Home · 2012 Ford Fusion Hev · Complaints

What 2,604 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Fusion Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,604)Crash / fire / injury (129)Steering (1,503)Airbags (436)Electrical system (174)Transmission & drivetrain (162)Brakes (127)Engine (119)Body & structure (101)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (90)Speed control (87)Fuel system (67)

162 of 2,604 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 5 of 7

Jul 4, 2015Transmission & drivetrainBrakes

WHAT FEELS LIKE IS BRAKES STICKING. 1ST NOTICED WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY ONE MORNING. I PUT CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULDN'T MOVE WITHOUT ACCELERATION. ON GOOD DAYS IT MOVES ON IT'S OWN. WHEN IT'S ACTING UP AND I LET OFF ACCELERATION, CAR STOPS ITSELF ABRUPTLY WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKE. EARLY THIS WEEK ME AND MY SON WERE STOPPED AT DRIVE THRU WINDOW (THANK GOD NOT AT A STOP LIGHT). WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO LEAVE, MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. EMBARRASSED I ACCELERATED HARDER AND FINALLY GOT IT MOVING BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE BRAKES WERE STICKING, I COULDN'T GO OVER 15 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT WAS AT 3 RPM, AND ANY TIME I LET OFF GAS PEDAL THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED DEAD IN TRACKS. TERRIFIED I DROVE CAR A FEW BLOCKS TO MY DAD AND AS I WAS PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY THEY FREED UP. WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY BRAKES GET REAL STIFF (HARD TO PRESS) HE COULD FEEL THE HEAT ROLLING OFF FRONT TIRES AND THEY SMELLED REALLY HOT. TOOK TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NONE CAN FIND A CAUSE BECAUSE THE BRAKES AREN'T ACTING UP AT THAT POINT IN TIME. THEY NEED TO SEE IT IN ACTION BEFORE THEY CAN GET AN IDEA. SO HERE I AM 2 MONTHS NOW STILL DRIVING LIKE THIS. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. COMES AND GOES. TODAY I HAD PCM UPDATED AND POWERTRAIN REPLACED AND AFTER THAT WHEN THE MECHANIC GOT IN CAR TO MOVE IT, IT DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE. HE DESCRIBED IT AS IT WAS LIKE HAVING NO POWER. THEY HOOKED IT UP AND IT SHOWED POWER TRAIN. SO THEY REPLACED IT. HE DON'T THINK IT WAS MY BRAKES DOING THIS BUT YET THE OTHER DEALERSHIP SAID YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHERE MY FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REALLY HOT. I'M HOPING SOMEHOW THE UPDATE FIXED IT. TIME WILL TELL

NHTSA ODI 10731932

Jun 27, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD - PARTICULARLY AT LOWER GEARS (1ST TO 2ND, 2ND TO 3RD). IT IS A HARD ENOUGH SHIFT TO JOLT THE PASSENGERS AT TIMES. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER YOU ACCELERATE RAPIDLY OR SLOWLY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVALUATED AT TWO SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (AS A CPO VEHICLE). THE SECOND EVALUATION WAS MEDIATED BY FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE. BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE HARD SHIFTING WAS "A KNOWN ISSUE" AND THAT ITS BEHAVIOR WAS TYPICAL FOR THIS 6F35 TRANSMISSION. ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FORD WOULD KNOWINGLY ALLOW THIS ISSUE TO CONTINUE WITHOUT TRYING TO RESOLVE IT. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT THIS "KNOWN" ISSUE WILL CAUSE THE UNTIMELY FAILURE OF MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE HARD SHIFTING.

NHTSA ODI 10730779

May 27, 2015SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

MY CAR LOST POWER PULLING INTO A PARKING GARAGE WHEN I WENT ON A ROAD TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD MASS, THE FIRST TIME ON 4/26/2015 IT SAID IT WAS SHOUTING DOWN THAT THE ABS DOES THIS TO PROTECT IT FROM OVER HEATING AND THEN IT WOULD NOT LET ME STEER, I THEN TOOK IT WHEN I GOT BACK TO FORD AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG WITH IT, THE NEXT TIME IT LOST POWER WAS TURNING A CORNER IN A PARKING LOT ON 5/21/2015 AT THE RITE AID PARKING LOT IN REHOBOTH BEACH DE IT SAID ON THE SCREEN POWER STEERING FAULT

