Used 2012 Ford Fiesta Consumer Reviews

2012 Ford Fiesta

I've had my 2012 Fiesta hatchback 5-spd manual for about 15k and overall I am very pleased with the car. It has lots of technology features, and is a lot of fun to drive. The Fiesta feels solid and like a larger car when you're driving it, it does not feel cheap and insubstantial. The little 1.6 provides decent performance, it is not fast but does okay. The trade off for that is superb fuel economy. The 5-speed manual shifts great and the clutch is perfect. The interior is full of high quality, soft-touch materials and a great design. It is quiet and comfortable as well. The Fiesta makes you feel like you got more than what you paid.

Great car

I purchased my car in 2014 when my mom could no longer get into my ranger.Other than basic maintenance and a few recalls I love my car .My fiesta is very reliable.I would buy another.

truly so unhappy with Ford Fiesta

I bought my Ford Fiesta in 2012 brand new and brought it back within a couple of weeks with an obnoxious rattling noise, twice I was told that Ford was aware of the problem but they dont know what it is yet, once they figure it out they will fix it. August will be one year I hate this vehicle and the noise it makes I feel as though I am driving in an old rattle car like my sons 1993 Saturn at least he has an excuse the thing is old. How fair is it that I drive around in a vehicle I have to pay for every month when it sounds like a broken down old piece of junk. My third visit they figured out it was the transmission they will get the part in a couple of days that was may 15 today is May 30

On the road again

I bought this car new in Feb and have since put over 15,000 miles on it. I've been through the desert, up over the continental divide, over hills, through woods and stuck in traffic. Average Commute is 38 mpg, I've hit up to 44 on the hwy. THe back seat is a little cramped and the arm rest is wimpy, other than that, I love hitting the road in my car.

Not a good choice !

I bought my 2012 Ford Fiesta brand new and loved it . It was cute and drove great! Right when I hit about 30,000 miles , everything went down hill. My 2 rear doors flew open and wouldn't latch [non-permissible content removed] on the freeway (recall) then the clutch needed to be replaced due to is slipping and grinding . This last time , 1 month after the clutch replacement , my car would just start revving while I'm at a complete stop. I should have purchased the extended warranty ! I'm trading it in now , hoping for better luck with a 2016 Ford Fusion.

This car

I bought this car brand new in May 2012, and everything was ok with it until Oct 2013 (@15000 miles) when it started shuddering, stalling, and sounding like it was eating itself. Shuddering was so bad I developed back issues from being jostled around so badly. Transmission replaced TWICE, 8/2014 and 10/2015. It happened AGAIN and dealer said it was such a prevalent issue that parts were backordered 5 months. When it left me stranded in the middle of an intersection, I refused to drive it again and drove my husband's car until I traded it in for a Toyota. This is not a car I'd wish on my worst enemy. Sure it's great on gas, but it'll be in the shop too much to benefit from that!

Better than I expected.

We have owned our 2012 Ford Fiesta for 2000 miles and love it. On a trip to Fresno,CA from Bakersfield we received 41 mpg driving 70+ miles per hour. I thought that was great but I knew that I could improve. From Quartside, AZ to Bakersfield I received 48 mpg. I was averaging 65 mph and using coasting techniques in the mountains. I do not have a cruise control so my miles per hour sometimes crept upwards. My last trip from Santa Barbara I got 49 mpg. I know I can get 50 mpg. These are hybrid numbers; amazing. P.S. this a 4-door sedan with a 5-speed transmission. Thanks Ford Tony C

GREAT HATCHBACK VEHICLE-RECOMMEND HIGHLY

Changed from 2010 Toyota Matrix with the poorest visibility imagineable, could not see the curb when making a turn.. to a 2012 Ford Fiesta hatchback, automatic, heated seats, great visibility to all sides and back....sporty look and handles unbelievably well on the highway and in the city....good mileage...now looking foreward to going for a drive..Thank you FORD....

2 year report

I've owned my car for a little over 2 years now. I have had no problems with my car other than one of the hub caps having paint peeling which was replaced under warranty and rotors needing to be turned which Ford also replaced under warranty. I was surprised the rotors were covered considering this is a wear and tear item that lasts depending on your driving conditions and habits.

Stay Away from Ford!

We bought our Ford Fiesta brand new in 2012. Since then we've had multiple issues. The stereo system only operates properly 50% of the time. The car has cut off on us twice and the dealership doesn't know what causes it but after a day or two it turns on again (terrifying). The transmission has always had issues and had to be REPLACED this year after only 2.5 years... And to top it all off the car shut off in the middle of a very busy street this week and the dealership has yet to determine the issue. We are NEVER getting in the car again and buying a new vehicle. We will never buy a Ford again. STAY AWAY!

