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BrakesPart report

2012 Ford Fiesta Brakes Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
3%of 617 total for the year
Median mileage
14,150miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the brakes of the 2012 Ford Fiesta, 3% of the 617 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 14,150 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“As I was driving on the surface streets, the cars brakes did not work. I pumped the brakes three times before they actually locked and I slid on the road and rear ended a vehicle. The impact was quite intense and the damaged was quite large. For some reason the airbags did not deploy being that the front end of my vehicle was damaged all the way in-till the engine.”

NHTSA complaint #10480947, filed 2012-10, 17,050 miles

“I purchased the car in march of 2013 from the first week I owned the car I have complained that the car: shudders and gurgles at take off with no power what so ever, going up a steep hill has no power at all the car gurgles and then once it catches the car lunges forward very fast, when breaking there is a loud noise and the car shudder, the rpms rev high at take off. 1st appointment I was told it was a new transmission system and it had to learn the way I depress the gas. …”

NHTSA complaint #10732140, filed 2015-07, 30 miles

“I have a 2012 Ford Fiesta which has had nothing but problems over the course of the time I've had the car. On the thursday before the memorial day weekend I put the car into reverse and the car wouldn't stop. We were going very slow and thank goodness didn't hit anything. We hit a curb behind us that stopped the car. I shifted into drive and it moved forward. We took it into the dealership that next morning and they replaced the brake master cylinder and the clutch. I've done multiple warranty claims & I've had ongoing trans/clutch issues that finally resulted with as replacement last month. …”

NHTSA complaint #11230967, filed 2019-07, 86,000 miles

“Today, 1/19/2016 is my 6th visit to Ford dealer service since 2014 august. My car has been towed in to service location with condition of transmission shudders excessively. I was not able to drive the car with a in-operating transmission. It is very sad, I do not feel safe to drive the vehicle no more than 15 miles if I can. Transmission and clutch has been fixed for 3 times. Every time I have talked to Ford customer rep. They are telling me I should be okay because they extend my transmission coverage to 100.000 miles. Should I toss my car after 100.000 ? …”

NHTSA complaint #10821148, filed 2016-01, 49,937 miles

“While driving the speed of in town, stop and go traffic, my brakes failed to work. I approached a red light with stopped traffic ahead of me and started braking. I continued to brake but there was absolutely no brake pressure. It felt like my brake pedal was pushing through the floor board but nothing was happening. My car proceeded to crash into a stopped truck at about 35-40mph. My airbag did not deploy. I came away with aches and pain but fortunately was not badly injured. My car has been totaled by my insurance company. …”

NHTSA complaint #10572998, filed 2014-03, 44,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20191312%
201757%
201621%
201593%
2014122%
2013112%
2012173%
2011172%

Other parts of the 2012 Ford Fiesta

Transmission and drivetrain
274 complaints
Body and structure
128 complaints
Other or unknown
78 complaints
Engine
68 complaints
Electrical system
66 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
57 complaints
Vehicle speed control
40 complaints
Exterior lighting
22 complaints
Air bags
15 complaints
Steering
13 complaints
Equipment
8 complaints
Fuel system
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Ford Fiesta

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology