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Ford · NHTSA safety record

2012 Ford Fiesta

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

616

Complaints

12

Crashes

5

Fires

17

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Ford Fiesta have filed 616 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2011 and April 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 274 of them (44%). The typical failure was reported at 45,000 miles, the median across the 490 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

20V331000 · June 8, 2020

The defect
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 making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
The risk
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The remedy
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 to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.

Ford Motor Company · up to 2,147,323 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

15V246000 · April 24, 2015

The defect
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 manufactured from November 11, 2009, to May 31, 2013 and certain model year 2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
The risk
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The remedy
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 recall is 15S16.

Ford Motor Company · up to 456,440 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

12V488000 · October 5, 2012

The defect
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 was designed to suppress the side curtain air bag under this scenario, that information is not explained in the owner's guide for these vehicles as required by FMVSS No. 208.
The risk
An occupant in the right rear seating position will not have coverage from the side curtain air bag in a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty, increasing the risk of injury to the right rear occupant.
The remedy
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. Owner's may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Ford Motor Company · up to 154,471 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (3)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Door Latch Failures

RQ19005

Closed recall query · opened December 19, 2019 · closed February 7, 2022 · led to recall 20V177000

the latches, locks and linkages, the body structure

In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. Some VOQs reported the failure occurred after the latch had been remedied under a prior recall which involved fracture of the latch pawl spring tab due to thermally induced cyclic fatigue. Other VOQs alleged a similar failure in vehicles not previously recalled. A latch with a fractured pawl spring tab typically results in a ?door will not close? condition, however in certain somewhat rare circumstances, may result in the door coming open while driving. In response to ODI?s investigation, Ford has announced three field actions, as discussed below.On March 23, 2020, Ford submitted Safety Recall 20V-177 (Ford 20S15), a regional recall campaign to address door latch failures in vehicles not previously recalled under Safety Recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 and 17V-210. The recall affects vehicles currently or ever registered in certain high ambient temperature states (see 20V-177 for affected states). As a remedy, Ford will replace all four door latches free of charge.On August 24, 2020, Ford issued a non-safety regional field action (Ford 20R01) to address door latch failures on the same model/MY vehicles not covered under 20V-177 (i.e., not currently/ever registered in affected states). According to Ford, spring tab failure rates for vehicles covered by this action are about half that of the 20V-177 vehicles. Under this action, dealers will replace all door latches, free of charge, if either; a) the vehicle exhibits a related latch concern, or b) if the vehicle owner expresses a concern about the latches in their vehicles. Details can be found under NHTSA TSB No. 10190990, a copy of which is available in this investigative file available at NHTSA.gov.On June 8, 2020, Ford submitted Safety Recall 20V-331 (Ford 20S30) addressing vehicles previously remedied under NHTSA Recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 and 17V-210, where the repair may not have been properly completed, specifically not all of the door latches were replaced, or replaced correctly. This recall involves an inspection of the latches, with the option for a consumer self-inspection; owners could view the date codes on their latches (and confirm child safety locks are present on the rear doors) and then submit the information to Ford?s mobile app or website. A dealership inspection option was also available. Any vehicle found to have unreplaced defective latches requires the replacement of all door latches as directed by Ford.Regarding the 4,494 reports cited above, 1,485 involve scope-related failures (with 13% alleging door opening), and the remaining 3,009 reports involving remedy concerns (with 18% alleging door opening - note ODI was unable to verify the allegations of door opening). The three ODI injuries were all relatively minor. Ford?s reported injury incidences include one (unconfirmed) report of an ejection, three minor injuries with the others involving undisclosed injuries. Ford?s crashes involved two (unconfirmed) crashes alleging the incident door contacted another vehicle and three involving doors striking other property.The recalled vehicles include MY 2011-2015 Ford Fiesta, 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015 Ford Mustang and Lincoln MKC, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2012-2015 Ford Focus and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect.Ford's actions address ODI's concerns at this time. ODI will take further action if warranted by new information. The reference (OD