Transmission, radio and electrical problems!!

transmission awful it grinds up hills looses power on acceleration ! The radio works when it wants to , only controls 3,4 work on ac and heat 1,2 slower fan speeds do not work . Oil service light and low tire air lights stay on even if oil changed and air put in tires !! This car is a nightmare !! My first and LAST ford EVER !!!

It's no fiesta.

This is hands down, the worst car ever made. I have made cars with my Lego sets that are more reliable. Constant transmission problems along with a non functioning Sync system makes this car horrific. However, it is cute to look at; but that's all it has going for it. Don't you dare buy this car!

Silly and reliable

Never had issues! My fiesta is 6 and half years with 52000 miles. The excellant mechanics at the Ford dealership in Pt. Charlotte did recall work on my transmissionwhich affected the gas mileage abit . My transmission dual clutch was replaced because the mechanics found a leak before the warranty ended. This occurred six months ago that this was replaced. I was concerned but the car is running awesome. I don’t drive long distances. Did hear if you take long trips this transmission won’t hold. A gal who use to be a mechanic told me this CVT can’t handle long drives. Ford gave her all her money back with her sedan when she explained problem. Oh well My is fun to drive and the more money I save the more I have so I’ll keep it as long as it is reliable. The acceleration is way better than my old celica and my fiesta turns great. Guess I’ve been lucky with all the bad reviews however there are so many fiestas out there it can’t be that bad a car if ford has fixed the problem.

My used car purchase on a 2012 Ford Fiesta SEL

I bought a used Ford Fiesta SEL with high miles the price was great ! I have had it over a week! Hopefully no problems in the foreseeable future but so far it is fantastic! Yes you want nor initial power when getting on freeway but picks up nicely! It was a bit of a concern when I would step on accelerator a little to much the transmission didn’t like it ! But I learned to ease off the pedal at first and it runs great! Love the satellite radio nice sound system, Leather bucket seats! Ice cold air conditioning which is a must here in Phoenix Arizona!

Would not recommend this car to my worst enemy!

This was my very first brand new car. I was very excited when I test drove it. Bought it with only 20 miles on it. At first I truly loved it. I was also sold on it having a supposed Sirius XM radio. (It does NOT by the way! so do not be tricked by the button on the dash labeled "SIRIUS" as I was) I have had it for 10 months and have put a little over 9,000 miles on it. It developed an oil leak and has been to service twice for the transmission. It stalled out on the interstate while I had my children with me and we had to be towed home right after the dealership gave it back to me saying they had repaired the transmission. This car is very unsafe and I am just so disappointed and angry!

stick shift

After reading reviews from owners on this car I opted to get a stick shift. It's a new trans design so it will have bugs for the first few model years. I've had my car for a year putting on 15k miles. So far no problems. I average 40 mpg but do not do highway driving. Yes the paint chips easily but for 16k new you can't expect the same finish as a mustang. For those who complain about cheap materials...it's a cheap car...don't expect higher priced quality - it's simply not realistic. Overall for the price of this car new you get quite a bit for your money.

Grat car for round town

I bout mine in july hade no problem with mine. Mine is a five speed manual with only 50.000 mils on it price was ten thousand 20012 se great gas milg on it mine has cruse cantrl tilt ac power window s and no sat radio butt has the aux in it for my ph ps tks ford i did my homework on mine i would re driving a manual

A lot of car for the money

I hadn't actually considered such a small car, but the gas mileage enticed me. It looks small from the outside, but driving it is a whole different experience. I'm 6'3, 200lbs, and it's perfectly comfortable to drive. The adjustable wheel and multiple seat adjustments are a huge plus. More importantly, it drives like a dream. I test drove other subcompacts(Honda Fit, Nissan Versa) and they don't even come close in terms of ride quality and handling. The Fiesta has plenty of power, with precise steering, a smooth ride, and a wonderfully smooth clutch and manual shifter. The engine accelerates smoothly and rapidly, yet remains quiet. The road noise is also notably less than in the others.

The best car under $18,000

This is the most fun on 4 wheels I've ever had. I let people drive my car and they compare it to a high performance mini-sports sedan. The thing corners like it's on rails, gets over 40mpg regularly, has one of the BEST sounding stereo systems from the factory and has safety features out the wazoo. The up and coming 2014 Fiesta ST will be incredible. My car, with 120hp, accelerates fine. I can't imagine it with almost 200hp!!

Adaptive Transmission and Poor Gas consumption issues

We purchased the 2012 Ford Fiesta SE (Auto) in August of last year. Since we have put on over 33,000 km on it. Never had a issue with until last week. While accelerating there seemed to be a slip or clunk in the transmission and there would be no acceleration for a very brief period of time. We also started to notice a dramatic drop in our MPG. The first 8 months of use we would get around 650km per tank of gas on a mixed driving terrain. Now we are lucky to push 425km per tank. Dealer says it was the ATC and said it is fixed now. We will see. I really hope the gas consumption gets resolved.

beware of oil leak!!

Bought this car yesterday with 20 miles, today at home I woke up and went to see the under of the car and it was leaking oil from the union of the tranny and engine in one of the bolts, so I did research and saw it is a common issue for the fiesta, I got mad and called the dealer and they swap it out for another one which does not leak, make sure to check if it is leaking before you buy, other than that awesome car, also the tranny is very noisy and the automatic shift feels weird. I can't believe a new car can leak oil what a shame ford

Working better after transmission replacement

04/02/21 Final update - While my Fiesta is now running fine (I gave it an additional star), after nine years, and putting in $6k in repairs and maintenance into it, I am getting another car. Oh and by the way, it has another recall on it. Lessons learned: 1. Test drive multiple cars (makes and models) with someone in the car who will ask questions, 2. Know what you want in car before you buy 3. Don't let anyone talk you into something you are not sure of, cars are a tool not an investment. I am getting another car and test drove six of them before deciding on the one I am buying. My best to anyone who owns a Fiesta. 9/30/20 no transmission issues since they replace the crutch assembly back in December of 2018. Seems to be running fine. Had a recall on the battery case and some safety locks but other than that it's been fine. 3/30/20 ever since they replaced the clutch assembly in December 2018 it has been running perfectly, no drags shutters or whistles, slowing learning to trust it once more. 3/28/18 Update - Fiesta is still running fine, it still drags and shutters but I am told that, that is a common thing. Still would not recommend, I keep my road service number handy at all times. 3/2017 update: car is running better after its last fix (3rd time in the shop). they had to replace a dirty clutch in the transmission(still has less than 40K miles on it), still do not recommend it. I bought my 2012 Fiesta new, to date it has less than 40k on it, I do not drive a lot. However, there have been 4 recalls on it and it is currently in the shop for the second time in three months! First, they had to replace the clutch because of shuddering and jerking. Yesterday I had to have it towed to the shop for transmission issues. I am very disappointed in Ford and even though I have been a loyal Ford customer, this pretty much changes my mind. There is obviously as issue with the transmission, yet Ford doesn't want to spend the $$ to make a quality car.

Fiesta issues

I bought my fiesta 2 years ago.Within 1 month transmission was stuttering and shuttering.Multiple trips to Ford dealership concerning g transmission. Service was very rude.After several times of calibrating I eS told it needs a clutch. Long story short we have had 3 clutch's put in.The last one is out already.Now I am also having issues with mass air support system and loud noises while I am driving.The car is awful

MY DOORS

I have had nothing but problems with my door and now door handles. I was leaving for a cruise and went to close my doo and it would not close. It made for an interesting start to my vacation. They did repair this under warranty and recall. However I had to take it back the following Monday because the driver window wouldn't go down due to something during the first repair. Now my drivers door is not opening from the out side and they are telling me around 300 to repair the handle. I have talked to many people and this door has a plastic piece that attaches to the door handle and it breaks frequently. I was told you cant just buy the plastic part you must repair the whole handle. I guess I'm upset because this drivers door has given me nothing but problems and now it is out of warranty and it seems that this should also be covered under the recall. Now my transmission is slipping I also hear this is a recall and there is currently a Class Action Suit on the transmission.........

Car is more trouble than it's worth!

I have own my car for almost 2 years and it has been in the shop three times. They replaced the clutch under warranty twice and it looks like it needs it a third time which won't be covered. Apparently there is another problem with the transmission than what Ford is telling the dealerships what to fix. Thanks Ford for the temporary non beneficial fixes.

don't every buy this thing.

i just wanna say i don't know much about cars but i will never buy a Ford again because of my experience with this Ford Fiesta. I've had this car for just over a year (bought it end of August 2017. currently end of December 2018) and it's been in the shop at least once every two months. the clutch/transmition has been changed MULTIPLE times (at least 3 times) . i really do actually LOVE this car but we are getting tired of it being in the shop so often. I'm a collage students and a part time worker and if i miss theses this often it will ruing a lot. we are currently looking into trading it in and getting a Toyota and driving that instead and finish off paying the loan separately. My family is done buying Fords.

