FordFiesta2012Overview/ford/fiesta/2012/base/

2012 Ford Fiesta

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Fiesta.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AM6)

The 2012 Ford Fiesta is a passenger car fitted with an automatic (AM6) transmission and an engine calling for 5W-20 API oil meeting Ford specification WSS-M2C945-A, carrying an EPA rating of 29/37/32 mpg. Owner-reported data logs 616 complaints for this model year, with Power Train ranked as the top concern and three recalls on record, placing it just under the 2011 high of 729 complaints across the Fiesta’s 1991–2019 history. That standing situates the 2012 model well above the series low of one complaint logged in 2001, while confirming it is not the most reported-on year in the recorded span.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5W-20 API (STARBURST) MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-AOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque98 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy29/37/32 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 96R · 500 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 96R · 500 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeFIESTA 2011 2012 S, SE P185-65R15 See tire placard on the inside door panel pillar for inflation pressure(s) See tire placard on the inside door panel pillar for inflation pressure(s) NAOEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length160.2 in
Overall width67.7 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase98 in
Curb weight2579 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined29 / 37 / 32 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume85 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Fiesta of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.4–10.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2014 ST Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011SES Hatchback 1.6L I-48.70 sec16.80 sec120 hpFWD
2011SEL Sedan 1.6L I-49.30 sec17.00 sec120 hpFWD
2011SES Hatchback 1.6L I-49.50 sec17.00 sec120 hpFWD
2011SES Hatchback 1.6L I-49.50 sec17.40 sec120 hpFWD
2011SES Hatchback 1.6L I-49.70 sec17.20 sec120 hpFWD
2011SES Hatchback 1.6L I-410.10 sec17.50 sec120 hpFWD
2014ST Hatchback 1.6L Turbo I-46.40 sec14.90 sec197 hpFWD
2014ST Hatchback 1.6L Turbo I-46.70 sec15.10 sec197 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5W-20 API (STARBURST) MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A of 5W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 98 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5W-20 API (STARBURST) MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13.3 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts98 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10, Not adjustable degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.19 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number96R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test18-20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-21 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180-207 °F
RPM55 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure14.5 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM800 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket21 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle50 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.118 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.147 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.826 in
Drum Maximum Machining7.952 in
Drum Discard at-or-over8.03

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Tighten the bolts evenly, half a turn at a time, until the camshaft bearing caps and the VCT bridge are seated against the cylinder head. Step 245 degrees
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113 ft. lbs., Step 2: Wait two (2) minutes before torquing bolts further. Step 3: 3513 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 90 degrees, step 3: wait 10 seconds, 1574 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 8022 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6014 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Ford Fiesta represents the second year of its generation, following the 2011 model’s launch, which saw the highest complaint volume (729) and a notable spike in recalls and investigations. While 2012 complaints decreased to 616, they remained elevated compared to later years, with a consistent three recalls and investigations—mirroring 2011 and 2013—before a gradual decline in complaints and recalls began in 2014. The data shows the generation’s peak reliability concerns occurred early, with 2012 sitting in the middle of this arc, where powertrain issues (194 complaints) dominated, alongside persistent structural and latch-related complaints. By 2014, recalls surged to seven, suggesting Ford addressed systemic issues, but 2012’s figures imply lingering risks from the generation’s initial quality challenges. The absence of fire-related recalls in the data doesn’t mitigate the five reported fire complaints for 2012, though root causes aren’t specified. **Takeaway:** While 2012 is marginally improved over 2011, its position in the generation’s complaint trend and persistent powertrain concerns make it a less ideal used purchase compared to post-2014 models, where reliability appears to stabilize.**

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
86
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
616
Owner complaints
12 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 616 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train194
Structure93
Unknown Or Other56
Latches/Locks/Linkages35
Electrical System19
Power Train,Engine16
Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages16
Engine13

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V246000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:LatchReported 24/04/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on June 5, 2015. The…

12V488000Air BagsReported 05/10/2012

Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Fiesta vehicles, manufactured from November 3, 2009 through September 21, 2012. The vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208… Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software free of charge so that it no longer suppresses the passenger side curtain air bag when the front…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 86 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
SSM 530402024-10-10Unknown Or OtherWhile performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
14M02 S72023-05-04Power TrainCertain 2011 through 2015 Model Year Fiesta and 2012 through 2016 Model Year Focus…
SSM 515362023-04-04StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Fiesta. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Fiesta take?

5W-20 API (STARBURST) MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Fiesta have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Fiesta get?

EPA figures are 29 city / 37 highway / 32 combined mpg.