2012 Ford Fiesta: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Ford Fiesta: 3 recalls, 617 owner complaints and up to 32 mpg combined.
Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V488000 · 2012 · 154,471 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An occupant in the right rear seating position will not have coverage from the side curtain air bag in a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty, increasing the risk of injury to the right rear occupant.
The fix: 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 description in the owner's guide. The safety recall began on October 26, 2012.…
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #15V246000 · 2015 · 456,440 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: 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.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #20V331000 · 2020 · 2,147,323 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: 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. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 5 mention a fire, 17 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (274): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (163), stalls / loses power (84), noise or vibration (75).
- Body & structure (128): the most common themes are door / lock issues (123).
- Other / unknown (78): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (12).
- Engine (68): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (20), noise or vibration (19).
The 2012 Ford Fiesta has 617 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 12 Fiesta model years for complaints (2.3× the average Fiesta year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (138 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 45,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (730 complaints, 3 recalls), 2013 (668 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 37 | 32 | Regular |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 37 | 32 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Ford Fiesta.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Ford Fiesta have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Ford Fiesta. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Ford Fiesta problems?
Owners have filed 617 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (274), body & structure (128), other / unknown (78).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Fiesta get?
EPA ratings run up to 32 mpg combined (1.6 L, Automatic (AM6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Ford Fiesta repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.