2012 Ford Fiesta Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 98 engine-area complaints for the 2012 Ford Fiesta, 16% of its 617 total complaints for the year. Owners most often describe hesitation, shaking, and grinding during acceleration or gear changes, with a median failure mileage of 33,444. No related recalls are listed for this area.
- Engine complaints
- 98
- 16% of 617
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 33,445 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners report loud noise and shaking when the car changes speed, with dealers telling them the behavior is normal.
- Several owners describe the vehicle shifting rapidly through gears while accelerating onto the freeway, then failing to gain speed even with the pedal to the floor.
- Some report the accelerator pedal sticking or triggering error codes, including one case of losing power at 65 mph and needing an escort off the freeway.
- Owners describe a rattling or clunking noise near the front of the car that dealers said they could not duplicate despite acknowledging awareness of the issue.
- Grinding gears and uncontrollable vibration are reported during acceleration and at slower speeds between 30 and 45 mph.
- Owners describe transmission slippage and fluid leaks that recurred after repeated dealer repairs.
When 2012 Ford Fiesta engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 5, 2012, latest Oct 29, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Ford Fiesta
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Fiesta model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2012 Ford Fiesta have?
- NHTSA lists 98 engine-area complaints for the 2012 Ford Fiesta, which is 16% of the 617 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Ford Fiesta engine?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine area on the 2012 Ford Fiesta.
- At what mileage do 2012 Ford Fiesta engine problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure for engine-area complaints on the 2012 Ford Fiesta is 33,444 miles.
- What do owners describe as the main engine problem on the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
- Owners describe hesitation, shaking, grinding gears, and loss of power during acceleration, along with reports of vibration and transmission slippage.
- Were there any crashes or fires linked to engine complaints on the 2012 Ford Fiesta?
- NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint set shows 2 crashes, 2 fires, and 1 injury reported.