Door Latch Failure

EA15002

Closed engineering analysis · opened February 27, 2015 · closed November 13, 2015 · led to recall 15V246000

the latches, locks and linkages, the body structure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta, MY 2013 Ford Fusion and MY 2013 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. All of the affected vehicles share the same door latch design.ODI has received 281 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 100 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion. There were no crashes reported however three separate injuries were indicated, all caused by a rebounding door striking a consumer after they attempted to close it. In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter, Ford Motor Company (Ford) responded with 1,102 unique reports related to the alleged problem. There were no injury claims but there were two claims of low speed accidents occurring involving the door opening while driving and damaging property. Ford also submitted 10,883 warranty claims related to door latch failures.Many customers indicated that the door would not latch at all and accordingly they decided to restrain the door by other means (looping the seatbelt through the door, or using rope or tape) in order to drive the vehicle.Some customers also reported multiple door latch failures occurring on the same vehicle on different doors occurring months apart.On April 23rd, 2015 Ford notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall (15V-246) to remedy door latches failures on certain MY 2011-2014 Ford Fiesta and MY 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles.According to Ford, the pawl spring tab located within the door latch can break off, or separate and result in a ?door will not close condition.The recalled vehicles include Fiesta vehiclesmanufactured from the start of the MY 2011 to May 2013 and Fusion and MKZ vehicles manufactured from the start of the MY 2013 year until May 2013.In May 2013 Ford reports that it made a manufacturing quality control change, specific to the spring tab, to improve the performance of the existing part.The door latch spring tab was redesigned and the new latch was phased into production in December 2014 with a new part number.Ford will replace all four door latches on the affected vehicles with the new latch design currently in production.The recall action initiated by the manufacturer appears to address the safety risks of concern to ODI.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the identification (ODI) numbers found in the attached list.

Door Latch Failure

PE14028

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened September 11, 2014 · closed March 18, 2015 · led to recall 20E010000

the latches, locks and linkages

On September 11, 2014 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE14-028) to investigate claims of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta vehicles. ODI has received 207 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with sixty-five claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion. Two injuries were reported, both caused by a rebounding door striking a consumer after they attempted to close it. In response to ODI's Information Request (IR), Ford Motor Company (Ford) responded with 451 unique reports related to the alleged defect.One claim involved an incident in which property damage incurred after a door opened while driving at low speed and struck another vehicle. Ford also submitted 1,079 warranty claims related to door latch failures. Additionally Ford informed ODI in its IR response that MY 2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles utilize the same door latch as the MY 2011-13 Fiesta. In it's response, Ford stated that it does not believe that a latched door experiencing this condition will inadvertently unlatch and that there are many overt warning associated with a door that does not latch. ODI noted that the rate of occurrence for this failure is comparable to other door latch failure investigations and questions the effectiveness of warning signals given the number of complainants alleging that the door(s) opened while the vehicle was in motion. Therefore, ODI is upgrading this investigation to an Engineering Analysis (EA15-002) in order to further investigate the scope, frequency and consequence of this failure.ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.gov/complaints under the identification (ODI) numbers listed in the attached document.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 616.

POWER TRAIN 274 44%
STRUCTURE 128 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 78 13%
ENGINE 68 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 66 11%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 56 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 40 6%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 22 4%
AIR BAGS 15 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 15 2%
STEERING 13 2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 138.

