Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Ford Fusion
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Ford Fusion has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,517 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V158000 Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21E013000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V081000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V001000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V024000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V340000 Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 1,474 complaints
- Air Bags 404 complaints
- Electrical System 164 complaints
- Power Train 158 complaints
- Unknown or Other 119 complaints
- Engine 111 complaints
Of the 2,517 complaints on file, 107 report a crash and 9 a fire; across all 2,517 complaints, owners report 64 injuries and 3 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Ford Fusion presents an average reliability profile. Major issues include airbag recalls due to inflator risks and steering system complaints. While these components pose concerns, the vehicle generally doesn't exhibit widespread failures beyond expected wear and tear.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| airbag inflator | 40,000–70,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$800 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles
- Cooling system flush every 40,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering stiffness or resistance
- Airbag warning light activation
- Intermittent electrical failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Ford Fusion at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.