Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
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 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 contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his son was driving at 65 MPH, he had to pull over to the side of the road due to a flat tire. The contact's son had a difficult time removing the lug nuts. The lug nuts could not be removed with the tire iron. The contact called AAA, and it was difficult for the Roadside Assistant to remove the lug nuts. The contact was informed that the lug nuts were swollen due to the aluminum or chrome material. The contact stated that the Roadside Assistant had to drill the lug nuts to remove the lug nuts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
I had purchased these tires P225/50R17 for my son's car in 2022. They have an 85,000 mile tread life warranty in April of this year. He had a blowout on the left rear tire where the tread separated from the tire and in late July this year is preparing for a 3500 mile trip as I was inspecting his car before his trip. I noticed the tire on the right rear looked to be defective. It looks like the tread where it meet the sidewall is separating from the tire on the inside with a tear about 8" long where the metal is showing. Two tires out of 4 losing their tread is disturbing and a concerning safety issue with these tires, see the Photos I have supplied.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the steering wheel was hard to turn. The low tire pressure message was displayed. There was another unknown system message being displayed. The contact indicated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering pump was the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.
The stainless steel coverings on the wheel lug nuts swells up and BJ's tire center in Fairfax, Va. has a box full of the defective parts. If I had a needed tire repair on the highway, I would not have been able to change tire because lugs were swollen and mishapen and wrench would not fit. Koon's Ford in Sterling, Va. was notified and I was given a contact number to Ford mfg. Ford refused me and are not standing by their product. I had taken vehicle in for tire rotation and balance on 1/5/2023 and ended up buying new lugs all around for 140.00.
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.
The external portion of the lug nuts on the front driver-side wheel are malfunctioning. When I try to loosen the lug nuts to remove the wheel because of a flat tire, they turn but do not loosen. There seems to be a separation between the external and internal portion of the lug nuts. I am unable to take the wheel off. This same problem is occurring on all 5 lug nuts on this wheel.
Cooper Adventurer Tour 225/50r/17. Four Tires purchased 11/27/21 from Pep Boys. Front Driver-side Tire has a side bubble after 10,000 miles (75,000 tires). Pep Boys clerk refused warranty adjustment, citing abuse & neglect, but no visible markings present to indicate same. All signs point to manufacturer's defect. The defective tire has been replaced.
When I took the car in for "the Works" they did not rotate the tires as the 'lug nuts were swollen and would not come off.' I percieve this as a safety issue if I have tire issues on the road. There was no incident- just a precautionary report.
"Takata recall" I received the notification concerning the airbag recall in the mail the day before the vehicle was involved in an accident and was eventually considered to be a total loss. The airbag in the drivers side did deploy and pieces of what I thought were glass were embedded in my skin on my left hand though there wasn't any glass in that area that seemed to be loose. I also noticed that the airbag continued to burn for an extremely long time. The accident occurred and after all parties were evaluated and the road was cleared a bit, the tow truck arrived and the steering column still had smoke coming from the airbag region which the paramedic mentioned seemed to be longer that usual for it to still be smoking. This accident occurred while ,y vehicle was in motion and hit a stopped car which then hit another vehicle on a city street while driving in the forwards position.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Fusion years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2012 Ford Fusion?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2012 Ford Fusion, 2% of the model year's 2,517 complaints. The component named most often is lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Ford Fusion wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires 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 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to wheels & tires 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.