2012 Ford Fiesta problems and complaints
Owners have filed 617 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Fiesta. The most-reported areas: Power Train (274), Structure (128), Unknown Or Other (78).
Key takeaways
- 617 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 12 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 17 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 274 | 44% |
| Structure | 128 | 21% |
| Unknown Or Other | 78 | 13% |
| Engine | 68 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 66 | 11% |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 57 | 9% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 6% |
| Exterior Lighting | 22 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 15 | 2% |
| Steering | 13 | 2% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Ford Fiesta 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Latches/Locks/Linkages - filed 2026-09-09
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle and closing the front driver’s side door, the door failed to latch properly. While driving 70 MPH, the front driver’s side door opened. The contact secured the door with a bungee cord and continued driving. A dealer was notified of ...
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-04-28
My daughter and 2 friends were driving on the highway, the dash flickers and goes back to normal, flickered again and the car started slowing down so she pulled over, ( car still moving) and puts the car in park but the car still continues to move. Passenger notices out the side mirror the car is on fire, she jumped ou...
Power Train - filed 2026-03-23
While driving, my son's car started to have issues when it was shifting gears (it's an automatic). Then a warning came up on the dash saying something like "Transmission malfunction, service immediately". We were on our way to a mechanic to pick up another vehicle so we left it with them. They confirmed the issue and s...
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More for the 2012 Ford Fiesta
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.