Model year guide

2012 Ford Fiesta

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Ford Fiesta is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 507 on record.

2012 Ford Fiesta — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Ford Fiesta at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints616
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined32 mpg
Typical price$8,172

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Ford Fiesta recalls 3

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch NHTSA Campaign #15V246000 · 24/04/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta vehicles manufactured February 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 119,567 vehicles, including certain model year 2011 Ford Fiestas manufact…

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this re…

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #12V488000 · 05/10/2012

Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Fiesta vehicles, manufactured from November 3, 2009 through September 21, 2012. 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 wa…

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/linkages:doors:latch NHTSA Campaign #20V331000 · 08/06/2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. 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 mak…

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 t…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Ford Fiesta common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 616 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

2012 Ford Fiesta safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Ford Fiesta MPG & running costs

Combined32 mpg
City29 mpg
Highway37 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$1,900

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Ford Fiesta worth?

Low
$6,200
Typical price
$8,172
High
$9,900

From 500 comparable 2012 Ford Fiesta listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Ford Fiesta costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$9,500
Fuel only$9,500
Per mile$0.13

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Ford Fiesta trims & engines on record

Trims
SE · SEL · SES · S
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl 120 hp

2012 Ford Fiesta vehicles on record

Other Ford Fiesta model years

2012 Ford Fiesta — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Fiesta have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Fiesta. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Fiesta?

Based on 616 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, structure, vehicle speed control.

What is the 2012 Ford Fiesta safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Ford Fiesta an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Fiesta get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Ford Fiesta at about 32 mpg combined (29 city / 37 highway).

How much is a 2012 Ford Fiesta worth?

Comparable 2012 Ford Fiesta listings run roughly $6,200–$9,900, typically around $8,172 (from 500 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.