Good little car for recent college grad

Owned the car for 2 years. No issues with the car that are outside of normal maintenance. The car was great in the illinois. Traveled well, got greatness mileage and was not too bad comfort wise. We recently sold the vehicle because needed something all wheel drive in as we moved to snow belt. This vehicle was okay in light snow but not the greatest in heavy snow. It was a very good vehicle though.

Unbelievable fiesta

We get 43+ mpg in hwy. Why buying an hybrid. The only fault is the noise in the cabin, all you heard is the road, unless you crank you radio.

Transmission Problema

Bought a Fiesta Sedan for a steal back in 2019. Ran very smoothly for about 2 years, when the transmission was suddenly was not working properly. Even getting it fixed, the car was never the same again. Occasional sputtering is what one would experience from this as well.

Steering Knock

I have a Fiesta Zetec with a 1.4 TCI engine. I have had this car since 2010 and until early this year I have had no problems. A knock started to appear when I turned the steering in either direction. The vehicle was taken to both a Ford garage and an independent garage but despite changing the tie bar links the knock was still present, and after the vehicle had been lifted off its wheels the knock was more excessive. I discovered the cause of the problem and have informed both garages of what I had discovered. By unlocking the steering when height adjuster and lowering the steering wheel by a very small amount (5mm) the knock has been resolved. Although adjusting the column position will resolve the knock it is not the permanent solution as the power steering pack still moves on the column and still today Ford have not accepted this is an issue and have not resolved the problem Still no resolution to the steering knock 2018

Not SAFE FIESTA

Car had peeling paint, has odor from engine, is not shifting properly, pulling into shopping mall in front of traffic it would not move? My foot was on the gas and it went up in rpms however not go. My child was with me and I was scared because as it decided to go a truck was coming. The car is good on gas but thats not a plus with regards to safety. Its rolls backwards, again as previously stated it has definate transmission issues. Brand new with 6 months under me I should not deal with these issues at hand. Do not purchase this car if you have kids it is not safe acceleration is poor 2nd time, safety is an issue.

Excellent Car-WIth its Quirks

I bought a Ford Fiesta SES Hatchback at the end of April. Overall this car is amazing. Its incredibly efficient. I just went on a road trip to Maine and it got 41mpg going back and around 38-39 going up/driving around there. For typical weekly driving I get around 35-37 mpg driving a combination of city and highway. Although driving back roads yesterday i was able to get around 50mpg. Note: The gauge for the mpg on the car is a bit pessimistic.

1000 miles a week, great MPG

I drive my little Fiesta 1000 miles a week commuting to work and school. It does fine at speeds between 70 and 80 MPH. For passing or steep hills you do need to downshift to 4th. It handles high winds well for a light car and corners very well. MPG range is 35 to 42. The advertised 38 is the norm. 23,000 miles so far without issue.

nothing but problems

I have had constant transmission problems. Car constantly shudders in low gear. i have had it back for servicing 5 times in 3 years and the problem is still not corrected. Car also has constant transmission noises the dealership has stated that the noise is part of the transmission and is to be expected. I owned a Taurus and a Focus before this but i will not buy a Ford vehicle again

Bought it off the lot with 12 miles when I was 18

In 2012 I bought my Fiesta S sedan, with a 5 speed transmission, and 60,000 miles later it's still a decent car. I replaced all for shocks at 50,000 miles and am about to replace my clutch fairly soon since the plates started to slip. If you're over 6 feet tall no one can set behind. It has decent pull in 1st-3rd gear so you can get up to speed on highways. I use cheap snow tires(compaired to my other cars) and never had a problem in mud or snow. I overpaid by buying an economy car new but it would be a good starter car because they have such a low value now.

This is a LEMON VEHICLE

I purchased my vehicle 9 mo ago and have had it in the shop 4 times since! 2 of these were extremely dangerous experiences. Once the accelerator stuck during shifting gears and the other at highway speed it dropped to 10 mph max. All my issues have surrounded the accelerator. What makes it more frustrating is once the car turns off all error codes are reset...how convenient for Ford! They tell me I have to bring it in while error codes are active which seems to always happen after hours!!!

uncomfortable

I am only 5 ft 67 in tall, but my right knee is sore from rubbing on center console after a 300 mile drive, hurts even on short drives, and it seems i always hit the windshield wiper stalk to the on position when i get in car, even tho i am aware its there, my arm hits it every time i get in. Automatic trans shifts well and car is smooth and quiet at 80mph.