NHTSA ODI 10721724

May 5, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AND THE SPEED INCREASED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 10714589

Apr 3, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

THE DRIVER-SIDE TRANSMISSION AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING FLUID. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON MULTIPLE VEHICLES WITH THE 6F35 TRANSMISSION. IT COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ALLOWED TO GET TOO LOW ON FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703512

Mar 17, 2015SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE DASH SCREEN SHOWED ADVANCE TRAC LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE COMPUTER SCREEN FLASHED UP POWER STEERING UNIT FAILURE. STEERING OF THE VEHICLE BECAME DANGEROUS AND I LEFT THE HIGHWAY TO TRAVEL AT A SLOWER RATE OF SPEED. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND THAT WHEN RESTARTED IT WOULD RESET BUT IT DID NOT RESET NOR FIX THIS. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I CONTACTED THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON IT AND I WOULD NEED TO BRING IT TO THEM AND THEY WOULD RUN TESTS AND SEE WHAT IS WRONG. BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE AND ANY PARTS AND LABOR NEEDED TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10694753

Feb 10, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, I COULDN'T BRAKE OR ACCELERATE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. ALL THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW, ADVANCED TRACK, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, CHANGE OIL NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10682521

Feb 2, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED RAPIDLY COMING TO A STOP. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL. I COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED. I FELT LUCKY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THAT NO ONE HIT ME. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, I WAITED A MINUTE OR TWO AND RESTARTED THE CAR. IT SEEMED FINE THEN. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 2 MONTHS LATER. NOW IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10680715

Dec 12, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

DRIVING CAR DIES OUT AND WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10664021

Nov 30, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2012 FORD FUSION (2.5L 4 CYLINDER, 6 SPEED SPORT SHIFT TRANSMISSION) WILL SHIFT EXTREMELY HARD AND UNEXPECTEDLY AT BOTH LOW AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN BEGINNING TO SLOW, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY DROP INTO A LOW GEAR, THUS CAUSING A LOUD "CLUNK" SOUND AND THE CAR TO SUDDENLY SLOW (AS IF HITTING THE BRAKES HARD). AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CLIMBING STEEP HILLS, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION WILL HOLD AT A HIGH RPM AND NOT RELEASE, EVEN AFTER REACHING THE TOP OF THE HILL AND/OR ON THE DOWNWARD GRADE. I MUST BRAKE IN ORDER TO FOR THE CAR TO RELEASE FROM HITS HIGH REVELATIONS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME, I AM TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING NORMALLY, AS MY CONCERNS APPARENTLY CANNOT BE REPLICATED. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE. I FEAR THAT AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THIS TRANSMISSION'S SUDDEN, UNPREDICTABLE ACTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10661362

Nov 18, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON A COUPLE OF CYLINDERS, VERY LOW POWER. I STOPPED AS SOON AS I COULD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED IT AND EVERYTHING SEEM TO BE OK. EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, BUT WHILE ON A TRIP, I EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND UNRESPONSIVE THROTTLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM MY SISTER-IN-LAW HAD EXPERIENCED WITH HER 2010 FUSION AND THAT AFTER A NUMBER OF TRIP AND PROBLEM REPEATED PROBLEMS THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. IN MY CASE THE DEALER, EVEN THOUGH I EXPLAINED WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED AND THAT I WAS AWARE OF A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, SAID MY PROBLEM WAS A BAD BATTERY, WHICH THEY REPLACED AND RETURNED THE CAR TO ME. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. I HAVE SINCE DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 1500 MILES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS WITHOUT A PROBLEM. MY SON IS NOW GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2011 ESCAPE HYBRID. HIS DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY WHEN HE TOOK IT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, INSTEAD THEY CHARGED HIM A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO "REMOVE CARBON BUILDUP" OR SOMETHING. TODAY THE ESCAPE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO HIS DEALER THIS AFTERNOON AND TOLD THEM OF MY EXPERIENCE, THE SERVICE REP SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. WE'LL SEE. I AM A LONG TIME LOYAL FORD OWNER BUT FEEL THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BEFORE THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10659081

