Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Ford Fusion owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to shake without warning. The contact then stated that she attempted to operate the A/C unit, when she heard an abnormal sound inside the unit. The contact also stated that the unit failed to dispense cool air. Additionally, the contact stated that after the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle hesitated to respond for five seconds. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that due to an unknown electrical failure, the A/C compressor needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage as approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and was slow to accelerate. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
Ive had multiple accidents trying to get this car repaired . There are recalls all the way up to 2010 yet 2011 are also having the same hydraulic issues and ABS issues .This is outrageous i have to spent over 3000 dollars and the issues still is resolved especially when im paying for manufacturers error.I am not hard on any of my cars but this one is HORRIBLE
The car suddenly accelerated 3 times since it was purchased new in 2011. The 1st time I was parking and the car suddenly accelerated and hit a cement wall. The second time I was also entering a parking spot and the car suddenly accelerated and crashed into a tree. I took it to my dealer and they were unable to replicate the problem. this was in 2015. On 9/13/2022 I was about to make a right turn and suddenly the car accelerated at high speed and crossed over the road onto the golf course before I was able to slow it down. I immediately parked the car and haven't driven it since. I feel that it is unsafe to drive especially since the dealer was unable to identify the problem.
I was driving to my drs appointment and as I was pulling up to the hospital I saw a message from my dash and my steering wheel locked up and I had to get it towed and then sent to the dealership but since I had made a few of previous attempts to get it fixed with u guys it wasn't getting no response, so I had to go get it fixed force and I ended up with a bill..
Their is a recall for Ford Abs Module yet their needs to be one for 2012 Ford Fusions Se as well I have paid over 3200 dollars for my brakes alone . I have had 2 near misses and was in an unreported incident today from power loss on my breaks . Very unsafe for me and those around
Tl* the contact's mother owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that since 2015, the vehicle would serge forward independently while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The owner had taken the vehicle to blackwell Ford inc. (41001 Plymouth rd, Plymouth, mi 48170) where the mechanic replaced the throttle body. Since the repair was performed, the contact and her mother had taken the vehicle back to the same dealer on several occasions for the same failure. Recently, while her mother was attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated over a parking barrier into oncoming traffic. Her mother was pumping the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to immediately stop. The driver avoided crashing into a tree but clipped a stop sign before the vehicle came to a complete stop. No injuries were reported. A police report was not filed. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Ford Fusion. While parking the vehicle in a parking space, the vehicle surged at an unknown speed, drove over a concrete median, and crashed into two plastic tanks. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The insurance company towed the vehicle to a facility, investigated the failure, and determined that it was destroyed. The driver sustained injuries to the neck, collar bone, scarring to the left hand, left wrist, and left arm as well as chest pains from the seat belt restraining tightly. The front passenger also sustained chest pains from the seat belt restraining tightly. Both occupants received medical treatment. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000. The consumer stated the police report statement was incorrect.
When I was driving on the paved road about 15 miles per hour I let off the accelerator while engaging a slight curve in the road and the car all of a sudden sped up out of control. The brakes had no effect on stopping the car. So I steered away from traffic ahead and went into an open field. The car got up to around 50 MPH, and 60 yards out I hit a 10 foot wide trench by 2 foot deep. The front end hit the other side and the airbag went off. The brakes finally stopped the car about 30 yards from the trench. The decorative front end and the back end was tore off along with miscellaneous brackets. The radiator was pushed up into the hood with no leaks.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact was driving at low speeds when the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into the vacuum machine at a car wash. The contact applied the brake pedal and shifted into neutral but the vehicle delayed to respond. There were no reported injuries ,police report, air bag deployment, or fire.the vehicle was towed to jarrett Ford of charlotte county 3156 tamiami trail, port charlotte, fl 33952[phone] but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.
Acceleration complaints in other Fusion years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2012 Ford Fusion?
NHTSA has 86 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2012 Ford Fusion, 3% of the model year's 2,517 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Ford Fusion acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2012 Ford Fusion, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Fusion acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries and 2 deaths to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.