Worst 2012 Ford Fiesta Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Body Structure
Engine Problems
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford Fiesta.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 269 | — | — | 47,356 mi | |
| Body Structure | 80 | 2 | — | 56,028 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 68 | 2 | 2 | 43,141 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 63 | — | 3 | 74,983 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 44 | — | — | 45,303 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 39 | 1 | — | 35,297 mi | |
| Latches / Locks | 30 | — | — | 52,490 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 25 | — | — | 53,698 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 18 | 1 | — | 104,659 mi | |
| Airbags | 15 | 8 | — | 71,683 mi | |
| Brakes | 15 | 3 | — | 39,255 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 13 | — | — | 37,133 mi | |
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 72,356 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 8 | — | — | 24,709 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 7 | — | — | 65,152 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 6 | — | — | 13,524 mi | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 6 | — | — | 28,065 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Fiesta. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2012 Ford Fiesta
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,758,234 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta vehicles manufactured February 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 119,567 vehicles, including certain model year 2011 Ford Fiestas manufactured from November 11, 2009, to May 31, 2013 and certain model year 2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Fiesta vehicles, manufactured from November 3, 2009 through September 21, 2012. The vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The passenger side curtain air bag will not deploy in the event of a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty. Although the side curtain air bag system was designed to suppress the side curtain air bag under this scenario, that information is not explained in the owner's guide for these vehicles as required by FMVSS No. 208.
Other Ford Fiesta Years
2012 Ford Fiesta — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Ford Fiesta reliable?
What are common problems with the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
How safe is the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
Does the 2012 Ford Fiesta have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2012 Ford Fiesta?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Fiesta reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Ford Fiesta
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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