Nov 17, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT, TO ME ITS SEEMS ITS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, IT JERKS AS IT SHIFT INTO GEARS. IN ONE OCCASION I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN. AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AND THE CAR STARTING SHAKING AND GOT STUCK IN THE DRIVE GEAR, I NOTICED THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT ON. THEN I TURN OFF THE CAR GOT SCARED, LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR ELSE I WOULD OF HAD A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT. AS SOON AS I TURN IT BACK ON THE LIGHT WRENCH CAME OFF AND CAR WAS LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. ALSO NOTICE EVERYTIME THE CAR GOES BETWEEN 2 TO 3 RPM THE CAR DECELERATES AND IS A BIG RISK OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY IF YOU DRIVING ON FREEWAY. I'VE LOOKED INTO TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINS AND LOOKS LIKE 2011 HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, I HAVE TRIED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY NEVER FIND WHAT'S WRONG,IM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING GETTING AND ATTORNEY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10658577

Nov 4, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE A FORD FUSION WHEN TAKING OFF IT SHIFTS REALLY HARD, OR AT TIMES IT WONT SHIFT UNTIL YOU LET OFF OF GAS AN LET RPMS GO DOWN THEN GIVE IT GAS AGAIN. IT ALSO DOWN SHIFT HARD AT TIMES NOT AS MUCH AS IT DOES WHEN GOING UP. I FEEL IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT AWARE WHEN IT HAPPENS. SOME TIMES WHEN IT SHIFTS IT SHIFTS HARD ENOUGH IT FEEL LIKE THE BACK TIRES COME OFF OF GROUND. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD I SEEN WHERE OTHER FORDS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO SEEN WHERE THAT SAME PROBLEM HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS WELL. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652507

Oct 30, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE CLUTCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 10651331

Oct 7, 2014Transmission & drivetrainLights

AS I WAS COMING FROM BIBLE STUDY THIS NIGHT; MY CAR TURNED OFF; I SAW A SCREW DRIVER SYMBOL APPEAR AND IT WENT DEAD. AFTER WAITING FOR AWHILE FOR MY HUSBAND, WE WERE ABLE TO CRANK IT AGAIN AND PROCEED HOME. TWO DAYS LATER; IT DID THE SAME THING. WE TOOK IT TO STOKES OF BEAUFORT, WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON OUR YEAR. THEY ADVISED US TO TAKE IT TO OC WELCH; AND WAS TOLD THERE THAT THEY RECALLED FUSIONS, BUT NOT OUR VIN #, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY CHECKED IT AND SO NOTHING WRONG. WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TELL IT STOPS COMPLETELY. I DO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY; BUT THEY DIDNT SEE THE NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER. DAYS LATER, AFTER COMING FROM THE LAUNDRY MAT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON TOP OF A BRIDGE WITH MY TWO GRAND BABIES IN THE CAR, IT JUST STOPPED. WHAT AM I TO DO??? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10641916

Oct 6, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrainSpeed control

BOUGHT A 2012 FORD FUSION BRAND NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WITHIN FIRST 2 YRS OF OWNERSHIP WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DOWN AN INCLINE - SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. IT FELT AS IF IT LOST POWER STEERING AND THOUGHT ENGINE SHUT OFF. DASH ALARMS RANG AND BRIEFLY SAW 'POWER STEERING FAULT' LIGHT UP. TOOK ALL MY POWER TO PULL CAR OFF ROAD AND TO A SAFE COMPLETE STOP.TURNED OFF IGNITION. AFTER A FEW MINUTES RESTARTED IGNITION AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO A DEALERSHIP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP STATED WATER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND SENT A SIGNAL TO THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. PUMP WAS REPLACED SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED MONTHS LATER WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED, AND FELT ENGINE POWER REDUCE. DASH WARNING SOUNDED AND SAW 'POWER STEERING FAULT, SERVICE POWERTRAC' LIGHT UP. TURNED IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. WAS TOLD A CHIP REPLACEMENT WAS ISSUED. REPLACED CHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY AND RESOLVE ISSUE. CONTINUE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS (4 TO DATE ) BOTH WHILE MOVING AND AT A STAND STILL WHERE THE DASH WARNING SOUNDED AND FELT A REDUCTION OR LOSS OF POWER, EACH TIME HAVING TO SHUT OFF IGNITION AND RESTART TO CLEAR THE FAULT. DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO ATTEMPT TO SERVICE WITH NO RESOLVE AS YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10641891

Oct 2, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

BOUGHT THIS CAR 3 WEEKS AGO WITH 20,500 MI AND IT HAS 21,500 MI ON IT NOW. CAR DROVE WELL AND DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY PROBLEMS DURING SEVERAL TEST DRIVES. ON THE DRIVE TO WORK THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS AND SHUDDER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A CRAWL AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES OF STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. THE PROBLEM IS NOT ALWAYS THERE IN NORMAL DRIVING WHEN SOME SPEED CAN BE REACHED FOR A TIME. BUT IT ALMOST ALWAYS SHOWS UP OR GET MUCH WORSE AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SLOW MOVING OR STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR AFTER IDLING HOT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. TO ME THIS POINTS TO A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSES FRICTION AND OVERHEATING CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF TRANSMISSION'S INTERNAL PARTS. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED TO BE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I PAID A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR WITH THE HOPES OF IT BEING A RELIABLE FAMILY CAR FOR SOME TIME TO COME. MY OPINION OF FORD AND ITS RELIABILITY IS EXTREMELY NEGATIVE. THIS IS MY FIRST AND PROBABLY MY LAST FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10640909

Oct 1, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A HERTZ DEALER 1 WEEK AGO WITH 45, 589K MILES BEFORE THE INDECENT HAPPENED AS FOLLOWS. I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 FORD FUSION SEL IN THE FAST LANE ON THE FREEWAY GOING APROX 70 MPH. THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND ENTERED INTO WHAT I ASSUME WAS SAFE MODE. THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND THE CAR WAS AT 1K ROUGH IDLE. A WRENCH SYMBOL WAS SHOWN ON THE DISPLAY. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HAD TO COAST ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC WHILE LOSING SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER IN TIME BEFORE I LOST ALL MOMENTUM. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER. (DESPITE SEVERAL NEAR MISSES FROM CAR TRAVELING AT FULL SPEED. THANK GOD MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING WITH OUR SON IN THE CAR) WHILE ON THE SHOULDER, THE CAR WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO THROTTLE INPUT AND STAYED IN ROUGH IDLE. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE SAFE MODE WAS DEACTIVATED. FIRST ATTEMPT TO GET UNDER WAY FAILED WITH ONLY TRAVELING A 100 FEET. SECOND ATTEMPT TO TURN ON AND OFF THE CAR WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND TAKE SIDE STREETS HOME. THE CAR ONCE AGAIN WENT INTO SAFE MODE WHILE ON CITY STREETS AND THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO "REBOOT" THE CAR WORKED, I WAS ABLE TO ARRIVE AT HOME. THE CAR NOW HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10640366

Sep 12, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING, THE GAS PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND THE ORANGE WRENCH SYMBOL CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AS NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED APPROX 4 TIMES. EACH TIME WITH THE SAME PRESENTATION AND EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10632684

Aug 20, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE LOST POWER. I ATTEMPTED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR JUST JERKED VIOLENTLY. I WAS FORCED TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED 3 TIMES DO TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC AND MY CAR SUDDENLY LOSING POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, A "WRENCH" SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE DASH. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SAT FOR A FEW SECONDS AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. ONCE STARTED I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 1/2 A MILE, THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AGAIN, THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE MEDIAN BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING IN THE SLOW LANE. THIS CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MILES UNTIL I FINALLY PULLED OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626876

Aug 3, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

WHILE DRIVING MY NEW FORD FUSION, ONLY 5 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SAID WHAT'S THE ISSUE IT STARTED DIDN'T IT? THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN IN MAY AND JULY OF 2014. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD AND A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T DO SO BECAUSE NO CODE SHOWS UP WHEN I'VE TAKEN THE CAR IN AFTER EACH EPISODE. THIS IS A SAFELY ISSUE AND A KNOWN ISSUE. WHY NHTSA ALLOWED THEM TO GET AWAY WITH NOT DOING A RECALL IS BEYOND ME. IT IS UNSAFE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. IT SHOULD NOT MATTER THAT A CODE DOESN'T SHOW UP. WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE COMPUTERS? IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND IS HAPPENING SO IT SHOULD GET REPLACED. THANKFULLY I WASN'T DRIVING OVER 35 WHEN THIS OCCURRED, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT TIME IF I'M ON A HIGHWAY GOING 60? WHAT WILL IT TAKE - PEOPLE TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED TO GET A TRUE RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10618456

