Owner complaint record
2012 Ford Fusion Problems and Recalls: What Owners Report
This page shows the problems 2012 Ford Fusion owners reported to NHTSA, the federal agency that tracks car safety: 2,513 complaints sorted by system, the mileage they started at, the check engine codes owners named, and the recalls to check before you buy.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 2, 20262,513 complaintsFederal file of Aug 25, 2026
-10% vs 2011
1,439 complaints, 57% of the total
half of the steering reports that give a mileage came before this
44 mention an injury, 9 a fire
The steering leads the 2012 Ford Fusion record at 57%, with airbag system next at 16%. Of the steering reports that give a mileage, half came before 83,000 miles. The costliest part on our cost list is the electric power steering rack, $514 to $1,222 for the part alone.
It's a count of reports, not a failure rate. Use it to decide what to inspect before buying, not to grade the car.
More than half of the complaints name the steering, most of them a warning light and a loss of power assist. Ford has a steering recall for this car.
2012 Ford Fusion overview
The 2012 Fusion came with a 2.5-liter four and two six-cylinders of 3.0 and 3.5 liters, with a six-speed automatic or, on the four, a six-speed manual.
Owners filed 10% fewer complaints about the 2012 than the 2011 (2,783), and the steering leads both years. The 2013 drew 1,785, with engine named most.
- Power
- 263 hp at 6,250 rpm
- Torque
- 249 lb-ft
- Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic
- Fuel
- Regular gasoline
- Injection
- Not direct
city / highway / combined mpg, EPA
- Power
- 240 hp at 6,550 rpm
- Torque
- 223 lb-ft
- Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic
- Fuel
- Regular gasoline
- Injection
- Not direct
city / highway / combined mpg, EPA
- Power
- 175 hp at 6,000 rpm
- Torque
- 172 lb-ft
- Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual
- Fuel
- Regular gasoline
- Injection
- Not direct
city / highway / combined mpg, EPA
Fuel economy from EPA fueleconomy.gov; power and torque from Kelley Blue Book's spec pages.
Is the 2012 Ford Fusion reliable?
The 2012 Ford Fusion ranks 3rd of 11 Fusion model years for owner complaints, and most of them are about the steering. The four checks below are what the federal record can say; none of them is a reliability score.
- 3rdCompared with other Fusion years2,513 complaints, the 3rd most of 11 model years (2010 has 5,126).By model year
- 57%The system named mostSteering, in 1,439 complaints. Half of the steering reports that give a mileage came before 83,000 miles.Problems by system
- 6Recalls6 recall campaigns cover the 2012 Ford Fusion.Recalls
- 107Crashes, injuries, fires107 complaints mention a crash, 44 an injury and 9 a fire.
A complaint count is not a failure rate: the record doesn't say how many were sold, so a popular year draws more reports.
2012 Ford Fusion problems by system
Every complaint to NHTSA names the part of the car that gave the owner trouble, such as the engine or the steering. The cards below sort the 2,513 complaints about the 2012 Ford Fusion that way, largest first: open one to read what owners wrote, when it usually starts, and what to check.
Steering57%1,439 complaintsSteering assist failure warnings
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What owners describe
On 10/5/14 my steer wheel was making a noise when I started turning it and figured I get it checked when I went to get oil change next day. The next day I was driving to dealership and half way there the power steering failed and light came on. Luckily I was driving with two hands.
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.
NJTXWINCRead 4 more owner reports+4
I backed out of my garage and the steering "locked". I could not turn the wheel. A message appeared on the screen "power steering " etc. I checked the manual and followed instructions to wait 10 minutes and try again. It worked but I did not drive. I brought my car to my dealer on july 1. They ordered parts to arrive next day. My husband picked me up. This is a scary situation !
There is a grinding/pooping noise from front of vehicle when turning. The recall 15s18 was reprogrammed along recall 16b38 but the noise has continued and has gotten worse. When driving slow and turning to the left and right in a parking lot it is very noticeable the dealership stated the noise was coming from the steering rack.
Steering locked up while driving, took into dealership said it was the control arms 2 weeks later same thing happened, steering locked up
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.
When it starts
Usually starts around 83,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 50,362 and 123,072.
What to do
Turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine running and watch for a steering warning.
Airbag system16%404 complaintsTakata inflator recalls, waits for parts
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What owners describe
Received notice of recall march 2017. Contacted world Ford pensacola in may 2017, july 2017 and september 2017. I am always told that I have been placed on a waiting list. This is a very serious recall, due to being in high humidity area and having a takata air bag.
Takata recall. Ford will not replace the dangerous passenger airbag. Proper airbags have been installed in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 fords but the company refuses to replace ours. I can't take a trip anywhere and place my wife's life in danger. Inexcusable, criminal delay by Ford.
