2012 FORD FUSION Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Fusion. This model year has 500 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Steering Defects.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2012 Ford Fusion Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Brake System
Considering a 2012 Ford Fusion?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford Fusion. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 395 | 9 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 36 | 2 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 35 | 4 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 25 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 23 | 4 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 16 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tether | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Lower Anchor (On Car Seat Or Vehicle) | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
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.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 500 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving, but the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was dri…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and making a left turn, the driver's side door unexpectedly opened. The contact stated that the door ajar warning light was illuminated. The failure became a recurring failure. The contac…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer, and the power steering control modul…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. While the contact’s girlfriend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel jerked and pulled to the right. Due to the failure, the steering wheel seized, and excessive force was needed to turn the steering wheel. The driver was abl…
The steering locked up and was completely unable to turn the wheel. This resulted in an accident that sent the car into a ditch. The safety recall for the steering was fixed and it failed again, in which it cost me 1700 to replace the same part again. It has AGAIN failed!!! This …
Good evening, I’m emailing to you regarding my ford fusion q20212. My steering has went out non drivable. I did see where that year had a lot of power steering issues.. could you help me out on the power steering recall and the power train.. also need to get airbag completed. Tex…
The Power Steering Assist Fault notice keeps popping up on the dashboard screen. When this happens, the power steering is inoperable leaving me stranded. I've had my mechanic fix it several times (after the Ford Recall on steering didn't properly repair the issue) costing an ins…
I have a recall, I need to know where I have to fix that
I am writing to formally report that the safety recall repair on my 2012 Ford Fusion has failed to resolve the dangerous loss of power steering. My vehicle underwent the 15S18 recall update only at Tom's Ford back in 2015. On January 20 2026, the steering failed again while drivi…
I am writing to formally file a complaint and request resolution regarding a serious safety issue involving my 2012 Ford Fusion SEL (VIN: [XXX] ). I have been a loyal Ford customer for over 20 years and have owned only Ford vehicles. Unfortunately, my recent experience with Ford…
My vehicle all of a sudden showed a "power steering assist fault," luckily it was parked. This is a problem with the 2012 Ford Fusion and I called Koon's Ford in Baltimore to see if this would be covered since my vehicle has never had steering issues before. They said yes, but af…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Electric Steering Fault" was displayed. While driving out of the driveway, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn, causing the vehicle to drive across two lanes of…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Power Steering How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The likelihood of accidents when traveling at lower speeds is increased. Has the problem been reproduce…
I recently started to experience hard steering while in transit the power assist light came on and so does the advanced track warning light. I discovered there was a recall so I took it in to the Ford dealership, which was JC Lewis Ford in Savannah, Georgia, but the technician to…
UNKNOWN. I have no power steering. I have contacted Ford and they were supposed to fix my car for free which they did not because it was up for recall.
My car lost my electric power steering on November 15, 2025. Ford has a Safety Satisfaction Program15V340000 for this vehicle. The Dealership refuses to honor the program since it has over 150,000 miles on it. Reading through the paper work for the program 15v340000 I never notic…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the messages "Service Power Steering Assist Fault" and "Advancetrac" were displayed, and the steering wheel suddenly became very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was take…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the “Service Advancetrac” and “Service Power Steering Now" messages were displayed. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle on two occasions, the "Power Steering Assist Fault" message was displayed on the instrument panel, and excessive force was required to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, wh…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH in the snow, the message "Service Power Steering" was displayed, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle became difficult to maneuver, and the contact had to use force to maneuver the vehicle. The veh…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Ford Fusion.
Recalls for 2012 Ford Fusion
6 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2012 Ford Fusion — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Ford Fusion reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2012 Ford Fusion has 500 NHTSA owner complaints, 15 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (395 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Fusion?▾
#1: Steering Defects (395 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (36 complaints). #3: Brake System (35 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Ford Fusion?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Ford Fusion?▾
The 2012 Ford Fusion has 15 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 500 total NHTSA complaints. 5 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Ford Fusion have any recalls?▾
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Ford Fusion. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 Ford Fusion?▾
The 2012 Ford Fusion has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Fusion reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2012 Ford Fusion
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.