2012 Ford Fusion Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the power steering assist fault message was displayed. The power steering function was inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated due to a possible canister purge valve failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 165,461.

NHTSA ID

11689516

Incident

Sep 8, 2025

Mileage

165,461 mi

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving under 35 MPH, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was shaking abnormally while idling as if the vehicle would shut off. The contact had replaced the battery 8 times; however, the failure persisted. While driving approximately 65 MPH and overtaking other vehicles, the check engine warning light began flashing temporarily. The failure had occurred twice. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle that the oil was leaking from the valve cover gasket, oil pan, and front seal and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11646553

Incident

Mar 5, 2014

2012 Ford Fusion is having issues similar to the Ford Focus recall, 18S32, that pertains to the canister purge valve and powertrain issue. Current fusion has a 2.5L motor in it. Have replaced the canister purge valve 3 times in a 2-year span and is currenting giving codes (as well as engine light being on) of another failure. Do believe it is affecting the powertrain as well, as it is jerks under workload.

NHTSA ID

11640272

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Vehicle loses power while driving, with no response when accelerator is depressed further. The engine continues to run but no throttle response. No engine warning light came on. No codes stored. Must stop, turn off engine and perform an engine restart to continue driving again.

NHTSA ID

11633505

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

My steering assist system goes of at odd times, and the acceleration it does tiny tugs, and my suspension it rattles, over street bumps,, can it be fixed by a dealership, cause it’s my only vehicle 🚗 I have and plus I’m on ssdi income and I can’t afford major repairs, like these, and if so have the car fully inspected just in case I’m missing something, oh and also there’s a popping noise coming from the front of the car..

NHTSA ID

11609122

Incident

Jul 29, 2024

Transmission issues. Jerks and shudders and loss of power, broken motor mounts, PCM issues, misfire issues and etc. Car threw codes, many expensive trips to Ford dealerships, excessive undriveable down time, unsafe to be on a highway or go up a hill when it shifts (automatic), 6F35 Transmission in my 2012 Ford Fusion

NHTSA ID

11586489

Incident

Sep 6, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at high speeds the vehicle shut off, restarted, and shut off again. The contact was able to drive, but the vehicle shut off. The power steering assist fault warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the warranty had expired. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11544536

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11542286

Incident

Aug 18, 2023

Their is a recall for Ford Abs Module yet their needs to be one for 2012 Ford Fusions Se as well I have paid over 3200 dollars for my brakes alone . I have had 2 near misses and was in an unreported incident today from power loss on my breaks . Very unsafe for me and those around

NHTSA ID

11523086

Incident

May 21, 2023

The power steering assist randomly went out and caused me to almost crash into a wall when I was on the freeway taking the car home. The previous owner had gotten into an accident with the vehicle which had also resulted from the power steering randomly going out, and the power steering is now out completely on the vehicle and yet seems to come on randomly while having to manually steer the vehicle. I just got the vehicle and am the most recent owner, but since the vehicle has over 150,000 miles on it and it has been over 10 years, Ford and its dealerships are saying there’s nothing they can do to fix it. However, I know that these issues going on with the car (power steering assist and electronic throttle body issues) are related to the recall on the vehicle. There are apparently no active recalls on the vehicle, but I know that the previous owners may have taken the car in for problems related to the recall. However, I also know that the company is required to fix problems related to the recall no matter how many years the warranty is or how many miles the vehicle has on it, so I’m unsure why both Ford and its dealerships are saying there’s nothing they can do and that I’ll have to pay for a diagnostic fee and then the repair fees associated with the problem, and I just got the vehicle. I don’t feel that it’s fair that I pay for repair costs associated with a recall on several other Ford Fusion vehicles as well (2011-2012) when those recall related problems almost killed me, and upon researching it no other cars have power steering assist, electronic throttle body and airbag problems like the ford fusion.

NHTSA ID

11494808

Incident

Nov 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal. Both the power train and check engine warning lights would appear on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to both an independent mechanic and a dealer but neither could diagnose to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11482563

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

My car has a very hard time shifting when I go to take off, I have not been in a wreck because of it yet but when it does shift it shifts very hard I’m afraid to even pull onto a busy road I’m worried one day it will just not shift and I’ll cause a crash.

NHTSA ID

11445993

Incident

Jan 3, 2022

MY CAR JUST DIES WHILE I'M DRIVING. ARE THERE RECALLS I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS? IF SO, HOW DO I GET IT REPAIRED IN THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MANNER. I ONLY HAVE THE ONE CAR AND IT IS PRETTY UNSAFE AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ID

11412851

Incident

Apr 18, 2021

Mileage

69,000 mi

I WAS GETTING GAS AND I CUT MY CAR OFF WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR IT DID NOT START. I CONTINUED TO START IT. CAR WOULD NOT START. I POPPED THE HOOD AND TOUCHED THE BATTERY SOME AND TRIED STARTING THE CAR THE CAR STARTED THEN ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING IT SUDDENLY CUTS OFF. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE. CAR SUDDENLY STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS THAT CAN NEARLY KILL SOMEONE!!! VERY UNSAFE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AND STREET. AND ITS SO RANDOM NO SIGNS JUST CUTS OFF AT ANY SPEED.

