NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I was experiencing steering wheel issues last year I felt a dragging and pulling underneath the car... I had to pull over because my car was slowing down and i felt a tugging and pulling underneath the car.. I thought it was my brakes or transmission, but it was the steering....I Paid over 2,000.00 to fix it at the dealership ! It was a 2012 Fusion.. It was the rack and pinion and bolts that needed replaced.. One year later it was the same problem again!!! I took it back to the dealership to fix it again... The front steering wheel is still not the same.. I have had the car about 6 years...I believe there were a recall on the bolts that I had to pay to replace also..
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly. The EPAS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the power steering control module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 88,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and jolted with the transmission shifting into gear. The contact stated that the jolt was more violent when the vehicle was first started and shifted into drive(D). The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated before moving forward and then jolted into gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was recurring. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became firm and difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that she heard a beeping sound on the instrument panel and the power steering assist fault warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to AutoZone where it was diagnosed that the steering gear failed, and the contact was informed that the VIN was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) and advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that she was quoted a fee and the dealer declined to repair the vehicle under the recall and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed to notify the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her son was driving in a parking lot, the power steering assist failed without warning. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to her home. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where they informed her that there was a recall on her vehicle for the power steering. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a defective rack and pinion. The mechanic had the vehicle towed to the dealer where she was informed that the recall on the vehicle had expired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was unknown.
I was driving down the highway, and out of no where my powersteering shut off, we almost wrecked with my 2 kids and wife In the car. I had a message pop up on the dash saying “service powersteering now” “service advancetrac”. We pulled over, I tried disconnecting the battery hoping the issues was electrical. It didn’t help. I checked every fuse both under the dash and under the hood, all were good. I got to doing some research, turns out there was a recall on 2012 ford fusions without the 3.5L (mine is the 2.5L) for this exact issue. The Electric Powersteering has issues that could cause severe accidents. I reached out to Ford about the issue, and I was told the recall didn’t apply to my vehicle. Even though I do in fact own a 2012 ford fusion with the 2.5L engine, and I’m having the same dangerous issue that was replaced in other vehicles like mine. The recall I found doing research is (NHTSA Recall ID: 15V340000)
I had purchased the vehicle wrecked from an auction. I was driving this vehicle back in September and the power steering went out I have had no power steering since I have brought it to the attention of Ford motor company that they needed to do an investigation into their Ford fusion years 2011 and 12 along with prior years due to the fact that so many have no power steering I do not see the point of having my power steering fixed or my airbags fixed if I cannot get both fixed at the same time and I believe that the power steering is a safety issue it is illegal to drive without power steering I did not know that
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn while following a curve in the road. The contact pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had recently become a persistent failure. The contact stated that she was afraid to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that an independent mechanic arrived at the residence to diagnose the vehicle. The mechanic determined that the power steering assist had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.
This is a second failure of the steering rack on this vehicle after being replaced at a Ford dealer eleven months ago. Just like the first failure the vehicle is difficult to control and requires significant effort to steer. Dashboard message indicates power steering not working. This is clearly a safety issue resulting from a poor steering rack design. Winter driving with this vehicle will be very risky.
Leaving the gas station that is less than 1 mile from my home, the dash of my Fusion alerted me saying "SERVICE STEERING NOW". The car then lost all power steering capabilities in the middle of the road, making steering nearly obsolete and hazardous. After briefly searching the web, I found hundreds of complaints relating to this issue. NHTSA has a recall for this Electric-Steering component on this exact make and model of vehicle, specs and all. After contacting Ford, they said my vehicle was in fact NOT under recall and I would have to pay out of pocket upwards of $4,000. Keep in mind KBB is valued around $3,450. But how is my 2012, 2WD, 2.5L, 4Cyl. Ford Fusion not included in the recall? It is still equipped with the very first Electric-Power Steering technology the other Fusions have recalls for? I mean it even has the exact same same Electric-Power Steering failure as the recalled ones. Very unhappy Ford customer right now, I don't understand how my particular VIN made it out without making the recall list. Especially given the same parts were mass produced, and were installed on my vehicle. Hoping to get this particular car added to the recall list, as it has been recalled multiple times already for air bag issues, same as the Fusions with Power Steering issues that ARE included in the recall case.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering assist was not functioning properly. The EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 160,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon his son starting the vehicle, he became aware that the vehicle was difficult to maneuver. The electronic stability control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the steering column and rack and pinion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 115,250.
