Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,451 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Ford Fiesta brakes problems

brakes problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Ford Fiesta:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Ford Fiesta Owner Comments

problem #14

Jun 262012

Fiesta

  • 127,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while attempting to close the doors, the four doors failed to latch properly. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to be repaired; however, while driving off the lot, the contact became aware that the radio was inoperable, and the brake pedal was firm and difficult to depress. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #13

Jan 032013

Fiesta

  • 75,000 miles
Transmission replaced4 times

- Sharon, PA, USA

problem #12

Nov 012017

Fiesta

  • 8,000 miles
Transmission does not engage or disengage when it's supposed to. Slow to start from a complete stop; hard to accelerate for passing; late to stop because downshifting is late.

- Lincoln Park, MI, USA

problem #11

May 242019

Fiesta

  • 86,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2012 Ford Fiesta which has had nothing but problems over the course of the time I've had the car. On the Thursday before the memorial day weekend I put the car into reverse and the car wouldn't stop. We were going very slow and thank goodness didn't hit anything. We hit a curb behind us that stopped the car. I shifted into drive and it moved forward. We took it into the dealership that next morning and they replaced the brake master cylinder and the clutch. I've done multiple warranty claims & I've had ongoing trans/clutch issues that finally resulted with as replacement last month. Now the car is no longer jerking and slipping but it's slower with decreased gas mileage. I've had a sync issue/ radio electrical issue and took it in multiple times, it's still not fixed. Recently the radio/sync completely fails but it's intermittent. Now I'm being told that because the sync/radio issue is intermittent, I have to wait until it's not working completely to take it in. In the last 6 weeks the car has been in twice for brake issues, (I took it back twice in the same day + trans replacement) then again two weeks later. I'm on the third time to the dealership over the sync system in the last year, that is still not fixed.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

Aug 012016

Fiesta

  • 62,143 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. While coming to a stop, the vehicle began to rev while in neutral at high speeds. The vehicle would decelerate intermittently as if it would stall, but then suddenly began to accelerate. The failure recurred while driving approximately 30 mph. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop until the anti-lock brakes were activated. The dealer stated that the electronic throttle body failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The part for the repair was on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the repair was no longer under warranty. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 62,143.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #9

Jan 192016

Fiesta

  • 49,937 miles
Today, 1/19/2016 is my 6th visit to Ford dealer service since 2014 August. My car has been towed in to service location with condition of transmission shudders excessively. I was not able to drive the car with a in-operating transmission. It is very sad, I do not feel safe to drive the vehicle no more than 15 miles if I can. Transmission and clutch has been fixed for 3 times. Every time I have talked to Ford customer rep. They are telling me I should be okay because they extend my transmission coverage to 100.000 miles. Should I toss my car after 100.000 " I definitely do not feel I can make it to 100.000 without an injury!!! will company wait until someone get injured for a buyback policy? who is responsible for the time I spent on the issue"

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #8

Nov 112015

Fiesta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The Ford Fiesta we have has had transmission issues for a while. We have taken it in 4 times, twice they claimed they reprogrammed the computer and replaced the clutch. We have continued to notice the vehicle jerking or pulsating when accelerating and braking. Ford has yet to respond to us with a resolution despite multiple attempts to have them address the issue. Our safety concern is that the transmission will eventually fail and put our safety in jeopardy.

- Chaska, MN, USA

problem #7

Oct 202014

Fiesta

  • 13,000 miles
I was driving approximatly 45 mph on St rt 28 in milford Ohio and my door was locked and the door ajar light failed to indicate any failure in securing the door apropiatly, well as I began braking to reduce speed my door flew open and I reached out to shut it as I was applieing pressure to the brake and they completely failed causing me to rear end the vehicle in my front, upoun impact the air bag on the drive T side only failed to deploy therfore causing a sustantially greater amount and longer lasting injuys. The door slammed shut on my wrist causing debilutating and life altering injury's including the loss of my 5 year career as a exterior finish carpenter due to loss of ability to perform general tasks that I was able to not onl perform but actually master before my auto accident

- Milford , OH, USA

problem #6

Apr 232013

Fiesta

  • 30 miles
I purchased the car in March of 2013 from the first week I owned the car I have complained that the car: Shudders and gurgles at take off with no power what so ever, going up a steep hill has no power at all the car gurgles and then once it catches the car lunges forward very fast, when breaking there is a loud noise and the car shudder, the rpms rev high at take off. 1st appointment I was told it was a new transmission system and it had to learn the way I depress the gas. 2nd, 3rd, 4th appointment same thing....5th appointmentclutch reset to re-learn the shifting patterns.....6th appointment - clutch replaced. Called to ask what to do because its not fixed. I was advised to call Ford customer care that maybe they would give me a loaner car so the dealer could keep the car longer....6/22/15 - I called Ford customer relations I was advised to bring it back to the dealership and call Ford customer care back to let them know what the diagnosis was...6/30/15 - the clutch was reset to re-learn the shifting patterns, and was advised there is nothing wrong with my breaks...6/30/15 - called Ford customer care with the diagnosis, was advised that the dealership is doing the steps to repair this issue per Ford. Asked to speak with a supervisor...7/2/15 - supervisor called, informed me that I did not qualify for the buy back program, that the dealership is doing exactly what Ford is telling them to do and that I can buy a new car and mention the customer loyalty Ford Fiesta program to receive money towards my new purchase. I asked to speak with someone higher up; she advised me that she would have someone call me but that they are going to tell me the exact same thing...7/6/15 - waiting on a call

- Seymour, CT, USA

problem #5

Jan 012014

Fiesta 4-cyl

  • 12,000 miles
Brakes squeek. Dealer supposedly fixed. Still squeeks, but now also squeeks even if you are not braking. It is a high pitched squeel, and is embarrassing.

- Taylorsville, UT, USA

problem #4

Mar 022014

Fiesta

  • 44,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the speed of in town, stop and go traffic, my brakes failed to work. I approached a red light with stopped traffic ahead of me and started braking. I continued to brake but there was absolutely no brake pressure. It felt like my brake pedal was pushing through the floor board but nothing was happening. My car proceeded to crash into a stopped truck at about 35-40mph. My airbag did not deploy. I came away with aches and pain but fortunately was not badly injured. My car has been totaled by my insurance company. I have been telling Ford since I purchased the car that the brakes make an awful squealing noise. Finally after two years they "serviced" the brakes and then a month later this incident happened.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #3

Feb 252013

Fiesta 4-cyl

  • 14,150 miles
Brake failure, the car pulled so hard to the right it literally changed the lanes. Car in left lane had to lock up his brakes to avoid hitting me. This happened again the next day when I had to brake to avoid another car pulling into my lane. Brakes failed the car pulled to the right and I barely missed the collision. This has been going on for a year and the car has been in the shop for this 6 times. The dealer says there is no problem with the brakes but the brake tech says it is a problem with all 2012 Ford Fiestas he test drove.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #2

Apr 052012

Fiesta 4-cyl

  • 2,000 miles
While driving at highway speeds and you have to hit the brakes hard to slow down fast but not an emergency braking situation the car pulls hard to the right to the point you are pulled into the lane beside you. The car has been in the dealers shop 4 times to repair this problem to no avail.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #1

Oct 112012

Fiesta 4-cyl

  • 17,050 miles
As I was driving on the surface streets, the cars brakes did not work. I pumped the brakes three times before they actually locked and I slid on the road and rear ended a vehicle. The impact was quite intense and the damaged was quite large. For some reason the airbags did not deploy being that the front end of my vehicle was damaged all the way in-till the engine.

- Azusa, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?