibers have seized up twice now. 1st time was june 2017, serviced by firestone, and just recently sept 12th 2020. Both times required a full brake repair. First happened at 72,000 miles and now at 142,000 miles. Both cause a loss of braking in the vehicle. In june of 2017 the vehicle was moving between 30 to 45 MPH when it seized up. We drove it to nearest shop in illinois so we can start our drive back to georgia. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11354770, filed 2020-09, 142,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on the electric power steering: confirm the recall status and whether the rack or control module has been replaced, and test the brake pedal for a firm feel. Service records for the transmission and door handles are also worth asking for, since owners report recurring problems in those areas.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 2,517 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford Fusion. 1,734 of the complaints include a mileage, and 30% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 74,450 miles. Of all complaints, 107 involved a crash, 9 a fire, 64 an injury, 3 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 51 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 12 Ford Fusion model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Fuel system (65), Suspension (36), Wheels (28), Latches, locks and linkages (24), Exterior lighting (21), Seats (11), Tires (11), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (11), Seat belts (8), Equipment (6), Engine cooling (5), Forward collision avoidance (3), Lane departure (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “Loud creaking noise when turning the steering wheel at low speeds. It does not occur when it is cold outside, but occurs at temperature 70+. It get's really loud at temperatures near 80 degrees and above. I am concerned it will fail while driving. Exact same issue as others. When I took vehicle to Ford, it was cold and they said nothing was wrong.”

NHTSA complaint #11399336, filed 2021-03, 183,254 miles

Air bags: “I had an accident with my car.it was basically a t bone accident to a large SUV . It was a really bad accident but surprised that the air bags didn't deploy. I ended up going to the emergency and was told that I have muscle inflammation . I also hit the bottom of my right leg and have multiple bruises. I was wearing seatbelt that helped me but no airbag was activated.”

NHTSA complaint #11193836, filed 2019-04, 135,000 miles

Electrical system: “Lose of power steering and my dashboard keeps flashing to check it! My dashboard also keeps saying that my advance trac isnt right or unstable! Plus my air conditioning unit blows hot air on hot days! My air bag was supposed to been fixed on 02/11/2020 by a Ford dealership and it is back to it's old self”

NHTSA complaint #11338893, filed 2020-07, 166,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “After driving a distance, I put the car in park and the car went into reverse, but was still showing in park. I had to quickly slam on the breaks and shut the car down. However, because it was actually in reverse , the car would not start again. It had to be manually put in drive so I could get somewhere safe. Very dangerous.”

NHTSA complaint #11299135, filed 2020-01, 130,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

30% of the 1,734 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 43,000 and 113,000 miles.

5%0–106%10–2519%25–5020%50–7518%75–10022%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1,734 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 74,450 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’12’14’16’18359’20’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Fusion · sedan AWD★★★★☆4 / 3445 · 9.2% risk
Fusion · sedan FWD★★★★☆4 / 3444 · 10.5% risk

Neighbouring years: 2011: same overall rating; 2013: 5 stars overall. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Ford Fusion version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Fusion AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172419$3,550
Fusion FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic233226$2,600
Fusion FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual222824$2,800
Fusion FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic222924$2,800
Fusion FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182721$3,200
Fusion S FWD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual223125$2,700
Fusion AWD FFV3.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic182520$3,350
Fusion FWD FFV3.0L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic202823$2,900

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Ford Fusion → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 51 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 51 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford Fusion

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202018471,00035250 · FewerRising
201931678,50035250 · FewerRising
201844390,00025250 · FewerRising
20171,11571,532452547 · TypicalRising
20161,65078,0001352874 · MoreStable
201599774,4001352850 · TypicalStable
20141,33375,0001952759 · TypicalStable
20131,79276,1141952775 · MoreFalling
20122,51774,4505424100 · MoreFalling
20112,79472,0007424100 · MoreFalling
20105,13072,00011—25100 · MoreFalling
20091,02397,0006—2344 · TypicalFalling
20081,35398,0005—2320 · FewerFalling
20071,06485,0004—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200673076,0004—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Ford Fusion model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Fusion?

Owners of the 2012 Ford Fusion most often describe a sudden loss of power steering assist, usually accompanied by a "Service Power Steering" and/or "Service Advancetrac" message and a steering wheel that becomes very hard to turn. The issues reported most often: Sudden loss of power steering assist; Brake pedal goes to the floor (long pedal travel).

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Ford Fusion have?

NHTSA recorded 2,517 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford Fusion as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Ford Fusion is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 1,474 complaints (59% of the total), followed by air bags with 404.

Has the 2012 Ford Fusion been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2012 Ford Fusion do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2012 Ford Fusion 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Fusion get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Ford Fusion (Fusion FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Ford Fusion reported?

Among the 1,734 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 74,450 miles and the middle half falls between 43,000 and 113,000 miles; 30% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.