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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,356 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Ford Fiesta Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #68

Jun 012023

Fiesta

  • miles

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

Car TCM blew and Leif Johnson refusing to schedule repairs with loaner car for fix.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #67

Feb 082023

Fiesta

  • miles
2012 ford fiesta check engine light on codes reading o2 sensors, catalytic intake, misfires, fuel injection, etc. I have had my fiesta at 3 mechanics all very known for there reliability all diagnosing it different issue recommending me to go to dealership which I was turned away because the recalls for the vehicle isn-€™t an issue for any of the possible diagnostics. Single mother of 3 now no vehicle, no money and no way of providing without transportation. Less than 150,000 Miles owned less than two years and the amount of money put into the vehicle ford should be ashamed. Shuddering and accelerating issue was told clutch and transmission issue but no help or actual known diagnosis since ford won-€™t diagnose the suspected diagnosis from any of the mechanics I have taken the vehicle to and they can-€™t for sure diagnose it until ford confirms the diagnosis since this is a known issue. They also sent me two recalls but refused to fix the recalls because I wasn-€™t 100% sure my vehicle needed the repair and threatened to charge me 150 diagnostic charge for the recall after I already poured my heart out to them about the issue I can-€™t seem to even get repaired due to there lack of care care as a manufacturer

- York, PA, USA

problem #66

Nov 252022

Fiesta

  • miles
Transmission malfunction

- Springfield , IL, USA

problem #65

Aug 172022

Fiesta 4-cyl

  • miles

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

I just got the car in June 1st.2022 it's broken down 5x stopped in middle of us.19 North 2x it won't keep oil it's leaking out running hot blowed the hose loose 1x last week, it started weeks ago refused to start up and shutting down now, shuddering, it's at machanic shop now in largo, Florida he stated the car is not usable and unsafe to drive any longer the motor as well is gone and white smoke is coming from the muffler.the used car dealership truecars on park blvd.is trying to force me to keep the car I haven't driven the car in 2wks.this week will be 3 I have fixed Alot of things on the car in little time I can't afford to replace something that was damaged already my first to be car and it's been a bad experience.but I do know I will not put my life or anyone else lives in danger to fix the serious major damage with this car someone please contact me and help guide me as to what to do with this situation in desperate need.God bless.sincerly!!!

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #64

Jul 112022

Fiesta

  • miles
Dp26 automatic Transmission seals leak contamination of clutch. Constant problems with transmission.

- Charleston , WV, USA

problem #63

Jan 052022

Fiesta

  • miles
Seats move after adjusting and sometimes the malfunction check engine code comes

- Saint Martinville , LA, USA

problem #62

Mar 042022

Fiesta

  • miles

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

Transmission Malfunction, this is the 4th time that I am having to replace the transmission. I am taking the car back to dealership to get the transmission fixed for the 5th time. The car jerks when it comes to a stop. Hard time accelerating or does not accelerate. I put the car in R and it did not budge at all, even turned the car off and turned it back on same thing. This car should not be permitted on the road. Does not shift gears properly, the RPM run very high. I am afraid to drive this car constantly, even after I get it out of the shop because I just know that the transmission will eventually malfunction on me again. Very unsafe and unreliable to drive.

- Woonsocket, RI, USA

problem #61

Aug 102020

Fiesta

  • miles
While my 16 yr old twin sons were driving on freeway, a loud pop of pressure release from motor occured, and steam blew out from under hood obscurring their visibilty. they were able to pull over safely and call me. Upon arrival, after confirming they were ok, I checked under hood to see that the intake manifold had built up to much pressure for the PCV hose and the recirculating hose that connects to top of valve cover. Oil had sprayed out everywhere and car will not start. Ive lost compression in 2 cylinders now from the fast overheat. My childrens safety was severily compromised by this chain reaction of a failed PCV valve. Ive since found out of recalls.This is whats stated for my 2015 Ford Focus, but happened to my 2012 Ford Fiesta Oct 22,2018 Manufacturer Recall Number18S32 NHTSA Recall Number18V735 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete Summary ON YOUR VEHICLE, THE PCM SOFTWARE MAY NOT ADEQUATELY DETECT A STUCK-OPEN CANISTER PURGE VALVE (CPV) WITHIN THE FUEL VAPOR SYSTEM. IF THE CPV MALFUNCTIONS AND STICKS OPEN, IT CAN LEAD TO EXCESSIVE VACUUM IN THE FUEL VAPOR SYSTEM, POTENTIALLY DEFORMING THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. THIS CAN CAUSE THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) WITH CERTAIN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) INACCURATE OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE INDICATION INACCURATE DISTANCE TO EMPTY (DTE) ENGINE STALL AND/OR OTHER DRIVABILITY CONCERNS RELATED TO STUCK OPEN CPV Safety Risk THIS MAY RESULT IN AN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING OR WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO RESTART, AND CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. I now have 2 auto loans im upside down on for recalls that I cant even get my car to Ford because I cant afford the tow. I pay over $500 monthly for lemons.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #60

Mar 282021

Fiesta

  • miles
Om Sunday March 28,2021 my husband and I attended a auto auction. When the dealer brought out a 2012 Ford Fiesta. Before bidding started everything looked and sounded alright. We ended up paying $3200 for a vehicle that they failed to provide faulty problems. Car has a lien on it. After driving off the lot I came to a red light when it turned green the car started sputtering loosing fuel as well as acceleration. I than pulled into the a parking at the gas station to see what was going on. And to my knowledge it was the transmission making noise as well as slipping, spark plugs, oil change. I then drove back to the car but everyone was gone for the day. I tried calling the office the next day and left messages. No response what so ever. The girls are really unorganized and should treat others the same you would treat them. I am writing this letter to inform everyone I was sold a vehicle that shouldn't have been on the road. I was also told today 4/5/21 that on March 5th a lien was filled out and turned in. I'm requesting the amount I paid for this lemon law vehicle along with compensation for giving false information.

- Eleele, HI, USA

problem #59

Apr 232020

Fiesta

  • 103,876 miles
My transmission continues to slip repeatedly after I took it to Ford where they told me nothing was wrong and that I didn't know what I was talking about. They were rude and inconsiderate. It has slipped in all forms of movement. When I've been braking, driving urban or highway. I took it back to a different dealer ship and they told me my transmission was bad.

- Gentry, AR, USA

problem #58

Jan 112020

Fiesta

  • 108,130 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. While driving at 45 mph, the vehicle stalled and the gear shifter failed to shift from neutral. All the instrument cluster warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to bill hood Ford (1500 N morrison blvd, hammond, la 70401 (985) 205-8157) but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 108,130.

- Hammond, LA, USA

problem #57

Oct 132019

Fiesta

  • 136,000 miles
Ford Fiesta 2012 has several problems with the transmission, first the car jerks around and makes a horrible noises. Then the car shuts off randomly while driving. This car is a safety hazard. Stalling and jerking around is not what a car should do. Plus both backseat latches both broke and the doors were unable to close.

- Mission, TX, USA

problem #56

Sep 162019

Fiesta 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. While driving approximately 25-30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to winner Ford (250 haddonfield-berlin rd, cherry hill, NJ 08034, (856) 428-4000) to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code or duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred four times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Barrington, NJ, USA

problem #55

Jun 282019

Fiesta

  • 100,000 miles
Terrible shuttering from the transmission, I had to bring it to the local Ford after I changed the battery, it wouldn't shift thought the gears. So they changed the transmission control module and the solenoid's, 4 months later my fiance was driving down the high way and the car looses all power (steering, braking, E.C.T) I take it to the local Ford dealer it takes them 32 days to get back to me to tell me its going to need a new transmisson witch cost $4,800 to fix a $7,500 car and there's nothing they can do about that. Knowing that this is a major problem for these vehicles. Car just rejects fuel and fuel pumps randomly.

- Genoa City, WI, USA

problem #54

Jul 292019

Fiesta

  • 60,000 miles
I saved for three years to purchase a car. And trusted the Ford name. My 2012 Fiesta, with 60,000 miles, is shuttering and missing when I stop and go. It takes awhile to get going and jumps. I made an appointment with the dealership after hearing about Ford Motor Company telling their dealerships to fix the issue. After I got to the dealer I was told I would have to pay $120 for them to even diagnose the problem. And that Ford may cover anywhere from nothing to everything. It could be 1/3, 2/3 of the cost. They would decide. I haven't had my car for 3 days. It's just sitting at the shop waiting on Ford Motor Company to 'decide how much they will cover, if any'. I am infuriated!

- Brookston, IN, USA

problem #53

Jul 252019

Fiesta

  • 43,048 miles
I was driving down a city street in my friend's 2012 Ford Fiesta I noticed a weird smell, I kept going about a quarter of a mile til I reached my destination. My friend gets in the car he noticed the smell. I looked out the windshield and I see a lil smoke coming from the hood, all the sudden alot of smoke comes out. I pop the hood shut the car off and get out of there. My friend runs and grabs fire extinguishers him and another man try to open the hood it won't open you could see the flames coming underneath the car then there is a pop. They take a shovel beat on it enough to open it enough where they could put the fire out. Thank god they were there, no one got hurt. I am enclosing pictures of my car, my friend didn't have full coverage insurance so he's without a car right now. All this happened within 10 min.it was very scarey, I'm glad I stopped at my friend's place because I might not have made it out in time.we didn't make a police report nor did we call the fire department.a piece of the car was laying on the ground after the fire.the hood release burned. That's why we couldn't get the hood open. I am sending pictures after the fire. The car lights and the security system still works and it started right after, we turned it off right away

- Port Charlotte, FL, USA

problem #52

Jul 192019

Fiesta

  • miles
Power shifting clutch issue. Ford sold me a defective motor upon sale. Then they tried to buy my car for 1K instead of fixing

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #51

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 #50

Apr 032019

Fiesta

  • 88,000 miles
This car has been a disaster from day one. The transmission issues that Ford is aware of have almost caused numerous accidents. The car bucks and carries on all the time. While stopped for a red light you push on gas and it doesn't move them all the sudden it darts into traffic. About 6 months ago low beams stopped working and nobody knows why. Then 2 weeks ago all the sudden car overheats and within 2 minutes dies causing $2000 worth of damage. Im told these are common and im lucky it didn't catch on fire. What's next. Fyi, the lights still don't work which causes a safety hazard. Why is this car not recalled??

- Tuscarora, PA, USA

problem #49

Apr 092019

Fiesta

  • 92,000 miles
Recently my Fiesta has been shutting off while driving. It is a manual transmission and I am not stalling. It happens most often while driving at low speeds or switching gears. It is very dangerous and scary.

- Parrish, FL, USA

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