2012 Ford Fiesta reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Ford Fiesta — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 833
- 79 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN
- 269 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 27 injuries · 8 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#547
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Ford median
+496
median 338 across 514 Ford records
Vs 2010-2014
+541
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
32%
Power Train: 269 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Ford Fiesta
- POWER TRAIN 269
- STRUCTURE:BODY 80
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 78
- ENGINE 68
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 63
3 recalls on record for the 2012 Ford Fiesta
- NHTSA 20V331000 · 2020 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicl
- NHTSA 15V246000 · 2015 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicl
- NHTSA 12V488000 · 2012 · AIR BAGS An occupant in the right rear seating position will not have coverage from the side curtain air bag in a side impact col
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Ford Fiesta
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford Fiesta units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Ford Fiesta reliable?
NHTSA has 833 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Ford Fiesta and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is power train (269 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford Fiesta units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
Owners most often report problems with: power train (269), structure:body (80), unknown or other (78), engine (68). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Ford Fiesta?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.