Most common 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid problems
Share of the 96 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Fusion Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Fusion Hybrid years: 2020, 2015, 2016. Years to avoid: 2010, 2011, 2013. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid:
Electric power steering failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate complaints of the loss of power steering while driving. The subject vehicles are equipped with a rack mounted Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) unit.Some of the complaints alleged that the steering assist failed and resulted in increased steering efforts that contributed to a loss of control and in some cases a crash.The…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Power Steering Failure
On September 28, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE16-011) to investigate claims of power steering assist loss on model year (MY) 2010 Ford Fusion vehicles. During the PE, ODI received 718 unique claims related to the alleged problem with 598 reports indicating the power steering assist failed while driving at various speeds with no warning.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid owners say
Steering all 36 →
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the TPMS warning light illuminated. The contact stopped at a local gas station and inflated the driver's side front tire. The contact stated that after inflating the tire, the Advancetrac error and power system failure warning lights were illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and proceeded to drive the vehicle to his destination; however, the power steering seized and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed steering gearbox. The contact was informed that the steering gearbox needed to be replaced, and the tires needed to be rotated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated a message that the "Advance-trac System Failure - Service Required" message was displayed. The contact drove the vehicle home, turned off the vehicle, and noticed that the steering wheel was locked. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred on two prior occasions and was diagnosed as an Advance-trac system failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 207,000.
Air bags all 32 →
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact checked her VIN online and discovered that her vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the power steering seized without warning while steering through a curve. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the side of a tree and went down into the canal. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
Brakes
While driving my 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid (VIN: [redacted]), 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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The vehicle was repaired under Ford's customer satisfaction that was related to NHTSA action number: pe14030 (steering). The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the brake system warning, advanced tac, and ABS warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The contact powered the vehicle off and back on; however, when the vehicle was placed in reverse, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the pedal went to the floorboard and failed to stop the vehicle. The vehicle continued in reverse into oncoming traffic and nearly caused a crash. The contact powered the vehicle off and back on and the brake pedal returned to normal. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic, however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. …
2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 41 / 35 / 38 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid a good car?
Based on 96 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Fusion Hybrid rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Fusion Hybrid at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid?
The steering — 36 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (32) and brakes (17).
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Fusion Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2015 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2011 and 2013. See the full Ford Fusion Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.