PAALLACARead 4 more owner reports+4
Driver's side air bag light came on for the 2nd time. Took vehicle to Ford dealership. Ford verified air bag light to be on. Ford checked connector to air bag module and found connector was faulty so they replaced connector. Checked ok.
Takata recall. This recalll is almost 1 year old and my Ford dealer says parts are not available. I am afraid to keep driving this defective vehicle. What can I do? Recall notice dated jan. 10, 2017.
Takata recall there seems to be too great a delay in implementing this serious recall on my automobile. The dealer says they have not yet released the fix and are only working on 2006-2009 models.
Takata recall Ford has send a recall on march 2017 and as of today, october 29th 2018 has not yet provided replacement of the defected airbag. Furthermore is refusing to address a dashboard light of the passenger airbag, saying that it is not related to the recall.
When it starts
Usually starts around 68,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 36,250 and 105,000.
What to do
Run the VIN: the airbag recalls should show as done.
Electrical system6%159 complaintsPower steering cutting out, warning lights
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What owners describe
When the vehicle was in motion, the power steering abruptly stopped working, due to an electrical problem. Over 400,000 Ford cars were recalled for this problem, all made at the same location, during the same time. Ours was not recalled, however and therefore created a very dangerous situation for us.
Takata recall I drive 6 miles to work when I get home the key is so hot I can hardly touch it. The key hole is just as hot ?? Just purchased this car from key scales Ford on 7/14/2018.
OHDEINCARead 4 more owner reports+4
Vehicle wouldn't start and got towed to the dealership. After inspection they found the fuel pump unit housing cracked and electrically shorted, blowing the fuse. Both the fuel pump and the fuse needed replaced. Car has 87k miles. This could have failed anywhere on the road
I was driving my 2012 Ford fusion to work one day when suddenly I got an alert reading "service power steering now" and was no longer able to use my power steering which made turning extremely difficult. I was on a highway and had to pull over and park in the closest fuel station.
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
I have lost power steering several times while driving my 2012 Ford fusion - mostly on the highway.
When it starts
Usually starts around 63,400 miles. Half of owners reported it between 36,000 and 90,299.
What to do
Watch the dash for a steering warning on the test drive.
Powertrain6%156 complaintsHarsh shifts
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What owners describe
There is a grinding/pooping noise from front of vehicle when turning. The recall 15s18 was reprogrammed along recall 16b38 but the noise has continued and has gotten worse. When driving slow and turning to the left and right in a parking lot it is very noticeable the dealership stated the noise was coming from the steering rack.
The transmission slams when shifting. Have had the computer reflashed at the dealership which fixed the problem for a few days. At about 30000 miles, the windshield wipers started going crazy (turning on/ off whenever, going different speeds whenever).
CTINRead 2 more owner reports+2
I was driving about 30 mph when suddenly the steering became very difficult, I couldn't brake or accelerate for a brief period. All the warning light came on saying service power steering now, advanced track, low tire pressure, change oil now.
The driver-side transmission axle seal is leaking fluid. This is a known issue on multiple vehicles with the 6f35 transmission. It could become a safety issue if the transmission is allowed to get too low on fluid.
When it starts
Usually starts around 51,380 miles. Half of owners reported it between 22,000 and 90,000.
What to do
Drive through every gear and feel for a harsh shift.
Our guideBad Transmission Symptoms: Seven Causes Ranked by CostEngine4%111 complaintsSudden power loss, stalling
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What owners describe
Driving on freeway in heavy traffic car suddenly lost power and slowed to 30-40 mph. Had to cut across 2 lanes of traffic to the shoulder. Limped to exit where car driven at slow speed. Dealer could not find problem.
On my way to work in the morning on a back country road, I went around a 90 degree turn, braking before going into the turn. On the way out of the turn, the engine stalled as I was trying to accelerate. I came to a stop, put the vehicle in park, and then it restarted with not problem, but shocked me a bit.
GAFLRead 2 more owner reports+2
Driving at highway speed, engine stalls while attempting to merge. Orange wrench light appears near fuel gauge. Rough idling below 1000 rpm. Turn car off and wait one minute. Restart car and drive without incident.
Vehicle stalled while driving probably 45 mph in the middle of traffic. I hit the gas, the car kept slowing down. I had to put my emergency signals on. The car turned off in the middle of traffic. I had to switch to park and restart the car again.
When it starts
Usually starts around 52,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 28,800 and 80,000.
What to do
Accelerate on the highway and feel for a loss of power.
Our guideEngine Power Reduced: Meaning, Causes and How to FixWhat repairs cost on the 2012 Ford Fusion
Part prices for the problems 2012 Fusion owners report most. They are shelf and mail-order prices for the part alone, so a shop bill adds labor and its own markup.