2011 2014 2026
2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 injured · fire · crash · towed

My daughter and 2 friends were driving on the highway, the dash flickers and goes back to normal, flickered again and the car started slowing down so she pulled over, ( car still moving) and puts the car in park but the car still continues to move. Passenger notices out the side mirror the car is on fire, she jumped out; the car then accelerates ( still in park) and hits the “jersey wall “ where the rest of the car eventually went into flames. My daughter & friend ( who was in the back) got out thru the driver side door, the back doors would not open and the Airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA complaint 11734326. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash

WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IT WAS SNOWING. ALL OF THE OTHER VEHICLES WERE SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT BLOCKING OFF THE HIGHWAY. EVENTUALLY WE ALL CAME TO A STOP. AFTER WE STOPPED THERE WAS A YUKON THAT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BECAUSE OF CONDITIONS AND ITS LOAD AND HIT US FROM BEHIND. HE WAS PROBABLY GOING 35 MPH. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S HEAD FLUNG BACK AGAINST SEATS. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER HAS SUFFERED IN THE SPINE FROM THIS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10572520. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

2 injured · crash · 13,000 miles

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATLY 45 MPH ON ST RT 28 IN MILFORD OHIO AND MY DOOR WAS LOCKED AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT FAILED TO INDICATE ANY FAILURE IN SECURING THE DOOR APROPIATLY, WELL AS I BEGAN BRAKING TO REDUCE SPEED MY DOOR FLEW OPEN AND I REACHED OUT TO SHUT IT AS I WAS APPLIEING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING ME TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN MY FRONT, UPOUN IMPACT THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVE T SIDE ONLY FAILED TO DEPLOY THERFORE CAUSING A SUSTANTIALLY GREATER AMOUNT AND LONGER LASTING INJUYS. THE DOOR SLAMMED SHUT ON MY WRIST CAUSING DEBILUTATING AND LIFE ALTERING INJURY'S INCLUDING THE LOSS OF MY 5 YEAR CAREER AS A EXTERIOR FINISH CARPENTER DUE TO LOSS OF ABILITY TO

NHTSA complaint 10748286, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 23,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD FIESTA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 10787739. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
While driving, my son's car started to have issues when it was shifting gears (it's an automatic). Then a warning came up on the dash saying something like "Transmission malfunction, service immediately". We were on our way to a mechanic to pick up another vehicle so we left it with them. They confirmed the issue and stated it is related to the clutch system (which I believe is the dry clutch system that has been recalled with similar car models). We have not taken it to the manufacturer/Ford dealership yet, but are trying to figure out our options on this faulty transmission design. Not aware of any issues prior to this incident.

NHTSA complaint 11726329. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The drivers side door latch will not latch, the door will swing open because the latch is defective. I have seen that this is a common issue with this vehicle and has been recalled on other 2012 ford fiestas but mine has not been.

NHTSA complaint 11706125. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The door latches have a safety recall and needs to be fixed or observed to ensure proper road safety. In addition I cannot move onto my vehicle registration renewal until this recall is repaired. I do not see any visible malfunction but the doors do have to slam shut to ensure they are properly closed. No individuals have been put at risk. The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or service center, nor inspected by any party. No warning signals, signs or lights appeared on the car telling me about the particular issue or area with issue.

NHTSA complaint 11697545. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured

I was driving to work this morning; the car made a horrible "clunk" when I accelerated to around 20 then lost power and nearly crashed. The car then displayed error lights (yellow CEL, yellow wrench icon, HEAD unit showed "transmission issue service immediately" This is a direct result of the DPs6 transmission put into all 7th gen Ford Focus/Fiesta models. This DCT transmission has been replaced 3 times for this particular car and failed the same manner each time - meaning 3 near accidents have occured because this transmission fails. Across the USA; more than 50 people have been injured as a result of this transmission failing.

NHTSA complaint 11696374. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car has had transmission issues since I purchased the car, and the problems has gotten worse and now the car is not drivable. I have purchased parts after parts and still the problem. I have reached out to the company numerous times, and reached out to programs. Iam stuck without a car now.What do I need to do

NHTSA complaint 11683659. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Fiesta

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 96 3
2018 35 0 1
2017 73 0 1
2016 178 0 1
2015 258 4
2014 502 7
2013 667 3
2011 729 3 3

Other 2012 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst