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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,714 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Ford Fiesta Owner Comments (Page 4 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #201

Dec 142013

Fiesta

  • 8,000 miles

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

In early 2013, I took my car to my dealer because of transmission concerns, they told me it was normal for my transmission. December 2013, my car would balk, did not want to proceed when I pressed on the gas pedal. Took it back to my dealer. They found the problem with my transmission. They stated they did not have the part. I explained I was getting ready to go out of town. The service advisor stated, it would not be safe for me to drive my car. I ended up leaving my car there & rented a car for 2 weeks. Less than a year later, same thing. They replaced the part. After that visit, there was a terrible racket coming from underneath my car. Less than a year later, had to have the part replaced again. I complained about the noise. They told me it was wind noise from coming from a heat shield. I moved to another state, my car could hardly go up a hill. Took it to a Ford dealer. I needed that part replaced again & needed bearings & other parts replaced in my transmission. The noise was still there & they found another problem with the internal parts of my transmission. They had to completely rebuild my transmission.

- Weeping Water, NE, USA

problem #200

Jul 192019

Fiesta

  • 101,200 miles
Transmission balks on acceleration. When entering expressway on ramps the transmission slips and causes trouble merging with the up to speed traffic. From a stop it often operates flawlessly but sometimes will not accelerate without surges forward and backward. This unpredictability is dangerous. I will not let my wife or daughter drive this car. It is downright dangerous.

- Sebring, FL, USA

problem #199

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 #198

Jul 122019

Fiesta

  • 60,000 miles

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

The vehicle has a transmission shudder and does not shift gear properly as it accelerates. This causes the vehicle to be subject to unexpected conditions of lack of response which may cause safety issues.

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #197

Sep 012017

Fiesta

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. While the vehicle was at a complete stop, the contact applied pressure to the accelerator pedal and the vehicle stalled. While driving various speeds, the transmission shifted into neutral and the transmission malfunction warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #196

Jul 012018

Fiesta

  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. While driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shuddered, hesitated to accelerate, jerked, and vibrated. The vehicle was taken to waxahachie Ford(2401 North interstate 35, waxahachie, tx). The dealer reprogrammed the power train software and the clutch was replaced, but the failures continued. The contact indicated that the vehicle was serviced for the same failures more than ten times. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 51,000.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #195

Nov 012017

Fiesta

  • miles

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

We bought our 2012 Ford Fiesta about a 2 years ago. Since then we have taken it to 2 mechanics and the problems persist. The transmission shudders and lurches forward at random. The car has major issues accelerating and has almost gotten us in many accidents. The car seems like it gets stuck in a lower gear and will not move out of it even as your foot is pressed all the way down.

- Royal Oak, MI, USA

problem #194

Oct 032016

Fiesta

  • 62,000 miles
The transmission slips, lags, does not shift at times, will stay in a gear too low or too high. Ongoing since I purchased it. Have taken to dealer numerous times for repair.

- Rocky Mount, NC, USA

problem #193

Jul 212014

Fiesta

  • 17,072 miles
Fiesta does not shift correctly. Shudders at stop lights and hesitates when accelerating. Pull out in traffic and car may or may not go. Have had at shop multiple times for this. Ford has provided software updates and replace clutch several times. Last oil change, I asked for software update because it still shudders and hesitates. Told out of warranty. It would cost me 150 to diagnose and repair would be my responsibility. Cant afford this. Lost work due to service repairs. Not safe to depend on.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #192

Jul 012019

Fiesta

  • 142,000 miles
My 2012 Ford Fiesta's transmission has been shuttering, slipping in and out of gear, and stalling on hills or in intersections on busy highways or city streets. I've taken it to the dealership numerous times and I get the same response, (there is nothing wrong sir) is what they tell me. I love the car, love the fuel economy, but every time I drive it it makes me worry about breaking down in the middle of busy traffic and leaving me stranded, with no other way to get to work. I feel like if Ford would do a recall to replace these faulty transmissions, then there would be a world of difference on the way that car makes me feel while driving.

