Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
28 -29 City / 38 -40 HWY
Horsepower
120
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Hana S
It gets good fuel mileage.
I like the fuel efficiency and the display of average miles per gallon and estimated miles left in the tank. I often enjoy using the entertainment system, primarily using the Bluetooth connection to my phone. There have been a few systemic issues I dislike with the vehicle, such as the air conditioner bring over-pressurized. On hot days, it will sometimes display engine malfunction, and I have to let it rest before it will drive; this is especially nerve-wracking when it quits on the road.
accountCircle Diana W
Great SUV for a family without being too big.
The ford flex is great for a family. Our family of 5 fits comfortably even with 2 car seats. We've taken many trips and it has not failed us yet. We have not experienced any huge issues. The third row can be folded down for more storage. After 8 years the electrical system is not working properly, cannot charge phone or sync our phone to the car. It is not very high tech but simple and reliable.
accountCircle Heather T
Great handling, dependable vehicle.
Love the size of the car and it is handling. Features are also really nice, the only issue that I have had is that this particular model has had a recall on the transmission.
accountCircle Sky Y
Small and wonderful on gas mileage. Super comfy for long drives and smooth.
Wonderful car for commuting back and forth to work. Even on the bumpy roads, the ride is smooth. My husband drives back and forth to drill and he is able to stuff all of his gear in this car comfortably. The high pressure ac hose went out but rolling down the windows was good enough for us. I will be driving this car more than my own when he deploys overseas since it is a smaller vehicle and can whip in and out of traffic when it starts to get busy after work downtown. I will definitely be sad when we will have to get a bigger vehicle when we start having kids.
accountCircle lizzy Q
Very great on gas small car.
Very good car, I have a five speed and it does cold stall, that is the only problem I have and I am working on getting it fixed. It is very good on gas, the inside of the car is very nice. I have had no other problems with the car besides the stalling out for no reason.
accountCircle Katie R
My ford fiesta is a great, compact car with plenty of trunk room.
My 2012 ford fiesta has overall been a good car. I bought it in January of 2016 and have had minimal issues. The issues I have add are the ac going out and problems with the transmission. When the transmission was acting up, the car felt very jumpy when you would start and stop.
accountCircle Beth S
Ford fiesta transmission problem.
The 2012 thru 2014 has a transmission problem with the powershift dual-clutch automatic transmission. A new one was ordered by my place of purchase; they installed it and everything is perfect. I first noticed the problem when I'd be stopped at a light or stop sign. The vehicle would begin to shake when I'd accelerate and then would smooth out.
accountCircle Sherry Frazier
Service
No problems

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Monica N
That is sometimes works when I need it too.
I like that I can go places. I like how good it is on gas. I do not like that it needed a new transmission after a year and it is constantly getting recalled.
accountCircle Christen B
2012 Ford Fiesta transmission problems
After 2 weeks of purchasing the car it started stuttering in the transmission. I've heard a lot of people complain about this issue and it's very common. It's the clutch system inside of the transmission and even if you replace the transmission it comes back. It's just the way they made the vehicle would not recommend at all.
accountCircle Anthony H
The car has no leg room and very little trunk space.
The vehicle is way too small, and began to wear out very quickly due to cheap manufacturing
accountCircle Beth W
It's not a good car with a child in a car seat. There is no room.
The door locks don't unlock when the car stops. It was a recall, had it fixed and it still doesn't work. It has a transmission issue with the car shuddering when shifting. It was also a recall. Had it fixed but continued to behave the same.
accountCircle Nina M
A vehicle I wish I could forget.
This car has had several transmission problems and replacement of transmission, clutch, and engine parts. First replacement was not even a year after purchase of vehicle. Will jolt and frequently stall. Would not recommend if looking for a reliable car.
accountCircle Jasmine T
It is a silver car that runs horribly most of the time.
The car itself is a cute, dainty car. However, it has several problems that are common among all fiestas and most fords. The transmission is a big problem. Mine leaks and slips constantly, and the fluid is typically very expensive and not worth it since it leaks out shortly after.
accountCircle Alfred Vanderheydt
Getting car back!
This Ford Fiesta 2012 is the biggest piece of garbage. There has been a known issue with the transmission. We had it replaced. Now there is a recall on a transmission module .We brought the car in May 01 2019, it is now Dec. 21 2019 we still don't have the part. The excuse at first was covid then it was the part isn't made anymore so a new supplier had to be found. We were told the part would be in by Sept. Then Dec. Now Jan.2021. The car is worth $5000.00 so far Ford has paid $6990.00 in car rental fees. We don't want to be in a rental. A couple more months and Ford will have paid $10,000.00 in fees. It doesn't take a genius to do the math. I will never again buy a Ford vehicle with this kind of after market service!
accountCircle Hunter M
This is a poorly built car and I would stay away at all costs.
Never buy this car. There is a faulty transmission and clutch system so even if you replace it it'll keep breaking. I also have a broken engine belt and had to have all of my door handles replaced. The inside is very small and the material is cheap plastic.

