Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Ford Fusion?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2012 Ford Fusion?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2012 Ford Fusion?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2012 Ford Fusion vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Ford Fusion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 893 vehicles, the 2012 Ford Fusion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Ford Fusion?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Ford Fusion are: Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (43.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (40.5% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (39.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Ford Fusion?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford Fusion (2012)

893 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.9% first-time pass rate

2012 Ford Fusion

CarHunch analysed 893 real MOT records for the 2012 Ford Fusion. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Ford Fusion passes its MOT on the first attempt 83.9% of the time, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which is a modest positive signal. However, 26.3% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is notably high and something a prospective buyer should factor into their inspection checklist.

These Fusions are running at a reasonable 42,991 miles on average, which is sensible wear for a 12-year-old car, yet they're accumulating an average of 2.26 failures per test—suggesting they'll need some attention once they reach later MOTs. The 12 advisories per vehicle indicate regular minor wear items are cropping up, so budget for consumables and have a pre-purchase inspection pay particular attention to brakes, suspension, and steering components given the defect history.

The 2012 Ford Fusion has a decent first-time pass rate (83.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

83.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

26.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.26

Over 12.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

40k

Middle half: 28k–54k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 12 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 893 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 893 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 43.5%

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 40.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 36%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Lighting 24.5%

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured · Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 893 Ford Fusion cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Ford Fusion

Based on MOT data from 893 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	892	83.9%	2.26

Colour Breakdown

Based on 108,841 Ford Fusion vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 32.2%

34,994

Blue 23%

25,067

Black 14.8%

16,158

Grey 11.9%

12,973

Green 9%

9,749

Red 5%

5,485

Purple 1.9%

2,069

Orange 1.8%

1,921

White 0.2%

191

Gold 0.1%

148

Maroon 0%

Bronze 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Ford Fusion vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

40,228

typical

27,928

low mileage

53,804

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Ford Fusion vehicles fall between 27,928 and 53,804 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 27,928 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 27,928–53,804 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Ford Fusions sit.

⚠ Over 72,635 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Ford Fusion — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Ford Fusions are still being driven.

Strong survival — 754 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.26

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Fusion: All Fusion years → Which year to buy? →

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

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Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Ford Fusion stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing