The 2012 Ford Fiesta is a fun little car with a whole lot of heart and a truly reliable nature. Although it was built to last, this car has experienced several issues over the years. The majority slipped by unnoticed at first, leading to technical service bulletins and recalls.
Does the Ford Fiesta have recalls on its transmission?
As of August 2020, it hasn’t had any transmission recalls even though there have been many complaints, such as:
- Fluid leak between the engine and transmission
- Transmission shudder while driving
- Loss of power, lack of engagement, or no-start issues
Fortunately, by reading this article, you will learn all about the transmission issues affecting the 2012 Ford Fiesta. Then, you can use that info to get your car repairs done at an authorized shop with the confidence that comes from knowing you are taking all the right steps.
Intermittent Loss of Power or No Start Conditions
NHTSA ID: 10058674
The DPS6 automatic transmission used in the 2012 Ford Fiesta suffers from power losses, no-start issues, and poor gear engagement. When this happens, you might notice the gear selector lights on the instrument cluster start to flash.
The system will also store a handful of trouble codes in the powertrain control module, including U0101 and P0606.
Technicians have to follow a flowchart to determine how to best address this issue. Depending on which codes are present when they perform a scan, they may need to reprogram the transmission control module or replace it altogether. They may also need to recalibrate the module using the latest updates.
Since this problem can affect so many cars, Ford elected to extend the warranty coverage on that part to 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever came first. For cars with over 150,000 miles, they received additional coverage through June 2017.
Transmission Shudder During Mild Acceleration
NHTSA ID: 10092372
The DPS6 automatic transmission is meant to smoothly move through the gears as you accelerate up to speed. Unfortunately, it is common for it to shudder while slowly accelerating off the line, making the car shake and rattle.
Along with this problem is its tendency to leak transmission fluid out of the clutch housing.
Techs have to perform a full inspection to track down the source of the problem. They can start by performing a diagnostic test to see if the clutch needs replacement or if it just needs new seals. They may also need to reprogram the transmission control module to ensure it has the latest calibration data.
Potential for a Leak to Develop Between the Engine and Transmission
NHTSA ID: 10148720
With normal use, the DP26 automatic transmission is known to develop a leak right it connects to the engine. The leak may be transmission fluid, engine oil, or both. Since the fluids have a similar appearance, technicians have to inspect the seals and move through other diagnostic steps to see where to do the needed repairs.
If the engine oil is leaking, they must replace the rear main seal. Transmission leaks, on the other hand, are handled with the replacement of the input shaft seal. In some cases, your car may need both seals replaced to remedy the issue in full.
How Do You Handle a 2012 Ford Fiesta Recall?
When you want to look up pending recalls for your 2012 Ford Fiesta, just navigate to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) homepage. You can then type your vehicle year, make, and model or exact VIN into their system to learn about all its recalls.
If your car has open recalls that are due, give the Ford customer service team a call at 1-866-436-7332. They will be happy to let you know which dealerships can complete your repairs and how to proceed through the next steps.
