Is the 2012 Ford Fusion a bad year?
2,518 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Fusion years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Ford Fusion are in line with other Fusion years. Steering, air bags and stability control stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 Fusion owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 84,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 1,476 (59%) | 52k–124k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 403 (16%) | 38k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 80 (3%) | 57k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 165 (7%) | 39k–90k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 158 (6%) | 25k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 113 (4%) | 50k–124k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 99 (4%) | 41k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 36 (1%) | 52k–113k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Wheels | 28 (1%) | 40k–110k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Seats | 11 (0%) | 30k–84k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (0%) | 28k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (0%) | 45k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 116 (5%) | 30k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 86 (3%) | 25k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 84,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 2,518 complaints: 107 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 44 report an injury · 119 say the car was towed.
45 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was driving down a four lane highway and the car starting sputtering; then the check engine light and tool light came on and the car began decelerating and I had to coast to median.
After taking off from a stop my transmission would slam when going into 2 gear, sometimes it would not shift into 2nd going back into first and revving up to almost 7k RPM and then shift jerking the car when shifting.
Driving along route 80, nj, the car became unresponsive to the gas pedal as if it were in neutral. The wrench symbol came on and the car began to slow down.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 84,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Ford Fusion: 6
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 48
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Ford Fusion. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A…
To help differentiate engine oil leaks from other possible sources, a new white-colored fluorescent engine oil dye is available
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0030 and/or P0130
2014 escape, 2010-2014 fusion, 2012-2014 edge, explorer, 2013-2014 taurus: Lincoln 2013-2014 mkt,mkz: Mercury 2009- 2011 mariner, 2010-2011 milan
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Power Steering Failure
Electric power steering failure
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Neighbouring years
2011 Fusion: 2,795 complaints, keep it · 2013 Fusion: 1,793 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Ford Fusion year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All Fusion years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Ford Fusion a bad year?
2,518 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Fusion years. At 84,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Fusion?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (1,476), air bags (403), stability control (80), electrical system (165), transmission and drivetrain (158).
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Fusion have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-158), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-081), Air bags (NHTSA 21E013000), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-001) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.