Ford Fiesta Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
S
120 HP 33 MPG 5 Seats
car
SE
120 HP 33 MPG 5 Seats
car
SEL
120 HP 33 MPG 5 Seats
car
SES
120 HP 33 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Ford Fiesta Owner Reviews

3.64
263 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 25%
4 stars 36%
3 stars 25%
2 stars 8%
1 star 7%
accountCircle Nora M on June 25, 2021
Not the most reliable, some highlights of it.
Not the most reliable, cheaply made. Some good features though. There have been multiple recalls on it, one leaving it in the shop for over a week. Weather can affect the way that it drives. Struggles to get up steep hills. Has not gone up a driveway in the snow before.
accountCircle Jennifer L on June 25, 2021
Ford fiesta is a great car!
Love this car. Ford is a great company with a great service. The car is small, but perfect for my needs. Very comfortable for one person. Great trunk. Very reliable. No outward problems. Would buy this car again and again and again and again and again.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Jessica T.

It gets excellent gas mileage for freeway driving. Does okay city driving mileage wise. It is compact, easy to drive. This is a great vehicle for a one or two person family, and is awesome for a commuter car. It is mildly sporty and fun to drive.

likeFilled Beth S.

Very sharp looking; easy to drive, easy to park and good gas mileage. I like the hatchback, when shopping at several different places the inside of the hatchback completely covers the purchases inside the vehicle. It also has many conveniences like Sirius radio, automatic transmission, how many miles to go before tank is on 'empty' and has cruise control.

likeFilled Autumn P.

My car is easy to drive with little issues. Is Bluetooth compatible so can easily take calls while driving or listen to music. Has a CD player for if I lose service. Large enough of a small car to fit many items. Large trunk space. Comfortable seating, and heated seating to boot.

likeFilled Timothy M.

It is good on gas mileage and if you keep it maintained, it'll last years. With how compact it is, it is easy to park on the street or in smaller parking spaces which are more and more common. Additionally, manual transmission helps for mileage.

likeFilled Amber B.

It gets good gas mileage. It has heated seats. The heat and air work excellent. It has low engine miles for a 2012. The body is in good condition. The color of the car is a pretty blue color. It has spacious trunk space. Comes with a spare tire in the trunk. Has a gas funnel you can use for the gas tank to put injector or other fluids into the tank.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Jessica T.

It does not fit a lot of people in the back very well, especially adults. We've had some transmission issues that we had to fix. Some error codes have popped up and have been a struggle to find and fix.

dislikeFilled Beth S.

The 2012 model up to and including the 2014 model had a transmission problem. It mostly showed up when vehicle was stopped, then starting to accelerate it would shake before it actually settled down. The first time I took it into the dealer and they verified it, contacted Ford and a replacement was sent. It was great for two years and then started to repeat the problem. The dealer again verified, contacted Ford and another replacement was installed. I love this vehicle and sincerely hope this is the last time I have a problem with the transmission.

dislikeFilled Autumn P.

Engine many times will have issues, making the car sort of stutter when speeding up or starting up. The Bluetooth will not connect to Maps or much of anything other than phone calls. Chairs stain easily.

dislikeFilled Timothy M.

With how small it is, transporting things or even a good amount of people can be tough. Additionally, the engine is fairly small so if you are trying to bring it up a good steep hill, you'll have to stomp the gas in a low gear.

dislikeFilled Amber B.

The inside of the car is tiny. Doesn't have enough leg room in the back. Has a minor dent in the passenger back door from a shopping cart hitting it. Sits low to the ground so sometimes you bottom out hitting a pothole or bump in the road.

Ranks #33 Small Cars by Owners

The 2012 Ford Fiesta has an average owner rating of 3.95 out of 5 which ranks it #33 of 36 other Small Cars.

1
car
4.8
2
car
4.76
33
car
3.72

Ranks #4 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Ford Fiesta has a combined MPG of 39 which ranks it #4 of 36 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
42 MPG
1
Tie
car
42 MPG
4
Tie
car
38 MPG

Is The 2012 Ford Fiesta A Good Car?

Yes. I like it very much. I especially like that it has heated seats which are great here in northwest pa.
Marcia C.
Yes, it has been very reliable. It was a very affordable vehicle and has made several long-distance trips. It also gets excellent fuel mileage which is great for commuting to work.
Deena M.
Yes very good gas mileage and safe. Is drive smooth. Good brakes. Bad blind spot is the only thing bad. Black is a pretty color. Very large windshield helps a lot.
David M.
Yes I love my car! It runs very nice, one complaint would just be how it runs when it is slippery outside but that also has to just do with my tires.
Caileu S.
Yes because it is reliable. It is also American-made so I know I am supporting jobs here in America. It is also good on gas.
Timothy M.
This vehicle is known to have problems with the transmission, and the computer. If I would of known this while looking for my first car I would have avoided the 2012 version of this car.
Autumn O.
This is a great vehicle. Great on gas mileage. Carries 4 adults, plus large cargo area in back hatchback. It is sporty, responsive and fun to drive. I love it.
Martha M.
The best! It is a delight to drive, it corners perfectly and I never have any trouble getting into and out of parking spots.
Beth S.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Ford Fiesta?

Very reliable. I have had no problems with it. I have not owned the car very long but it seems to run fine and I cannot find anything to complain about.
Marcia C.
Yes, it is reliable. The only issue I have ever had with it is that the air compressor went out shortly I purchased the car. It was fixed quickly and I have not had an issue since.
Deena M.
The car sat for a year after an accident so we are having troubles. Had to get the electrical system working correctly. Still working on that.
David M.
I recently just bought it used and it has not had any problems. There was one time where an alert popped up on my screen but it went away a day later when we were going to take it in to the shop.
Caileu S.
The 2012 ford fiesta se is reliable and I haven't had any major problems with it. It is useful for what I need it to do.
Timothy M.
As I said before the biggest problems that I have had with this car is the transmission and the computer.
Autumn O.
I have never had any problems with my fiesta. It runs as well as it did on day one. Starts right up in cold weather and warms up quickly.
Martha M.
I was unaware that all 2012 s had a faulty transmission. I started having problems, took in and it was totally replaced.
Beth S.

Is The 2012 Ford Fiesta A Good Value?

Since I just bought this car used about a month ago I have been very satisfied with it, my cost with my trade in was $5,200. I thought this was very reasonable.
Marcia C.
I purchased mine used for $6,000. I think it was a very reasonable price and it is well worth the money. It is a great vehicle for the price.
Deena M.
We bought it in 2018 and it cost us 3,500 which is the blue book price. Had some damage so wasn't worth blue book. But we were able to make payments so we bought it.
David M.
We bought it used so it was about $6,000 and I think it was a good value it had about 60,000 miles on it and has not caused me any problems.
Caileu S.
The 2012 ford fiesta se costs about $11,000 brand new in 2012, but my model with the amount of miles on it goes for about $3,000 kbb.
Timothy M.
My car costed around $7,000 used so I would say for the amount of mileage on the car it was at price for the car.
Autumn O.
I believe the blue book for this car is only a few thousand dollars, if that. I think it would be a really great value as long as the vehicle was well taken care of.
Martha M.
I cannot remember how much I paid but I wouldn't have purchased it if it wasn't a good value. I had to take it in a couple of years for the same problem and the transmission was replaced again. I have... Read More
Beth S.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my 2012 Ford Fiesta radiator fan not working?

Answer: You're driving Your 2012 Ford Fiesta, when suddenly the radiator fan stops working. What could be causing this to occur The most common culprit is the temperature switch, which may have become faulty. If so, it...

How do i perform the 2012 Ford Fiesta radio reset?

Answer: To perform the 2012 Ford Fiesta radio reset, watch: https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=RihBwB0gXH8 You will come into issues with the sound. The source could be from the stereo's speakers or a phone that is...

What is the 2012 ford fiesta wiper blade size?

Answer: The 2012 Ford Fiesta has 24 inch wiper blades on the driver's side and 16 inch on the passenger side. It is very common to have longer wiper blades on the driver's side because they need to clear off a larger...

What is the 2012 ford fiesta speaker size?

Answer: The 2012 Ford Fiesta speaker size iS6 1/2" rear door. You will come into problems with the sound. This could be from the stereo's speakers or a phone that is connected to the vehicle. Whatever the source, You...

How do I change the 2012 ford fiesta manual transmission fluid?

Answer: Changing the manual transmission fluid in a 2012 Ford Fiesta is a pretty easy job. You will need an oil catch canister, a ratchet with sockets, and a funnel to refill it. First either lift up the car or crawl...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety