Car · Ford problems

2012 Ford Fusion problems

2,517 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Fusion. The most reported area is steering (59% of them). NHTSA also lists 43 service bulletins and 5 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 64. Deaths: 3.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 2,517 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Steering1,474 · 59%
• Air bags404 · 16%
• Electrical system164 · 7%
• Power train (transmission and drive)158 · 6%
• Other or unknown119 · 5%
• Engine and engine cooling116 · 5%
• Service brakes113 · 4%
• Body and structure99 · 4%

18 smaller areas not shown (399 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 43 repair bulletins from Ford for the 2012 Ford Fusion. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. SSM 53040Received October 16, 2024

   While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

2. SSM 52243Received February 14, 2024

   Engine and engine cooling

   When performing any transmission fluid change or topoff involving Motorcraft Premium ATF, MERCON V has replaced all versions of Motorcraft Premium ATF and can be used going forward.

3. 22B05 S1Received August 3, 2023

   Air bags

   Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control...

4. SSM 51666Received May 29, 2023

   Steering

   Some 2010-2012 Fusion/Milan and 2011-2012 MKZ vehicles equipped with a 2.5L or 3.0L engine and electronic power assist steering (EPAS), a remanufactured replacement steering gear (MU2Z-3V504-ARM)...

5. TSB 23-2098Received May 4, 2023

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   Some 2010-2012 Fusion hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), 2010-2011 Milan HEV and 2011-2012 MKZ HEV vehicles may experience reduced electric vehicle operation and increased gasoline engine operation...

6. 22B05Received April 4, 2022

   Air bags

   Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control...

7. TSB160043Received December 20, 2021

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   6F35 Transmission - Fluid leak at left side halfshaft seal - built on or before 10/14/2013.

8. TSB160066Received December 20, 2021

   Equipment

   Touchscreen navigation system - arabic language - blank screen.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 15V340000June 2, 2015

   Steering

   The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.

2. 19V001000January 7, 2019Do not drive notice

   Air bags

   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...

3. 17V024000January 10, 2017Do not drive notice

   Air bags

   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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2012 Ford Fusion, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Fusion will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Steering 1,474 complaints · 59%

• Tie rod end replacement (one side)$130 to $380
• Wheel alignment (four-wheel)$85 to $250

Air bags 404 complaints · 16%

• Airbag clockspring replacement$230 to $670
• Airbag / occupant sensor replacement$220 to $750

Electrical system 164 complaints · 7%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Power train (transmission and drive) 158 complaints · 6%

• Transmission fluid service$140 to $480
• Transmission solenoid replacement$290 to $1,200
• Torque converter replacement$880 to $2,475
• Clutch replacement (manual transmission)$1,000 to $2,050

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2012 Ford Fusion: questions

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

Of the 2,517 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Fusion, 1,474 (59%) name steering, and 404 (16%) name air bags. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2012 Ford Fusion reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 107 of the 2,517 complaints as involving a crash and 9 as involving a fire. They also reported 64 injuries and 3 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Fusion have?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 43 repair bulletins for the 2012 Ford Fusion.

More

• 2019 Fusion problems
• 2018 Fusion problems
• 2017 Fusion problems
• 2016 Fusion problems
• 2015 Fusion problems
• 2014 Fusion problems
• 2013 Fusion problems
• 2011 Fusion problems
• 2010 Fusion problems
• 2012 recalls
• All Ford recalls
• Ford problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.