Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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 various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering significantly. The vehicle was taken to a tire shop where the tires were rotated; however, the failure recurred intermittently. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, a message indicating that the power steering was inoperable was displayed, and the steering wheel was seized. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the power steering became operable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering rack, the front stabilizer link, the passenger's side outer tie rod, and the lower control arm had failed and needed to be replaced. …
The power steering system is currently non-functional, resulting in significant difficulty in maneuvering the vehicle, particularly at low speeds. This poses a substantial safety risk not only to myself and my loved ones but also to other motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and their pets. I am deeply concerned about the well-being of all individuals involved. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I have reached out to the dealership regarding the car's issues, providing them with the necessary information and VIN number. However, they have informed me that the repairs are not covered. Despite highlighting the safety implications of the problem, their response lacked concern or interest. It is worth noting that numerous online sources indicate that 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusions should undergo repairs and reprogramming as part of safety recalls. …
The driver power steering system message goes on every so often and I have to turn off and on to reset the light, but my concern is that it's going to go off as I'm driving, and the fuel mileage as I'm driving it says mileage to empty and one time I was trying to get to the gas station and it hit 0 and it was still going the car, and the suspension makes noise when I go over the bumps and also when I'm reversing and turning the wheel there's a popping sound from the front it sounds like,
This is an open recall that I'm sure has been stated many times, but the dealerships are not accepting the recall or granting it. The power steering aka. Steering assist system failed. Which is an ongoing issue with my vehicle model and year. It has caused me so many "almost" bad accidents and making it so I have lost an incredible amount of income due to my vehicle being down for repair and unsafe to drive and too expensive to fix. Especially when there is a recall about said thing. I need help.
My 15 year old permit driver was driving the car and a power steering message flashed. The car became very difficult to steer and very difficult to pull to the side of the road. This could have caused a major accident. I was told when I called there was a recall for this in the past but had been fixed on this particular car. It must not have been fixed well. The car is not technically high mileage by today's standards.
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..
Pulled out of a side street Taylor onto a main highway 39 beach Blvd and car jolted and didn't have much go. Seemed sluggish. Transmission mount bolt had snapped off and I could have been in a major accident because I had oncoming traffic coming at me when I merged into the street and lost power because of the incident.
Absolute unacceptable level of rust to the body and frame. Even with regular car washes, sitting for a year covered. It's literally totalled and I am out of a car. It's a 2012 with this amount of rust
It was a chain-collision. The Lexus in front of me slammed into an Acura, and I slammed into the Lexus at about 50mph. Severe damage to my car (it has been deemed a total loss by ins.) we were southbound on I-35 near the continental exit in dallas texas on Sunday May 13 2018 at about 3 pm.
Front left transmission seal leaking, axle shaft loose and damaged, wheel increasingly wobbly with speed. Directly and negatively affects brake rotors and pads as well as wheel knuckle stability and shock absorber wear. Car is dangerous to drive as steering control has decreased dramatically. The rubber seal around the transaxle on the left (driver side) front wheel axle has been sliced open from the inside by metal shavings produced by the bad production of the parts included in the axle shaft assembly, causing abnormal wear/shaving of the shaft. The joint has been completely damaged and is now in turn causing damage to the upper and lower ball joints, shock absorber, wheel knuckle, steering arm, brake rotors, break pads, the wheel hub, wheel bearing, tire etc. …
Suspension complaints in other Fusion years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2012 Ford Fusion?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the suspension of the 2012 Ford Fusion, 1% of the model year's 2,517 complaints. The component named most often is front › control arm (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Ford Fusion suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to suspension 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.