2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 2,557 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Steering	1,221	48%
Air bags	379	15%
Power train	86	3%
Unknown or other	84	3%
Service brakes	76	3%
Structure	63	2%
Steering	43	2%
Steering	42	2%
Engine	41	2%
Electrical system	37	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

Se traba y se pone duro el "gobierno" junto con la cremallera electroasistida el volante no gira ni con el carro prendido, no eh echo uso de la campaña 15S18, nunca ah Sido asistido por el fabricante Ford, ni mucho menos
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Warning light on dash indicating "Service Power Steering Now" suddenly while driving car. Nearly complete loss of steering.
NHTSA complaint: Steering

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after coming to a stop, the vehicle stalled. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure persisted. The vehicle
NHTSA complaint: Power train

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel became firm. There were no warni
NHTSA complaint: Steering

My power steering rack and pinion went out after the Ford recall being completed
NHTSA complaint: Steering

My power steering went out while driving and then warning lights came on in dash. I have uploaded photos. I also have seen that there was a recall due to power steering issues with my year make and model in the past. R
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Power steering first failed in March 2025 after longer than average driving (vacation). Unplugging the electronic power steering motor from the power supply / data cables resolved the loss of powering steering at that t
NHTSA complaint: Steering

I drove about 40 mins to a friends house. Got up the next day to leave and I started the car and the power steering assist fault warning light came on. Nothing led up to this incident. Just all of a sudden.
NHTSA complaint: Steering

The seven scores

Reliability raw	62	average
Longevity est.	70	good
Maintenance	78	good
Depreciation	100	excellent
Performance	50	average
Efficiency	61	average
Safety	80	excellent

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 14% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 19% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 61% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 100% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 62: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 70: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2012 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 78: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety 80: NHTSA crash testing blended with IIHS awards.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid?

Owners have filed 2,557 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 1,221 of them (48%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 62/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2012 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.