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CarComplaints.com Notes: Power steering problems started rearing their ugly head in the 2010 Fusion, so you'd think Ford had plenty of time to make sure those problems didn't creep into the 2012. But here we are.

The Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS) is a mess. It fails at an alarming rate. Don’t believe us? Take a look at NHTSA’s data on the subject.

And much like the power steering, we’re still seeing the same throttle body failures that started in 2010 continue in 2012.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,722 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Ford Fusion drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Ford Fusion Owner Comments (Page 2 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #129

Mar 152021

Fusion

  • 114,396 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission failure at 114,396 mileage during routine city street driving.

- Sylvania, OH, USA

problem #128

Feb 122018

Fusion

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the vehicle was restarted and regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to uftring Subaru (500 fairlane dr, East peoria, il 61611) to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 15V340000 (steering). The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the recall repair was performed in 2012. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Lacon, IL, USA

problem #127

Nov 282020

Fusion

  • 79,393 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, when depressing on the brake pedal and the vehicle began to forcefully vibrate when approaching 30 mph. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact drove slowly to her residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,393.

- Michigan City, IN, USA

problem #126

Dec 102020

Fusion

  • 89,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. After restarting the vehicle, the failure recurred. The vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the throttle actuator control valve and power train control module were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Pecheles Ford located at 4010 us-264, Washington, nc 27889, was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 89,100.

- Washington, NC, USA

problem #125

Nov 172020

Fusion

  • 215,000 miles
Started vehicle, power steering assist failure displayed on dash. Vehicle locked up and was unable to turn wheel. Happened while parked in driveway.

- Grand Chain, IL, USA

problem #124

Jul 152020

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 94,000 miles
If my car sits at idle for too long like stuck in traffic or waiting at a drive thru the maintenance light comes on and it will not shift. The rpms rev up but it acts like it is stuck. It won't move over a few mph. Then if you shift it into neutral it makes a loud noise and the whole car jerks like the transmission is about to fall out. I shut the car off and started it again and it will not shift right. You can floor the gas and it barely moves then it will come out of it and drive fine until you have to sit idle again. It is very dangerous and I have tried everything to fix it at multiple mechanics shops and nothing works. Have changed multiple sensors and it always seems to happen again.07

- Montgomery, IN, USA

problem #123

Jun 192020

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 119,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The steering wheel has locked up and the dashboard is reading service advancetrac soon/power steering fault. Unable to drive vehicle. Warning message appeared while car was in motion on a city street. Car locked up at a red light.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #122

Jun 112020

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
Car left in park in a parking lot. Returned to find car had rolled across aisle into another section of the parking lot. Car was found to be in park, attempted to jump, would not start. Tow truck driver noted car was in reverse when he attempted to jump the car. Car had to be towed to local mechanic, he stated transmission shifter cable needed to be replaced. Car has less than 25,000 miles on it. Car currently in shop being repaired. This defect appears to be the same one that resulted in recall #19S16 (expansion of 18V471). Recall did not include 2012 models (2013-2016 only).

- St. Augustine, FL, USA

problem #121

Mar 232020

Fusion

  • miles
My 2012 Ford Fusion is revving high and shifting weird. Not like slipping but it's revving a lot if her then it should be. Also the tachometer shudders every now and then at 1600 RPM. My father told me there's a lot of problems with the Ford Fusion transmissions and I don't feel safe with my wife and kids driving it.

- Buna, TX, USA

problem #120

Mar 212020

Fusion

  • 116,000 miles
Transmission revs high before shifting? it isn't slipping but it isn't driving how it should be.

- Buna, TX, USA

problem #119

Mar 142020

Fusion

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 3/14/2020, out of no where the service power steering now, and the advancetrac light came on. I was driving down my country road and only doing about 35mph because I just came around a curve after my driveway. The problem is common and very unsafe for drivers. Not to mention extremely expensive to fix. Why is it that only some of the cars are covered in the recall when all Ford with the newly designed electronic steering are affected by the failure of this system!

- Hoyleton, IL, USA

problem #118

Feb 152020

Fusion

  • 130,000 miles
Yesterday 2/15/2020 out of no where the (service power steering now, and the advance trac light came on under normal driving conditions doing 55mph on a curvy road. The problem is common and very unsafe for drivers. Not to mention extremely expensive to fix. Now why is it that only some of the cars are covered in the recall when all Ford with the newly designed electronic steering are affected by the failure of this system!

- Silver Lake, MN, USA

problem #117

Nov 252019

Fusion

  • 130,000 miles
After driving a distance, I put the car in park and the car went into reverse, but was still showing in park. I had to quickly slam on the breaks and shut the car down. However, because it was actually in reverse, the car would not start again. It had to be manually put in drive so I could get somewhere safe. Very dangerous.

- Marina, CA, USA

problem #116

Jan 012017

Fusion

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. When the vehicle was taken to have the oil changed, the mechanic heard a winding sound coming from the transmission. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and exhibited a jerking sensation before accelerating. Westfield Ford (located at 6200 S la grange rd, countryside, il 60525, 708-354-8600) heard the winding noise under the hood and diagnosed that there was a default with the parking brake and rotors. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that it would not be covered under warranty because it was expired. The manufacturer provided case number: Cas25108633. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- North Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #115

Sep 282017

Fusion

  • 63,000 miles
When turning on the windshield wipers to low setting, they initiate at full speed with small breaks in between going to the correct set wiper speed. Have to turn off completely several times in order for the correct setting to register finally. Automatic transmission has hard slipping shifting going from 1st to 2nd gear when accelerating from a stopped position, very similar to the Ford Focus powershift transmission recall

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #114

Nov 142019

Fusion

  • miles
A shifter cable that detaches from the transmission is not allowing the gear state to go into park. However the gearshift position shows it in park.

- North Tustin, CA, USA

problem #113

Sep 102019

Fusion

  • 150,000 miles
Transmission has delayed gear shifting, gear slipping and the engine revs without the car accelerating. To put it simply the transmission has failed. Twice!

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #112

Sep 122019

Fusion

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. While the vehicle was engaged in park, the vehicle rolled away. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed; however, the emergency brake had to be applied to stop the vehicle. When attempting to restart the vehicle, the gear became stuck and would not move. Russell barnett Ford (4055 tullahoma hwy, winchester, tn 37398, (931) 967-2277) was contacted and stated that the gear shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.

- Decherd, TN, USA

problem #111

Jul 012019

Fusion

  • 160,000 miles
I have an issue with my 2012 Ford Fusion. A couple of years ago I had my steering rack replaced as a part of the manufacturers recall. Here I am a couple of years later with a Ford Fusion with a failed steering rack that needs to be replaced according to my local Ford dealership. My car now has no power steering and the warning light for the advancetrack system honks at me every time I start the car. I think this is ridiculous to have this happen in such a short period of time, and it's clear that the main issue was never remedied because it has to do with how cramped all the parts under the hood are; there's no room for air so the steering rack basically gets cooked into oblivion. So here I am at 42 years old with a medical disability and a repair that costs $1600 while my car is worth less than that...and I have no recourse as the company is not taking care of it's responsibilities. While my car has 160,000 miles on it, the steering rack was replaced and has much less wear on it so it shouldn't be dying on

- Newark, NY, USA

problem #110

Jun 262019

Fusion 4-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. While driving 40 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle did not gain speed. The contact parked the vehicle on the side of the road and then took it to cabrera auto (located at carr #2 km 82.2 salida expreso hatillo, pr-2, 00614, puerto rico, +1 787-333-8410) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 57,000. Description in spanish.

- San Sebastian, PR, USA

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