2012 Ford Fiesta Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Fiesta.

20112013
Complaints
832
Crashes
18
Fires
7
Injuries
24
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2012 Ford Fiesta Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1269 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:47,356 mi
#280 complaints

Body Structure

Avg mileage:56,028 mi
Crash-related:2
#368 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:43,141 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford Fiesta.

Transmission / Drivetrain
269
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
47,356
Body Structure
80
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
56,028
Engine Problems
68
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
43,141
Electrical Faults
63
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
74,983
Structure:Body:Door
44
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,303
Unintended Acceleration
39
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
35,297
Latches / Locks
30
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,490
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,698
Headlight/Taillight Failures
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
104,659
Airbags
15
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
71,683
Brakes
15
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
39,255
Steering Defects
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
37,133
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,356
Seat-Related Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
24,709
Electronic Stability Control
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,152
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
13,524
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,065
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

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.

20V331000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~2,147,323 affected

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.

15V246000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~456,440 affected

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.

12V488000Airbags
~154,471 affected

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?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2012 Ford Fiesta has 832 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 269 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (269 complaints, avg 47,356 mi); Body Structure (80 complaints, avg 56,028 mi); Engine Problems (68 complaints, avg 43,141 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 51,370 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Ford Fiesta include 18 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 24 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Ford Fiesta have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,758,234 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Ford Fiesta?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (transmission / drivetrain) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

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

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