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Research · Midsize Cars

2012 Ford FusionRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 2,617 owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Most complaints involve steering (1,512) and air bags (436). The EPA rates it 19–26 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–26mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Mar 2021
Owner complaints
2,617
Top: steering
Fuel cost / yr
$2,450est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." 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), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 7, 2019NHTSA 19V001000

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveRemedy pending

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 10, 2017NHTSA 17V024000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. 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.

Air bagsReported Mar 10, 2021NHTSA 21V158000
See all 6 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 2, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

2,617 complaints filed with NHTSA · Aug 2011 – Oct 2026
  1. Steering1,512
  2. Air bags436
  3. Electrical system177
  4. Power train162
  5. Service brakes120
  6. Engine119
  7. Structure101
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)90
  9. Vehicle speed control87

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Fusion model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2006730
20071,064
20081,353
20091,023
20105,129
20112,795
20122,617
20131,957
20141,433
20151,066
20161,737
20171,114
2018444
2019378
2020185
Crashes reported
111
Fires reported
9
Injuries reported
66
Deaths reported
3
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 2, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Steering

1,512 reports47 crashes2 fires
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle to start the engine, the power steering became inoperable. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering); however, the dealer refused to perform the steering gear recall repair because no Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) were present. The contact stated that the dealer was withholding Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) information to avoid replacing the steering gear. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by telephone. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2026SteeringODI 11771615

Air bags

436 reports38 crashes
“On [XXX] ,I was driving in my car heading home with my [XXX] son in the backseat when my steering wheel just locked up on me and didn't want to turn and it was just stiff. I turn off my car immediately and waited about ten minutes to turn on. The car started up and the steering wheel became un loosen but this situation is off and on and it's scary . It's the third time now it happened. Next im experience a airbag warning symbol on my dashboard today [XXX] and that's even scarier driving in the car with a toddler because it's not safety. I don't know how to remove it off my dashboard and don't know how to fix the problem either.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2025Power train, Air bagsODI 11691106

Electrical system

177 reports8 crashes4 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11763530
All 2012 Fusion problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 2, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 6-spd · Manual 6-spd · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 2, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Fusion FWD
Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
233226$2,450342
Fusion S FWD
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
223125$2,550355
Fusion FWD
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
222924$2,700370
Fusion FWD
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
222824$2,700370
Fusion FWD FFV
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202823$2,800386
Fusion FWD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182721$3,050423
Fusion AWD FFV
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
182520$3,200444
Fusion AWD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
172419$3,400468
  • Fusion FWD
    Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    23 city · 32 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Fusion S FWD
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    22 city · 31 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Fusion FWD
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    22 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Fusion FWD
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    22 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Fusion FWD FFV
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Fusion FWD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    18 city · 27 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Fusion AWD FFV
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Fusion AWD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 2, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Ford Fusion 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
3 of 5
Side crash
4 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.2%
Overall
4 / 5
Ford Fusion 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
3 of 5
Side crash
4 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.5%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 2, 2026Vehicle 6718Vehicle 6418
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat 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
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2012 Fusion questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Fusion have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 2, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2012 Ford Fusion problems?

Owners filed 2,617 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (1,512), air bags (436), electrical system (177). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2012 Ford Fusion get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Ford Fusion at 19–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

How safe is the 2012 Ford Fusion?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2012 Ford Fusion 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 2, 2026