Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
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 his wife was driving 60 MPH, a deer jumped in front of the vehicle causing the contact to strike the deer and damage the front end of the vehicle. None of the air bags deploy. No one was injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage 150,000.
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering), 21V158000 (Air Bags) and 19V001000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The power steering assist and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering linkage and power steering module needed to be replaced. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment to perform the recall repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 191,353.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in a recall regarding the air bags. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for the recall repair and while the recall repair was being performed, the contact was told by the dealer that the air bags failed and needed to be replaced however, the recall repair did not include replacing the air bags. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the recall was related to the driver's side air bag and not the passenger's side air bag. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
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
Air Bag Recall has been unfixed since car was made in 2012. The recall was First started on March of 2021. I need to know my rights if the remedy is never made. The 1st issue is I don't feel safe driving vehicle and I can't get out into another vehicle which I understand is my issue but if Ford doesn't care about my safety why should I care what is technically owed to me. I didn't make a vehicle that could kill someone because of sup standard parts. 2 issue is I don't to get into an accident but if I do and survive my car Insurance would total set car because they can't as a company put a part on to a vehicle knowing that the Air Bag is still faulty. I do have gap if it came down to it but what if I didn't have that now Im Financially responsible for things I didn't cause or allow to Happen. All I'm asking is what are may rights. Does Ford as a Company have to help me if so how? …
I currently have the Airbag indicator light on my car lit up. I was recently recalled, and the work done in February of 2023. I do not have confidence in the dealership that completed the work initially due to circumstances that occured with my same car a few months later. The circumstances are that later in the year, my car was in the same shop for 48 days, and they could not diagnose, or fix the problem with the car. (not related to airbags, but my trust is broken) I then brought the car to a different dealership, and they were able to diagnose, and fix within 48 hours, not days. My concern is that the car was not properly put back together, and that I still have an Airbag issues, which is a safety concern for me, and potentially a passenger. …
Safety Recall Notice 21S12/NHTSA Recall 21V-158 ( Driver airbag recall) I received a letter from Ford, April 2021 about my car driver airbag needs to be repaired. RISK: Airbag inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments could strike the driver causing serious injury or death. I will be killed by the airbag, not the wreck. The passenger airbag inflator was repaired after I was told to park car and I was given a rental for 3 months paid by Ford. When they started having to pay money, issue became VERY important. The letter states that when parts are available in sufficient quantities, I will be notified by Ford for repair. The car is 10 years old and FORD has had sufficient time to complete repairs. I am afraid to drive car and my stress level has increased. Ford is affecting my life and my resale valve. Please help in this matter. [redacted]
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
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.
Airbag complaints in other Fusion years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Ford Fusion?
NHTSA has 404 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Ford Fusion, 16% of the model year's 2,517 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Ford Fusion airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-158 (inflator module, Mar 10, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-081 (frontal, Feb 16, 2021); NHTSA recall 19V-001 (inflator module, Jan 7, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Fusion airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 36 crashes, 0 fires and 35 injuries to air bags 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.