Most common 2012 Ford Fiesta problems
Share of the 617 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Fiesta complaints by model year
Best Fiesta years: 2018, 2017, 2019. Years to avoid: 2011, 2013, 2012. Compare all years →
2012 Ford Fiesta recalls (3)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on June 5, 2015. The recall began on December 18, 2015.
Air bags
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software free of charge so that it no longer suppresses the passenger side curtain air bag when the front passenger seat is empty, and consistent with the…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2012 Ford Fiesta:
Door Latch Failures
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.
Door Latch Failure
On September 11, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE14-028) to investigate claims of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta vehicles. ODI has received 207 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with sixty-five claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.
Door Latch Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta, MY 2013 Ford Fusion and MY 2013 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
What 2012 Ford Fiesta owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 274 →
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the brake pedal while approaching a traffic light, the vehicle began to shake until the vehicle came to a full stop. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while attempting to make a right turn and depressing on the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to move forward. The contact stated that she turned off the vehicle for a couple of minutes however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that after the 6th attempt, the vehicle restarted but continued to experience the failure. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. Additionally, while the vehicle was changing gear, the vehicle was jerking abnormally. While attempting to reach a safe area, the vehicle stalled twice. The contact was able to restart the vehicle both times however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the Hill Assist warning light and two additional unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while in a safe area, the vehicle failed to restart. The local dealer was contacted and arranged for the vehicle to be towed to their location; however, the contact was unsure if the vehicle had been towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the dealer mentioned that the failure might be related to an unknown Technical Service Bulletin for the TCM. …
Body & structure all 128 →
I was driving to work this morning; the car made a horrible "clunk" when I accelerated to around 20 then lost power and nearly crashed. The car then displayed error lights (yellow CEL, yellow wrench icon, HEAD unit showed "transmission issue service immediately" This is a direct result of the DPs6 transmission put into all 7th gen Ford Focus/Fiesta models. This DCT transmission has been replaced 3 times for this particular car and failed the same manner each time - meaning 3 near accidents have occured because this transmission fails. Across the USA; more than 50 people have been injured as a result of this transmission failing.
This car has had 2 door latches fail and need replacement after only 50,000 miles and no collisions. In October of 2014, the rear passenger side door latch failed and required replacement as per the dealership. The car was outside the bumper-to-bumper warranty at this time. However, I believed this was a major safety concern as the door would not close, requiring me to tie it down with a bungee cord. I contact Ford motor company multiple times and they would not offer any sort of assistance with the repair. After paying for the repairs out of pocket, the front passenger side door latch failed in March of 2015. Once again, I contact Ford. This time my case was escalated to a regional customer service manager but the end result was the same. This car is only 3 years old with 50,000 miles on it and two door latches have failed. This is a major safety issue. …
Engine & cooling all 75 →
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission module and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. While driving, the vehicle continued to jerk and there was smoke coming through the vents. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal booming sound detected. The contact had to depress the accelerator pedal continually for the vehicle to respond as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. …
2012 ford fiesta check engine light on codes reading o2 sensors, catalytic intake, misfires, fuel injection, etc. I have had my fiesta at 3 mechanics all very known for there reliability all diagnosing it different issue recommending me to go to dealership which I was turned away because the recalls for the vehicle isn't an issue for any of the possible diagnostics. Single mother of 3 now no vehicle, no money and no way of providing without transportation. Less than 150,000 Miles owned less than two years and the amount of money put into the vehicle ford should be ashamed. Shuddering and accelerating issue was told clutch and transmission issue but no help or actual known diagnosis since ford won't diagnose the suspected diagnosis from any of the mechanics I have taken the vehicle to and they can't for sure diagnose it until ford confirms the diagnosis since this is a known issue. …
2012 Ford Fiesta engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 29 / 37 / 32 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 29 / 37 / 32 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Ford Fiesta a good car?
Based on 617 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Fiesta rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Fiesta at the same age. It is one of the Fiesta years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
The transmission & drivetrain — 274 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about clutch assembly. Next are the body & structure (128) and engine & cooling (75).
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Fiesta have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Ford Fiesta, the most recent from June 8, 2020 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Fiesta?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2017 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2013 and 2012. See the full Ford Fiesta years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Fiesta problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 54% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.