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 contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering function was inoperable. The service engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with power steering gear failure. The contact was informed that the power steering gear electrical system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 95,530.
The same power steering issue that was recalled for many 2012 ford fusions happened to my car. The power steering system fault notification would flash on the dashboard and the advanced traction control light would also flash. The dealership stated that my car was not covered under that known recall because my VIN number was not included. I find it very hard to believe that they would not cover this known issue. The same gear that went bad with that original 2015 recall (that my car was not covered under) failed in my car and I lost power steering and the wheels essentially locked into straight ahead. The traction control system also engaged making it very very very difficult to turn the wheel even a few degrees right or left. The pinion gear failed and the computer in the car caused even further issues with steering.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the dealer and manufacturer denied the recall work stating the vehicle had exceeded the 10-year warranty period. The contact stated that the manufacturer performed the air bag recalls. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact pulled off the roadway and the steering wheel become very stiff, requiring extra effort to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was turned off and restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and the contact was informed that NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V001000 (Air Bags) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) recall repairs would be performed; however, 15V34000 (Steering) recall repair would not be performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
AIR BAG LIGHT RECALL
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the message “Power Steering Assist Fault” was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering rack had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the Extended Warranty had past the 10-year limitation and was expired; therefore, there would be no coverage on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was no longer covered under the Extended Warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, he noticed that the steering wheel was not operating as needed. The contact stated that as he slowed down, the steering wheel became significantly difficult to steer. The steering failure warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road, where he inspected the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving by using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the power steering control module (PSCM) was reprogrammed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the electric power steering assist became inoperable. The service power steering message was displayed. The contact was able to pull over and use another vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 211,308.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the steering wheel was firm. The contact shifted into drive (D) but the vehicle did not steer as intended. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be reprogrammed and the steering rack needed to be replaced. The steering gear was reprogrammed but the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,036.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the steering wheel was significantly difficult to turn. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to drive back to the nearby residence by using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 235,440.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the steering locked up with the power steering malfunction message displayed. After the second failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer confirmed that the power steering had failed and needed to be repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the power steering failed, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V34000 (Steering). The failure mileage was 127,541.
It is hard for me to steer my steering wheel. It keeps saying service power steering. This is dangerous.
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the "Service Power Steering Now” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Last few years I have advance trac, steering assist, steering locks up intermittent issues documented by dealer, not abke to find anything wrong when i still had extended warranty, now they suspect it no recall / no warranty it's 2400 $ It's a safety issue many people have documented .
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in park, the vehicle rolled backwards. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact activated the parking brake, and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the shift cable needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contact. The failure mileage was 113,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, upon start-up, the steering wheel became firm and difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the “Power Steering Service Now” message was displayed on the instrument panel. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was previously covered under the Customer Satisfaction Program: 13N03 and advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 205,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became stiff and difficult while maneuvering the vehicle. The contact’s son veered to the side road and notified him. The contact was able to safely navigate the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the Warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
+Consistent with Safety Recall 15S18 and program code 15N01 - Integrated Controller for the Power Steering Gear failed. This caused power steering assist and traction control to be inoperative. The problem started intermittently at about 93,000 miles and 11 years of age - but then became constant by 95,600 miles. +The problem made the steering wheel very difficult to turn. Vehicle was unsafe to drive, particularly at lower speeds or with a driver of average upper body strength. It would have been very difficult to steer away from a pedestrian, animal, vehicle, or obstacle - had one suddenly moved into the path of the vehicle. This increased the chance of death/injury and/or property damage when operating the vehicle. +Noted Safety Recall only provided limited extended warranty coverage - which had expired (due to age, but not miles). +Repair was exceptionally expensive due to the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) being integrated with the Steering Gear, and the Steering Gear being integrated with the entire rack and pinion assembly. Diagnostic and Repair total was $2,690.15. I considered taking the risk vs. repairing the vehicle due to the high cost. +Vehicle was diagnosed and serviced at a Ford Dealer and Independent Repair Shop. Representatives at both shops mentioned that this is a very common problem with this vehicle. The Dealer escalated to Ford Corporate to obtain an extension of the Safety Recall coverage, but was denied. I did the same and was also denied. Vehicle: 2012 Ford Fusion Miles: 95,600 Purchase Date: 9/2011 Logged DTC codes: C1277-20 C1277-E0