A remanufactured AAE rack up to a new Motorcraft one, plus a core deposit of up to $400. Under Ford’s recall 15V340, for 2011–2012 Fusions without the 3.5L, a dealer checks the steering module and replaces the gear free if it finds loss-of-assist codes; check the VIN first.
Check steering racks12 brands fit, from SKP up to ACDelco, with Moog and Motorcraft between them. Priced per arm.
Check control armsPrices on this page are our own research, not the store’s, and store prices change daily.
Prices read on RockAuto on Oct 2, 2026, for the parts listed as fitting this car; regular stock only, closeouts left out.
Check engine codes owners report
8 owners name U3000 (a Ford-specific code) in their complaints, the code named most for this car.
Complaints whose text names the code, one count per complaint. Tap a code to read our guide; grey codes have no guide yet.
When problems show up on the odometer
Powertrain complaints start earliest, typically around 51,400 miles. Steering complaints start latest, around 83,000 miles.
Dot: typical mileage. Bar: the middle half of reports. From the mileage owners wrote on the form.
Ford Fusion complaints by model year
2012 is shown in dark. The steering is named most in 3 other Fusion years.
Show chartHide chart
2012 is shown in dark. The steering is named most in 3 other Fusion years.
When owners filed
Complaints about the 2012 Ford Fusion have kept arriving since 2011, with peaks in 2017 and 2018. A peak often follows a recall or a news story, not a new fault.
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2012 Ford Fusion recalls
6 recall campaigns cover the 2012 Ford Fusion. A recall list is by model year; whether one car had the work done is in its VIN record.
2012 Ford Fusion crash tests and investigations
NHTSA crash tests rate the 2012 Ford Fusion four stars overall, the same for all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. Its defect office has opened four investigations that cover this model year.
Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars: 5 is the safest result, 1 the least safe.
Frontal stars compare cars of about the same weight; side stars compare every vehicle. Rollover stars show how top-heavy the car is: NHTSA puts the 2012 Ford Fusion’s chance of rolling over in a single-car crash at 9% to 10%.
Safety equipment NHTSA recommends
Federal investigations
Before you buy a used 2012 Ford Fusion
These checks follow what 2012 Fusion owners reported most: steering that loses its power assist, then airbag recall delays. Run the VIN before you pay, because this car has steering and airbag recalls.
- 1Turn the wheel lock to lock
A steering assist failure is the top complaint, by a wide margin.
- 2Run the VIN for steering and airbag recalls
Both have campaigns on this car; only the VIN shows the fix.
- 3Drive through every gear
Harsh shifts show up in the powertrain complaints.
- 4Accelerate hard on the highway
Engine complaints describe a sudden loss of power.
- 5Watch the dash
A steering warning light is the most common thing owners describe.
Oil and service for the 2012 Ford Fusion
This is what Ford's manual says the 2012 Fusion needs: which oil to use and how much, the fluids for the transmission and the cooling system, and when each job is due. The car tracks oil wear itself and shows an oil change message on the dashboard, but Ford says never to go past a year or 10,000 miles.
- Engine oil
- 5W-20
- Oil capacity
- 5.5 US quarts
- Transmission fluid
- 6-speed Aisin F21: Motorcraft Premium ATF; 6-speed 6F35: Motorcraft MERCON LV
- Coolant
- Motorcraft Specialty Green or Specialty Orange, whichever the car came with
- Engine oil
- 5W-20
- Oil capacity
- 6.0 US quarts
- Transmission fluid
- 6-speed Aisin F21: Motorcraft Premium ATF; 6-speed 6F35: Motorcraft MERCON LV
- Coolant
- Motorcraft Specialty Green or Specialty Orange, whichever the car came with
- Engine oil
- 5W-20
- Oil capacity
- 5.3 US quarts
- Transmission fluid
- 6-speed Aisin F21: Motorcraft Premium ATF; 6-speed 6F35: Motorcraft MERCON LV
- Coolant
- Motorcraft Specialty Green or Specialty Orange, whichever the car came with
Service schedule
From the Ford 2012 Fusion Owner's Guide, read Oct 2, 2026. Normal schedule.
Common questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Fusion?
Owners name the steering most (1,439 complaints), then airbag system (404) and electrical system (159).
Is 2012 a good year for the Ford Fusion?
The complaint record can't grade a car, but it shows what to check: the steering complaints that lead this year, the mileage they start at, and whether the recall repairs were done.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Ford Fusion?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Fusion: airbags (5), steering. A dealer can tell from the VIN whether one car got the repairs.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Fusion problems start?
Powertrain complaints start earliest, around 51,400 miles. Steering complaints come later, around 83,000 miles.
Which Fusion years have the most and fewest complaints?
The 2010 and 2011 model years have the most in the file, and the 2020 and 2019 the fewest, though newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Other 2012 sedans to compare
What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 6 sources
Owner quotes are changed from all capitals to normal case only. Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.