YearToAvoid

2012 Ford Fiesta Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 79 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Ford Fiesta, 13% of its 617 total complaints that year. The median mileage at failure is 81,500 miles, and reports include 4 fires and 2 injuries. No recall covers this component for the 2012 model year.

Electrical System complaints
79
13% of 617
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
81,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the fuse box collecting moisture, corroding, and causing headlights, radio, and door locks to malfunction or fail together.
  • Some drivers describe smoke or fire coming from the engine compartment while driving, sometimes paired with stalling and the vehicle failing to restart.
  • The Ford Sync infotainment module reportedly stops working, with the system unable to detect mobile apps even after dealer replacement.
  • Electrical door lock actuators are reported to fail, leaving doors unable to latch or lock from the dash controls.
  • Owners describe batteries draining unexpectedly, requiring jump-starts or tows even with regular driving.
  • Rear doors have reportedly opened on their own while the vehicle was moving at highway speed.

When 2012 Ford Fiesta electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 5, 2012, latest Sep 10, 2024.

2012 Ford Fiesta electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter72012 Q12015 Q12016 Q22018 Q32020 Q12021 Q32023 Q4
79 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q1 to 2024 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (7).

Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Ford Fiesta

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Fiesta model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201198 (13%)
  2. 201279 (13%)
  3. 201367 (10%)
  4. 201447 (9%)
  5. 201520 (8%)
  6. 201626 (15%)
  7. 20177 (9%)
  8. 20186 (17%)
  9. 201911 (11%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
NHTSA lists 79 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Fiesta, making up 13% of the 617 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Ford Fiesta electrical system?
NHTSA data shows no related recall for the 2012 Fiesta's electrical system, even though owners note that the 2011 and 2013 model years received recalls for a similar fuse box moisture issue.
At what mileage do 2012 Fiesta electrical problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2012 Fiesta is 81,500 miles.
Are the electrical problems dangerous?
NHTSA records include 4 fires, 2 injuries, and 1 crash among the 2012 Fiesta's electrical system complaints.
How does the 2012 Fiesta compare to other years for electrical complaints?
The 2012 Fiesta's 13% share of complaints tied to electrical issues matches 2011's 13%, both higher than 2013's 10% and 2014's 9%, though 2018 posted a higher 17% share on fewer total complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.