2012 Ford Fiesta vs 2012 Nissan Altima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Ford Fiesta | 2012 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 617 | 425 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 86 | 121 |
| Investigations | 3 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 24 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 32 | 21–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 46,000 mi | 76,490 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Fiesta | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 274 | 149 |
| Structure | 128 | 33 |
| Engine | 68 | 68 |
| Electrical System | 66 | 44 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 49 |
| Air Bags | 15 | 57 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 57 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 15 | 17 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 115 | 16 |
| Stalling | 91 | 22 |
| Hesitation / surging | 59 | 9 |
| Shifting problems | 34 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 24 | 13 |
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 6 |
| Rust / corrosion | 19 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 18 | 30 |
2012 Ford Fiesta
2012 Nissan Altima
Compare all Ford Fiesta vs Nissan Altima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.