2012 FORD FUSION — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I am writing to formally report that the safety recall repair on my 2012 Ford Fusion has failed to resolve the dangerous loss of power steering. My vehicle underwent the 15S18 recall update only at Tom's Ford back in 2015. On January 20 2026, the steering failed again while driving, creating an immediate safety risk. The dealer has failed to provide a permanent remedy at Jim Hudson Ford in Lexington SC. As safety recalls do not expire, I request a permanent fix of the steering gear replacement within 14 days of this letter, per NHTSA guidelines. If this is not resolved, I will pursue further legal action.

I am writing to formally file a complaint and request resolution regarding a serious safety issue involving my 2012 Ford Fusion SEL (VIN: [XXX] ). I have been a loyal Ford customer for over 20 years and have owned only Ford vehicles. Unfortunately, my recent experience with Ford Customer Care and my local dealership has been extremely disappointing and concerning. A few weeks ago, my 2012 Ford Fusion suddenly lost power steering while my young son was driving home from school. This created a terrifying and dangerous situation that could have resulted in a serious accident or injury. Thankfully, he was able to safely pull over, and no one was hurt. However, this was clearly a major safety failure. After this incident, I contacted Ford Customer Care and my local Ford dealership to seek assistance. I was informed that the Customer Satisfaction Program related to the EPAS steering system had expired for my vehicle and that Ford would not provide further support. However, this directly contradicts the information shown in my Ford app. The Ford app clearly lists Customer Satisfaction Program Campaign 15N01 – “EPAS Steering Effort” and instructs me to schedule a free service with a dealer. I later learned that an update was performed in 2015, but the EPAS steering system itself was never replaced—only updated—and that the program was considered a one-time offer. It is extremely upsetting to now face costly repairs for a known safety-related issue that was clearly not resolved correctly the first time. The fact that my Ford app continues to show this campaign as available, while Ford Customer Care claims it cannot be seen in their system and provides no further explanation, is unacceptable. As a long-time Ford customer, I expect transparency, accountability, and support—especially when it comes to safety-related defects. A loss of power steering is not a minor inconvenience; it is a serious hazard INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My vehicle all of a sudden showed a "power steering assist fault," luckily it was parked. This is a problem with the 2012 Ford Fusion and I called Koon's Ford in Baltimore to see if this would be covered since my vehicle has never had steering issues before. They said yes, but after a couple days they called to tell me that Ford denied the claim since it is outside of the ten year warranty window. My car does not have a lot of miles for being over ten years old. I understand the warranty is in place for a reason but this is a dangerous manufacturer issue. I could have gotten seriously hurt if it happened on the road so it is upsetting to hear that Ford refuses to cover it. I will try to call customer relations to see if there could be another verdict. It is concerning that the manufacturer does not have an extended warranty for such a dangerous issue and I would like to make it known.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Electric Steering Fault" was displayed. While driving out of the driveway, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn, causing the vehicle to drive across two lanes of traffic. The vehicle was driven to the local deale,r who diagnosed that the steering gear was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (STEERING); and was no longer eligible for a related Customer Satisfaction Program to address the steering failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 170,000.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Power Steering How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The likelihood of accidents when traveling at lower speeds is increased. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the Ford dealership reproduced the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, the message appeared only when the power steering stopped functioning.