2012 Ford Fusion problems
The 2012 Ford Fusion was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.4 HDi. The 1.4 HDi has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 5 documented faults affect 2012 cars, such as clutch wear and Durashift manual gearbox faults.
2012 Ford Fusion score: acceptable reliability
Calculated using only 10 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Engine5.75 faults
- Gearbox8.61 fault
- Suspension7.22 faults and ITV (technical inspection)
- Brakes8.5Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.6 times the defects normal for its age
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering9.2Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.3 times the defects normal for its age
- Electrical system8.61 fault
- Headlights and lights7.0Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.2 times the defects normal for its age
- Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior9.21 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults
What changes compared with the 2011 Ford Fusion
The same engines and the same documented faults as in 2011.
1.4 HDi engine in the 2012 Ford Fusion
Names: 1.4 TDCi 68
- With caution
1.4 HDi/TDCi 54/68/70 8V (DV4TD, 2001-2009)
54–70 hp · DV4TD, 8HT, 8HX, 8HZ
It shares the injector fragility of the rest of the family, documented in both the 68 and 70 hp versions, along with occasional turbo and EGR valve failures. It is worth buying with a maintenance history and no noticeable diesel leaks.[3][4]
Faults that affect 2012 cars
- Medium severityFrequency: Very frequentInjectionInjectors that lose their seal and let diesel escapeThe most cited weak point of the 1.4 HDi is its injectors: over time they can lose their seal and let diesel escape, which is usually noticed as a smell of diesel in the car. It appears in the two most common outputs (68 and 70 hp) and in both cases it is identified as the engine's main weakness.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingTiming belt and water pumpThe 1.4 HDi uses a timing belt (with an additional short chain on the 16-valve version), and Fiches-Auto documents some of its failures, along with the water pump, at around 100,000 km. We have not found the manufacturer's official change interval in a reliable source.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTurboPremature turbo wear from poor lubricationThe BorgWarner KP35 turbo of the 8-valve version can wear out early when the oil degrades and forms carbon deposits, reducing its lubrication. It is a minority but recurring fault: it appears in just over 9% of the reports collected for the 68 hp version.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalEmissions controlEGR valve clogged with carbonThe EGR valve, which recirculates part of the exhaust gases to reduce emissions, can seize or clog up with the carbon those gases carry. It appears in a noticeable minority of the reports collected for the 68 hp version.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareTimingCrankshaft damper pulley wearThe crankshaft pulley incorporates a rubber ring that dampens engine vibrations and that can lose grip or crack over time. We have found only one specific report of this fault (a Peugeot 206 at around 250,000 km), so we do not consider it a widespread fault.
Faults outside the engine in the 2012 Ford Fusion
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchClutch wear and Durashift manual gearbox faultsAccording to owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the clutch and gearbox are the most frequently cited non-engine fault on the Fusion (28 of 206): clutches replaced at around 90,000 km, gears that stick and a reverse gear that grinds.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionShock absorber wear and broken rear springsAccording to reports on fiches-auto.fr, 19 Fusion owners (out of 206) cite worn shock absorbers, broken rear springs and suspension noises, with cases at 70,000 and 90,000 km and one car that had its rear mounts replaced five times.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionPremature wheel bearing wearAccording to fiches-auto.fr, 13 Fusion reports (out of 206) cite wheel bearings that are noisy or worn sooner than expected, with cases at 76,000 and 120,000 km and some associated ABS faults.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectrical systemPremature alternator failureAccording to fiches-auto.fr, 17 Fusion reports (out of 206) cite alternator faults: noisy bearings, irregular charging and repeated failures, with one case at 155,000 km costing over €500 and another with two failures in six years.
- Low severityFrequency: RareBodywork and interiorExterior plastic trim coming offAccording to fiches-auto.fr, several Fusion owners say that the exterior plastic trim and door mouldings come unstuck, with cases at 25,000 km that recur and mean going back to the garage; the page gives no figures.
Buying a 2012 Ford Fusion?
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Ford Fusion reliable?
The 2012 Ford Fusion was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.4 HDi. The 1.4 HDi has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 5 documented faults affect 2012 cars, such as clutch wear and Durashift manual gearbox faults.
Is the 2012 Ford Fusion better than the 2011?
Going by the documented faults, they are the same: the same engines and the same faults affect the 2011 and 2012 cars. Choose on condition, mileage and maintenance history.
What faults does the 2012 Ford Fusion have?
The most important ones documented for 2012 cars are: timing belt and water pump (1.4 HDi, high severity), injectors that lose their seal and let diesel escape (1.4 HDi, medium severity), premature turbo wear from poor lubrication (1.4 HDi, medium severity), eGR valve clogged with carbon (1.4 HDi, medium severity) and crankshaft damper pulley wear (1.4 HDi, medium severity).
Own a 2012 Ford Fusion? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Ford Duratorq engineWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Ford Fusion (Europa)Wikipedia (es) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Essai, avis et fiabilité des 1.4 HDI 68 chFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Essai, avis et fiabilité des 1.4 HDI 70 chFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French