2012 Ford Fusion Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Part of Generation 1 — 2006–2012.

20112013
Complaints
3,034
Crashes
165
Fires
11
Injuries
104
Fatalities
7
Recalls
5

Worst 2012 Ford Fusion Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11,426 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:90,854 mi
Crash-related:46
Fires:2
#2404 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:65,473 mi
Crash-related:36
#3157 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:65,280 mi
Crash-related:8
Fires:4
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford Fusion.

Steering Defects
1,426
complaints
Crashes
46
Fires
2
Avg Miles
90,854
Airbags
404
complaints
Crashes
36
Fires
Avg Miles
65,473
Electrical Faults
157
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
4
Avg Miles
65,280
Transmission / Drivetrain
156
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
71,684
Engine Problems
111
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
65,214
Brakes
102
complaints
Crashes
15
Fires
Avg Miles
81,264
Unintended Acceleration
85
complaints
Crashes
17
Fires
Avg Miles
61,612
Electronic Stability Control
80
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
95,124
Body Structure
75
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
Avg Miles
66,986
Fuel System
58
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
56,147
Suspension Failures
33
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
85,951
Wheel Issues
23
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
81,244
Headlight/Taillight Failures
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
71,125
Structure:Body:Door
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
59,614
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
109,127
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,905
Seat-Related Issues
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
64,932
Steering:Rack And Pinion
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
107,714
Latches / Locks
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,078
Seat Belt Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
41,563
Hydraulic Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
133,400
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Power Steering Fluid
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
122,535
Traction Control System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,380
Wipers & Visibility
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
70,600
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,667
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
42,000
Gasoline Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,862
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,093
Structure:Body:Door:Handle:Interior
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Ford Fusion

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,434,437 vehicles.

21V158000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~2,602,668 affected

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.

21V081000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module · Air Bags:frontal
~1,067 affected

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.

19V001000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~782,384 affected

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.

17V024000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~654,695 affected

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.

15V340000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~393,623 affected

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.

Other Ford Fusion Years

2012 Ford Fusion — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Ford Fusion reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2012 Ford Fusion has 3,034 NHTSA complaints, 165 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 1,426 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Ford Fusion?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (1,426 complaints, avg 90,854 mi); Airbags (404 complaints, avg 65,473 mi); Electrical Faults (157 complaints, avg 65,280 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Ford Fusion?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 80,387 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Ford Fusion?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Ford Fusion include 165 crash-related reports, 11 fire reports, 104 injuries, and 7 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Ford Fusion have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,434,437 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Ford Fusion?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Fusion reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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