2012 Ford Fusion HybridRecalls, problems, MPG & safety
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 2,558 owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Most complaints involve steering (1,464) and air bags (434). The EPA rates it 38 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.
Safety recalls
Owner complaints by component
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Fusion Hybrid model year we’ve synced.
View as table
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 797 |
| 2011 | 2,869 |
| 2012 | 2,558 |
| 2013 | 1,861 |
| 2014 | 1,348 |
| 2015 | 996 |
| 2016 | 1,468 |
| 2017 | 1,084 |
| 2018 | 59 |
| 2019 | 335 |
| 2020 | 8 |
- Crashes reported
- 109
- Fires reported
- 9
- Injuries reported
- 66
- Deaths reported
- 3
What owners report most
Steering
“Se traba y se pone duro el "gobierno" junto con la cremallera electroasistida el volante no gira ni con el carro prendido, no eh echo uso de la campaña 15S18, nunca ah Sido asistido por el fabricante Ford, ni mucho menos lo eh metido a un taller de servicio independiente ni con aseguradoras y no me marco algún sensor del tablero antes de que me sucediera este problema con la "dirección asistida averiada"”
Air bags
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V34000 (STEERING), 19V001000 (AIR BAGS), and 21V158000 (AIR BAGS); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not yet made aware of the issue. The contact stated whiling parking the vehicle the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn with the message "Service Power Steering" displayed. The cause of the failure was not determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 310,000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Electrical system
“While driving my 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid (VIN: [XXX]), the braking system suddenly failed. When applying the brake pedal, there was completely zero brake resistance, and the vehicle failed to engage proper braking power, creating an extremely hazardous driving condition. The vehicle was inspected by a certified Ford dealership (Lithia), which officially documented that the vehicle is "UNSAFE TO DRIVE due to having no brake resistance." The diagnostics confirmed that the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU), the ABS module, and the Brake Master Cylinder have failed and require total replacement. The dealership also noted that the necessary braking parts are currently completely unavailable (backordered/no parts available). This is the exact same safety defect covered under Ford's previous Safety Recall 19S54 (NHTSA Campaign 19V904) for older Fusion models. However, the recall was never expanded to include the 2012 models, despite them using the same problematic braking infrastructure and experiencing identical catastrophic failures. NHTSA needs to investigate and force Ford to expand the recall to 2011-2012 models before this braking defect causes fatal accidents.”
Engines, transmissions & drive
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid
- Transmissions
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Drive
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
EPA fuel economy by version
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion Hybrid FWD Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 41 | 35 | 38 | $1,700 | 234 |
- 38mpg comb.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
- Frontal crash
- 3 of 5
- Side crash
- 4 of 5
- Side pole
- 4 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 10.5%
Maintenance basics
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
- Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
6–12 months - Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
Every oil change - Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
1–2 years - Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
1–2 years - Brake fluid—
2–3 years - Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
5–10 years - Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
— - 12V battery—
3–5 years
2012 Fusion Hybrid questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid have?
0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Oct 30, 2026.
What are the most common 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid problems?
Owners filed 2,558 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (1,464), air bags (434), electrical system (172). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid at 38 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).
How safe is the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid?
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid 4 out of 5 stars overall.