While my Student Driver 15 year old son was practicing for his driving test, the Brakes went out. The dash was lit up like a Christmas Tree, and when the Brake pedal was depressed, it touched the floor. The car did slow down briefly, then there was no friction what so ever from the brakes. My son, and wife could have ended up in a horrible accident, as the only way to stop the car was by allowing the car to roll to a complete stop. This is actually a know issue for Ford Fusions from 2006-2010. I brought this car to a dealership, and they diagnosed it as the ABS ABS Hydraulic Control Unit. They have already completed the repairs. One of the comments that was made is that if it had been a 2006-2010, it would have been replaced under recall. After the Brakes went out the Service Advance Trac light, and Check Brake system shown on my Dash Light. This is a very dangerous issues especially since I live in a heavily populated college town. My family, and/or another innocent bystander could have been extremely injured or even killed. I feel like Ford knows about this problem, and should be responsible to replace it.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she stopped and parked the vehicle at the local grocery store. The contact stated that when his wife restarted the vehicle and shifted into drive, she became aware that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that his wife shifted the gear shifter back into park and turned off the vehicle; however, when the vehicle was restarted and shifted into drive, the power steering was operable. The contact's wife was able to safely drive the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the power steering control module would be reprogrammed to resolve the failure; however, there was no guarantee that the failure would be fixed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the message "Service Power Steering Now" was displayed. The contact stated that upon driving into a parking lot, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact used physical force to drive into a parking space. The contact turned off the vehicle and disconnected the battery; however, the failure persisted after the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while making a turn from a complete stop at the traffic light, the steering wheel was stiff and difficult to turn. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module (PSCM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
The power steering will go out and will make the wheel lock up
Upon starting the vehicle, the power steering assist fault message was displayed and the steering wheel was stiff and dificultt to turn.The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module (PSCM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. I was told that th There was a recall on power-steering for 2012 Ford Fusions, but my VIN has not been included, which was confirmed after a call to FORD. Also they told me Is not covered under the extended warranty coverage since It Is a 2012 modelo however the mileage on my car Is 117307
Power steering turns off when you go above a certain speed and the service advance power steering comes on.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. Additionally, the power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the power steering control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to steer the vehicle off the highway and became aware that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled of the roadway and shifted to park(P). The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to regain power steering functionality. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact reported that in January 2022 he had a Power Steering Control Module software update performed through NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) by a local dealer. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,713.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,418.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the service advance-trac and power steering assist messages were displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.
The steering has been locking up for 3 years on and off, a few times a month. I would get a 'power steering assist fault message and had to turn off the ignition while driving almost wreaking. Now it's locked up and says 'service power steering now.'
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a grinding sound in the steering wheel while making a left or right turn. The service power steering assist fault warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized. The contact then stated that she turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact then stated that the “Service Power Steering Assist Now” warning light illuminated and remained illuminated, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The "Service Power Steering" message was displayed. The contact coasted into a gas station and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
The power-steering failed, and it is available for inspection upon request. Without power-steering my reaction time decreased and I was unable to properly steer my car, which is a safety risk for myself and others. The vehicle has not yet been inspected. There was a recall on power-steering for 2012 Ford Fusions, but my VIN has not been included, which was confirmed after a call to FORD. Yes, they appeared the day of the incident, and a picture of message is attached below of what appears on the dashboard.
I got in my car one morning and started it and tried to pull off. My tires would not turn and I saw that the "service power steering now" and "airbag" message on my dashboard.
Power steering assist fault would flash, steering locked up. Every few weeks for past couple years. Started grinding hard to turn Service power steering now light, steering completely locked. Almost wrecked numerous times. Started in 2021. Ford claimed they had no idea why. No check engine light ever. Finally locked up completely in July this year.car has maybe 127000 miles.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026