Great little putt-putt

I’ve been quite happy with this economical little car for eight years. Ford offered great support with clutch issues. I will miss it but it’s 9 years old now and I’m passing it on. Maybe it’ll be good for someone else for a couple more years. Was great fun to drive. Just a small for my bike.

Horrible transmission issues

The jerky behavior mentioned in the edmunds review for the automatic is true of pretty much all Ford Fiesta cars from 2011 onward. They have a proprietary transmission that is very irregular. The transmission on these cars is a ticking time bomb. We bought our car used and put some miles on it. Prior to transmission failure, the car was nothing to write home about. It seemed an economical choice and the gas mileage is good. It gives the appearance of a reasonably budgeted car. It only had 122,000 when the transmission died. The Ford dealership will charge you a fortune to fix it. Our local transmission place could get a replacement and install for about 3k, more than the car is really worth. They also stated they've had a hell of time with these cars due to their unique transmission and have had many of them come through their shop. After the transmission failed, we saw that Ford had settled lawsuits with purchasers of the 2011 and later Ford Fiestas based on them knowing the car had issues but selling it anyways. For this I will never trust a Ford again. If you are looking to buy used, I don't believe this car will be the economical budget option you want it to be unless you only plan to own it short term. I recommend not at all.

Reliable on road trips

I have been taking my car to all long road trips & it never betrayed. Just couple of regular service per year & it's good to go. Just love it.

good deal

Great basic car

I was looking for a car to just commute in Monday thru Friday it has been great . 33-34 mpg city 40 on the hwy doing 75 to 80 mph. just change the oil and put gas in it . the only problem I've had was the Throttle position censer went bad. about $400.00 but I had bought insurance. i also have a 5 speed so I can't say about the Automatics. Also got the Sync a little difficult sometimes, ok for first gen. artificial intelligence but great for hands free phone use. i bought the car in NOV.2011 and have 69K on it as of 6/17.Will probable keep it till it dies which I'm hoping is about 200K

Buy A Toyota!!!

I have a 2012 FORD FIESTA that has had to have 2 transmissions replaced and now the catalytic converter replaced due to the issues with the transmission. FORD is aware that the fiesta's and fusion's all have the shutter and lag when you push on the gas. You can call their 800-WE-DONT-CARE number but FORD will not stand behind their product. If enough people come forward maybe FORD will take some action. [HTML removed]

DON'T BUY THIS CAR

If you are gonna buy this car I'll save you some trouble and just say I will trade you whatever car you're driving now and I'm sure it's better than mine. I've had this car for 3 years, I'm the second owner and I bought it off of my uncle who I know took good care of it. From the month after I bought it I had to take it into the dealership for repairs. I'm lucky my uncle still had an active extended warranty on the car becuase if not then over the past three years I wouldve gotten in so much debt just trying to keep this thing working right. First off nothing about the layout is intuitive but once you get used to it, the other problems with it are so loud that you dont even notice it. The SYNC system for music in the car is notorious ( I was informed by the dealership) for not working. It picks and chooses when it wants me to connect my phone through USB and bluetooth is very crackly and not intuitive. Two months into having the car, post already bringing it in for a driving issue, the stereosystem just stopped all together and they had to reconfigure the whole system... that's happened another time since then. I have not gone two months since having the vehicle, without having to bring it in. The dealership experience has been vague, costly (even with the warranty) and confusing. I would do anything to sell this car for just enough to get a more reliable vehicle but the resale value is horrible. I just need to have this car get through 1 and a half more years of college but the warranty is up in three months and I dont think she'll last long after that. It's a lemon, it's not comfortable and I would never recommend it to anyone... Unless you want mine, then by all means it's a wonderful family car and no I dont want to show you the maintenance reports becuase you'll run the other way.

Sweet Ride

Handling is awesome and fuel economy is better then manufacturer says. I have been getting 40mpg with it. It is a power box. I can blow away other cars. 0-60 in now time. I live in Utah it handles snow and ice great. Steep hills. This is the frist car I have ever drove that didn't bog down on this one pass. It hauled I mean I could over flew up the thing. And with the right tires it's pretty good at off roading. Ford is nuts for not producing this anymore. All that being said get a manual transmission. The automatic transmissions are finicky at best. I was forced into this car. Love it would love it better if it was a manual. I can't overstate this enough probably one of the all around funnest cars I have ever drove. Plus it's very versatile in that it can be just another car, or there's plenty Ford and after market parts to trick it out. You drop it for a road racer. You can put rally parts on it for off roading. Being a Ford it's easy to trick it yourself.