This page covers 4 recalls, 616 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Ford Fiesta.
32 mpg combined
7.4 L/100km
Subcompact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2012 Ford Fiesta centers on the powertrain, with the dual-clutch automatic transmission drawing by far the most reports. Owners frequently describe shuddering, hesitation, and jerking during acceleration and low-speed driving, along with dashboard warnings referencing transmission malfunction prompting immediate service. Some report the transmission losing power mid-drive, requiring roadside stops. A cluster of complaints also involves the vehicle continuing to roll after being shifted into park. The structure category generates the second-highest complaint volume, and within that, door latches are the most consistent theme, owners report doors that won't catch properly, require hard slamming to close, or swing open unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion.
616
Total Complaints
12
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
13
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Ford Fiesta has 4 recalls, the most serious being a side curtain airbag that fails to deploy in a side-impact crash when the front passenger seat is empty, leaving anyone seated behind the passenger without airbag coverage.
The door latch recalls affect a range of model years across multiple Ford vehicles, and the Fiesta is included in both. The underlying problem is the same: a door latch can fail to fully engage, allowing the door to swing open while the car is moving. Prior repair attempts on affected vehicles did not fully resolve the issue, which is why a second recall was issued to address cases where the earlier fix was not completed properly. On the electrical side, water and road debris can get into the battery junction box and corrode the components inside, causing the low-beam headlights and daytime running lights to cut out without warning while driving, reducing how far ahead the driver can see and raising the risk of a crash at night or in poor conditions.
At a glance
What can fail
A door latch component may break, making doors hard to close or allowing doors to appear closed when they're actually unsecured.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect door latches and replace them if needed at no cost. Owners can also check latch date codes online to verify if repair was done correctly.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water and road debris can enter the battery junction box, causing corrosion of electrical components. This may cause the low beam headlights and daytime running lights to turn off while driving.
What the fix does
A Ford or Lincoln dealer will clean the battery junction box, install foam sealing to the cover, and replace any corroded fuses, terminals, or relays.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component in the door latches may break, making doors hard to close or causing them to appear securely closed when they are not.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace all four door latches with improved parts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger side curtain air bag won't deploy during a side-impact crash when the front passenger seat is empty. The system was designed to suppress the air bag in this condition, but this wasn't explained in the owner's guide as required.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the vehicle software to allow the passenger side curtain air bag to deploy when the front passenger seat is empty.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
