2012 Ford Fusion HybridUNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

96 federal complaints (137 component records) · 0 recall campaigns on file · 4 federal investigations · 10 service bulletins · 4 Canadian recalls
See all 11 model years of the Ford Fusion Hybrid →
Engine
2.5L 4-cyl
Fuel
Regular
Drive
FWD
EPA economy
41 city / 35 hwy
Federal complaints
96
Recall campaigns
0
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Steering
36
Air bags
32
Brakes
17
Electrical system
13
Stability control
11
Other
8
Engine & cooling
8
Power train
3
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 4 complaints01 years old: 9 complaints2 years old: 9 complaints3 years old: 10 complaints4 years old: 11 complaints5 years old: 19 complaints56 years old: 18 complaints7 years old: 9 complaints8 years old: 0 complaints9 years old: 1 complaints10 years old: 1 complaints1011 years old: 1 complaints12 years old: 1 complaints13 years old: 2 complaints14 years old: 1 complaints15 years old: 0 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 0 complaints18 years old: 0 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 0 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 96 of 96 complaints with a usable failure date.

Odometer when the failure occurred

0,000 - 20,000 miles: 11 complaints020,000 - 40,000 miles: 12 complaints40,000 - 60,000 miles: 12 complaints40k60,000 - 80,000 miles: 13 complaints80,000 - 100,000 miles: 9 complaints80k100,000 - 120,000 miles: 2 complaints120,000 - 140,000 miles: 7 complaints120k140,000 - 160,000 miles: 3 complaints160,000 - 180,000 miles: 1 complaints160k180,000 - 200,000 miles: 0 complaints200,000+ miles: 1 complaints200k+
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 71 of 96 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Steering

36 complaint records1 crash report
"THE STEERING JUST LOST THE ASSIST. I HAD TO PAY $1800.00 TO GET IT FIXED. THEY HAD TO CHANGE OUT THE WHOLE FRONT AXEL OR DRIVE...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse steering parts in the directory →

Air bags

32 complaint records2 crash reports
"IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS SINCE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND STILL NO WORD ON WHEN MY DANGEROUS TAKATA AIRBAGS WILL BE REPLACED...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse air bags parts in the directory →

Brakes

17 complaint records2 crash reports
"ACCORDING TO FORD CAR NEEDS HCU UNIT AND ECU. JUST HAD THE CAR FULLY SERVICED AND NEW BRAKES ALL AROUND. TIRES ARE NEW AS WELL. FORD WANTS $3000 TO REPLACE THE HCU AND ECU AND DRAIN THE BRAKE FLUID. I THINK I'M GONNA HAVE TO SCRAP THE CAR...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
EA21002
opened Sep 2021
OPENAir BagsDesiccated 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.
DP22005
opened Jan 2023
closed Aug 2023Electrical SystemPedestrian alert sounds - led to recall 22V063000
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.
EA17004
opened Nov 2017
closed Feb 2024SteeringPower 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.
PE14030
opened Oct 2014
closed Sep 2015SteeringElectric power steering failure - led to recall 15V340000
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate complaints of the loss of power steering while driving.

Transport Canada recalls

Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2021077
2021-02-19
Airbag8,811Issue: This recall is for certain vehicles that had the driver-front and/or passenger-front airbag inflator replaced after a collision or theft. An obsolete airbag may have been installed.
2021029
2021-01-27
Airbag274,737Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver-front airbag.
2019005
2019-01-08
Airbag300,898Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag.
2015224
2015-05-27
Steering25,195On certain vehicles, a fault in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system could result in an immediate loss of power steering assist without warning to the driver.

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
SSM 52243
Feb 2024
Engine And Engine CoolingWhen performing any transmission fluid change or topoff involving Motorcraft® Premium ATF, MERCON® V has replaced all versions of Motorcraft® Premium ATF and can be used going forward. Mixing Motorcraft® Premium ATF and MERCON® V in the same transmission is acceptable.
SSM 51666
May 2023
SteeringSome 2010-2012 Fusion/Milan and 2011-2012 MKZ vehicles equipped with a 2.5L or 3.0L engine and electronic power assist steering (EPAS), a remanufactured replacement steering gear (MU2Z-3V504-ARM) is available which is significantly less expensive than a new replacement gear.
TSB 23-2098
Apr 2023
Power TrainSome 2010-2012 Fusion hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), 2010-2011 Milan HEV and 2011-2012 MKZ HEV vehicles may experience reduced electric vehicle operation and increased gasoline engine operation around 10 years of vehicle age and beyond.
22G04
Sep 2022
EquipmentCertain 2010 – 2012 Model Year Fusion / MKZ / Milan Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Battery Reduced Electric Vehicle Operation BECM and PCM Software Update In all the affected vehicles, outdated software may result in reduced EV-only mode performance earlier in the life of the...
22B05
Mar 2022
Air BagsCertain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control Inspection: Ford Motor Company has determined that some vehicles claimed by dealers as...
Show 5 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
TSB 20-2142
Apr 2020
Electrical SystemSome 2010-2012 Fusion hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), 2010-2011 Milan HEV and 2011-2012 MKZ HEV vehicles may experience reduced electric vehicle operation and increased gasoline engine operation around 10 years of vehicle age and beyond.
SSM 48238
Oct 2019
Engine And Engine CoolingSome 2010-2012 Fusion hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), 2010-2011 Milan HEV and 2011-2012 MKZ HEV vehicles may experience reduced electric vehicle operation and increased gasoline engine operation. Do not attempt repairs at this time.
44863
Jul 2015
VisibilityFORD: NO SERVICE ACTION IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS CONDITION. PLEASE USE AT YOUR DISCRETION. VARIOUS 2010-2015 VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A TURBULENCE NOISE, SIMILAR TO AN HELICOPTER NOISE, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE REAR DOOR WINDOW(S) OR SUNROOF ARE OPEN. *TA
ASI-45113
May 2015
Electrical SystemFORD/LINCOLN: WHEN FLAT TOWING VEHICLE, BATTERY WILL DRAIN, DUE TO MANUAL INSTRUCTION OF KEY REMAINING IN ACCESSORY POSITION. MODEL 2010-13 FUSION, 2010-11 MILAN, 2011-12 MKZ. *PE
ASI-32226
May 2013
EquipmentFORD: VEHICLES MAY RECEIVED INVALID DATA FROM ACCESSORY PROTOCOL INTERFACE MODULE (DTC U0554:00) FROM GENERIC FUNCTION MODULE DURING DIAGNOSTIC SELF TESTS. MODEL 2012-2013 FOCUS ELECTRIC, C-MAX/FUSION/MKZ HYBRID, ENERGI. *PE

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Drive one straight highway stretch and one slow parking lot.Wander or a shimmy over bumps at speed, and heavy or dropped assist at low speed, are the two faces of this vehicle's steering cluster. A clunk on turn-in points at the linkage.
  2. Watch the airbag warning light through a full key cycle.It should light on start and go out within seconds. A light that stays on, or never lights at all, means the system needs attention. Run the VIN for inflator recalls specifically.
  3. Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
  4. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Ford Fusion Hybrid →