Jul 29, 2014SuspensionTransmission & drivetrain

HAIL DAMAGE, PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR, COULD BE REASON FOR UNEXPLAINED TIRE TREAD WEAR, AND/OR KNOCKING SOUND WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING. MY FUSION IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE ADVISE WITH ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY BE HELPFUL.

NHTSA ODI 10617393

Jul 21, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, GOING 65MPH WHEN A CHIME GOES OFF. THERE IS AN AMBER LIGHT ON THE DASH AND WORDS ARE UNDER THE SPEEDOMETER SAYING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND THEN "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC". I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF I-35, SO I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS UNTIL I CAME TO MY EXIT RAMP. IT WAS VERY STIFF. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP I NEEDED TO MAKE A SERIES OF MUCH SHARPER TURNS AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED HOW BAD IT WAS. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND PULLED OUT MY PHONE AND TOOK PICTURES OF WHAT IT WAS SHOWING. WHEN I GOT INTO WORK, I SENT THE PICTURE TO MY DEALER, WHO SAID THEY COULD LOOK AT IT, BUT THAT WAS AS FAR AS THEY WOULD COMMIT. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 20 DAYS AND OF COURSE THE 3/36,000 EXPIRED 2000 MILES AGO. I TURNED TO THE INTERNET AND FOUND QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING WITH NUMEROUS YEARS OF THE FUSION. IT APPEARS THAT A SHORT TERM FIX IS TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND WHEN STARTED AGAIN, THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARS, BUT MAY OR MAY NOT POP UP AGAIN. NOT EXACTLY REASSURING, FORD MOTOR COMPANY. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS? A CAR WITH 38,000 MILES HAVING AN ISSUE THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING SEEMS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN THIS DAY OF CAR COMPANIES KNOWING ABOUT PROBLEMS, YET DOING NOTHING AND THEN PAYING THE CONSEQUENCES LATER. DO THE RIGHT THING, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND FIX THIS FOR THOSE OF US WHO CHOSE TO BUY YOUR PRODUCT AND PUT OUR FAITH INTO YOU DELIVERING A QUALITY, RELIABLE AND SAFE VEHICLE. I OWNED A 2005 HYUNDAI THAT I PUT OVER 270,000 MILES ON AND THE ONLY ISSUE WAS TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. I WAS GOING TO GO WITH HYUNDAI AGAIN, BUT I THOUGHT SINCE FORD DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE BAILOUT, I WOULD GO AMERICAN. AM I GOING TO REGRET THAT DECISION? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10615138

Jul 1, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

WAS DRIVING THE WHEEL SUDDEN WENT STIFF OUT OF NO WHERE HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND START AGAIN. THAT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AND IT SAYS POWER STEERING ASSAULT FAILED AND I CANT DRIVE THE CAR AT ALL IT SAYS THAT AS SOON AS I START IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10607615

Jun 30, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

THIS MODEL IS AN AWD MODEL. VEHICLE EMITS A FOUL 'NATURAL GAS' ODOR WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER ANY PERIOD OF DRIVING. THIS ODOR SMELLS EXACTLY LIKE THE FLUID INSIDE THE RDU. AFTER SEVERAL TRIAL AND ERROR ATTEMPTS, I BELIEVE THE SMELL IS BEING SUCKED IN THROUGH THE HVAC SYSTEM. HOWEVER WHEN THE SYSTEM IS PUT IN RE-CIRCULATION MODE, THE SMELL IS NOT PRESENT. THIS PROVES THAT THE SMELL IS BEING SUCKED IN FROM OUTSIDE, FROM A VENT CONNECTED TO THE RDU. I CANT BELIEVE FORD HAS NOT HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. ITS EMBARRASSING TO HAVE ANYBODY RIDE IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10607238

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Ford Fusion Hev verdict →