- Ruth, MS, USA

problem #191

Jun 132014

Fiesta

  • 34,000 miles

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

Clutch has been replaced every two years on car since it was bought new in 2012. Car will start shuddering and have trouble shifting when trying to get up to speed, happens when car is in motion. Ford only has replaced with same parts has not fixed problem as car is on fourth clutch, and I expect shuddering to start happening again next year, when the two years with current clutch is up. Will notice it happening once or twice and then it becomes more frequent. Then you have to deal with the dealer having the parts in stock and being without a car for two days while it is getting repaired. First clutch replaced in June 2014, has been every other June since then.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #190

May 242019

Fiesta

  • 86,000 miles
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 #189

Jun 242019

Fiesta

  • 60,200 miles
" takata recall " tansmission light keeps lighting on, A/C does not work car shift by its self dtcs, po7A5 transfiction element B stuck DP56 pids found friction element B binding caused by shift fork assy

- Tulare, CA, USA

problem #188

Jun 012019

Fiesta

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated. On one occasion, the engine rpms suddenly revved very high before the engine stalled and the shifter remained stuck in the park position. The vehicle was towed to beaman Ford (1717 Tennessee 46, dickson, tn) where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.

- Charlotte, TN, USA

problem #187

Jun 112019

Fiesta

  • 65,093 miles
When at a complete stop the car shakes. When pressing on the gas from a complete stop the car shudders and stalls. When driving at a slow place (under 30 mph) the car will vibrate briefly.

- Whitesville, KY, USA

problem #186

Jun 012013

Fiesta

  • miles
My car shudders a lot when stopping especially on the highway or merging off the highway' also happens in city or suburbs if going over 40 mph;, gear slips when stationery before hitting gas to move car, speed slows down or hesitates when hitting gas pedal, took to dealership many times and nothing ever got fixed. Ford sent a letter stating that I would get double the warranty on the transmission and I will receive a letter stating this, but will not confirm anymore. Problems occured after I purchased this Fiesta in June 2012 but did not know that it was not working properly until the recall came out and I took it in for the first time. I was told that I was "too late" to get anything to fix it or have it taken back by Ford because I had waited a year. I didn't even know that the car was working poorly! it was brand new and I thought this was the way it was okay to drive because the problems were not as noticable. It got much worse as time passed. I have repair invoices but I need to fine them. I want my complaint filed now so that I am not forgotten. I had a lemon lawyer contact me named trott, who told me that if I accepted a claim he would put in for me, it would be the best deal I would get in terms of attonement. He said he got $8K and took $3K for his work. I received a check for $5K. I asked Mr. Trott if I should get the car repair with this money. He said people are keeping the money and getting rid of their cars. I kept my car because I cannot afford to buy another one regardless of the $5K I received. I do not use my car very much now because I do not like that it shudders when I use the brakes and that it slows down when I hit the gas pedal. I will upload the documentation you ask for when I locate it.

- Shelby Twp., MI, USA

problem #185

May 192019

Fiesta

  • 5 miles
My 2012 Ford Fiesta will randomly lose power and not engage to shift. This happens so randomly, on side streets, major roads, from stop, while mocing, anytime. This problem is getting progressively worst. I try to avoid highways if possible due to the fact that this occur once on a highway and it almost cause a major accident. I definitely don't feel safe driving this vehicle any longer.

- Greenwood, IN, USA

problem #184

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 #183

Oct 252018

Fiesta

  • miles
Takata recall, problems with transmission do no shift as it supposed, bad noise between shifting

- Jayuya, PR, USA

problem #182

Oct 172016

Fiesta

  • 98,000 miles
Car stalls it has the dual clutch system Ford mechanic said they just keep fixing them they are not working properly now no more warranty can't by a new car and I have a car that will die out going up hills or on freeway on city streets. I live and travel in and out of san francisco quiet a bit. It sputters and shakes and then will just die out. Did this during rush hour in silicon valley bye 101 I was almost hit 3 times and the policeman as well trying to get me and car to safety Ford doesn't answer back

- Pacheco, CA, USA

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