Problems · by component
2012 Ford Fiesta electrical system problems
66 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Fiesta cite electrical system, 11% of all 617 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
66
11% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated to move forward or backwards. Additionally, the contact stated that the ignition key had failed to operate as intended also. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000.”
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while attempting to activate the headlights, the headlights failed to respond. The contact stated that several attempts were needed for the headlights to become operable. However, the failure reoccurred, and the low-beam headlights failed to function as needed. The contact checked the high-beam headlights and the high-beam headlights functioned properly. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 19B22 - Corrosion due to road salts in the Battery Junction Box (Electrical System, Visibility). The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.”
“2012 ford fiesta check engine light on codes reading o2 sensors, catalytic intake, misfires, fuel injection, etc. I have had my fiesta at 3 mechanics all very known for there reliability all diagnosing it different issue recommending me to go to dealership which I was turned away because the recalls for the vehicle isn’t an issue for any of the possible diagnostics. Single mother of 3 now no vehicle, no money and no way of providing without transportation. Less than 150,000 Miles owned less than two years and the amount of money put into the vehicle ford should be ashamed. Shuddering and accelerating issue was told clutch and transmission issue but no help or actual known diagnosis since ford won’t diagnose the suspected diagnosis from any of the mechanics I have taken the vehicle to and they can’t for sure diagnose it until ford confirms the diagnosis since this is a known issue. They also sent me two recalls but refused to fix the recalls because I wasn’t 100% sure my vehicle needed the repair and threatened to charge me 150 diagnostic charge for the recall after I already poured my heart out to them about the issue I can’t seem to even get repaired due to…”
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH at night, the low-beam headlights stopped working. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he engaged in the high-beam headlights and continued driving. The contact, who is an electrician, diagnosed that the relay that controlled the low-beam headlights was corroded in the battery junction box. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that he had to pay out of pocket for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 19B22. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH at night, the low-beam headlamps failed to operate as needed. The contact mentioned that the high beam was needed to be able to see the roadway correctly. The dealer was not contacted. The contact was a mechanic and diagnosed that there was corrosion on the junction box that caused the failure of the headlamps. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.”
“Transmission Malfunction, this is the 4th time that I am having to replace the transmission. I am taking the car back to dealership to get the transmission fixed for the 5th time. The car jerks when it comes to a stop. Hard time accelerating or does not accelerate. I put the car in R and it did not budge at all, even turned the car off and turned it back on same thing. This car should not be permitted on the road. Does not shift gears properly, the RPM run very high. I am afraid to drive this car constantly, even after I get it out of the shop because I just know that the transmission will eventually malfunction on me again. Very unsafe and unreliable to drive.”
Showing 6 of 66 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.