NHTSA ID

11383796

Incident

Nov 26, 2020

Mileage

55 mi

THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF IT WILL START BACK UP BUT IT'S RANDOM AND CUTS OFF ANYTIME IT WANTS. IT'S DONE THIS WHILE PARKED AND MOVING. THROTTLE BODY EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY CAR IS UNDER THE 150,000 MILES AND MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TO BE REPLACED AND I TOOK IT TO RAVENEL FORD RAVENEL SC AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET THAT CODE THAT THEY WE'RE ALLOWED TO FIX IT

NHTSA ID

11378508

Incident

Dec 8, 2020

Mileage

149,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, REPLACED ONE WATER HOSE. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V551000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 17V209000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11376281

Incident

Nov 8, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO WALTERBORO FORD (LOCATED AT 902 BELLS HWY, WALTERBORO, SC 29488, (843) 549-5581) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.

NHTSA ID

11222207

Incident

May 20, 2019

Mileage

215,000 mi

I WENT TO STIVERS FORD ABOUT THE AIR BAG BE TO THE END OF JANUARY AND THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY THE MECHANIC TOOK MY RECALL INFORMATION SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME AS SOON AS THE NEW BAGS GOT IN NEVER HEARD FROM THEM I CALLED EVERY MONTH ONLY TO BE TOLD NOTHING CAME IN YET SO I CALLED FORD CUSTOMERS SERVICE THEY HAD ME ON HOLD THE MECHANIC IN MONTGOMERY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ME EVER BEING THERE. CUSTOMER SERVICE LEFT ME ON THE PHONE WITH THE MECHANIC TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT SHE HUNG UP THE PHONE I GAVE THE MECHANIC MY FIRST AND LAST NAME THEN HE REPEATED BACK TO ME MY FIRST AND LAST NAME WITH MY ADDRESS KEEP IN MIND HE HAD ALL OF MY INFORMATION IN THE SYSTEM THE WHOLE TIME. SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR FRIDAY MAY 31 2019. THERE IS A FAULTY TIRE LIGHT ON THAT WON'T GO AWAY EVEN WHEN I HAD THE TIRE CHECKED THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION DURING THE GREEN LIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE 🔧 LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE FLASHING FAULTY TIRE LIGHT . I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE HOME I WAS VERY AFRAID BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE MOVING PRETTY FAST I WAS BLESSED TO NOT BE HIT FROM BEHIND. NEXT DAY DROVE THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP. EVERY THING WAS WORKING FINE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSIS SHOWING THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT RESET SO IT IS STUCK.

NHTSA ID

11209365

Incident

May 21, 2019

I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 FORD FUSION TO WORK ONE DAY WHEN SUDDENLY I GOT AN ALERT READING "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" AND WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO USE MY POWER STEERING WHICH MADE TURNING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND HAD TO PULL OVER AND PARK IN THE CLOSEST FUEL STATION.

NHTSA ID

11193274

Incident

Mar 30, 2019

Mileage

104,000 mi

I WAS GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR ON BUSY STREET IN FLORIDA, ALL OF SUDDEN CAR WAS GETTING NO GAS, HAD TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTART, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, VERY SPURATIC, VERY DANGEROUS, HAD IT TOWED TO EXECUTIVE AUTO, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, AND COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL AGAIN. DO NOT TRUST IT

NHTSA ID

11191069

Incident

Mar 21, 2019

Mileage

2 mi

MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AS A RESULT OF A RECALL. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT HAD RUINED MY ENGINE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WHICH IS NOW INOPERABLE. THEY CLAIM IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY BUT HOW CAN MY WARRANTY BE VOID IF IT'S A RECALL DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11173035

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS DESTINATION WITH NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. GRIFFETH FORD LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 213 MAIN ST, PRESQUE ISLE, ME 04769, (207)-764-4129) DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,809. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11166347

Incident

Jan 21, 2018

Mileage

67,809 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY WAS REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS SENSING OVER EFFORT AND SHUTTING DOWN THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (AL PACKER'S WHITE MARSH FORD, 9801 PULASKI HWY, MIDDLE RIVER, MD 21220, (443) 777-5000) AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE POWER STEERING MODULE, ALTHOUGH THEY RECOMMENDED IT BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,983.

NHTSA ID

11155643

Incident

Oct 18, 2018

Mileage

94,983 mi

WAS ACCELERATING IN MY VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR HESITATED AND THEN JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SHOWING ONLY AN ORANGE WRENCH LIGHT ON THE DASH. THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND ACTUALLY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET MY AIRBAG RECALL FIXED WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND NOBODY OTHER THAN MY BOYFRIEND WAS BEHIND ME. I TURNED THE KEY INTO THE OFF POSITION AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE DASH (WRENCH) LIGHT INDICATOR WENT OFF. I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED MYSELF OR ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE BE A SYSTEM FAILURE! I REFUSED TO TAKE MY CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THEY CHECKED INTO IT. THEY ACTED AS IF IT WAS NO BIG DEAL BECAUSE THE (WRENCH) LIGHT ON THE DASH WENT OFF BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND BAD ACCIDENTS CAN BE A RESULT OF THIS.

NHTSA ID

11155255

Incident

Nov 30, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. ALSO, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BOB THOMAS FORD WEST (5321 ILLINOIS ROAD, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46804, (260) 436-3673) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 16451951. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

NHTSA ID

11153944

Incident

Nov 22, 2018

Mileage

96,000 mi