2012 Ford Fiesta Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

68Engine complaints

11%Of all 616 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN269 · 43.7%

STRUCTURE:BODY80 · 13%

Unspecified / other78 · 12.7%

ENGINE68 · 11%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63 · 10.2%

Share of the 616 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Ford Fiesta overview page.

What owners report

“CAR STARTED TO JERK WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. AND CAR STARTED TO TURN OFF AT RED LIGHTS. AND NEED TO BE STARTED UP AGAIN TO…”NHTSA complaint 10614773 — filed 07/20/2014

“I BOUGHT MY 2012 ON MAY 1 2012, AND AT 101 MILEAGE IT WAS IN FOR BATTERY LIGHT ON , THEN 08/20/12 BACK IN FOR…”NHTSA complaint 10607223 — filed 06/30/2014

“AFTER 6 MONTHS I STARTED HAVING VIBRATION/ TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE ISSUES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIX THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. SIX…”NHTSA complaint 10564883 — filed 02/18/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Fiesta have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Ford Fiesta: 68 of 616 complaints on file (11%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Ford Fiesta have in total?

616 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 12 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.