2012 Ford F-150 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-150 years
- More complaints than other years 7th of 33 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1,783 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-150. That ranks 7th out of 33 F-150 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (681 complaints, 38%), typically at around 90,000 miles. Complaints mention 40 crashes, 14 fires, 29 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
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- 1,783owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 40complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Ford F-150 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 681 | 38% | 90,000 | “first gear” (21%) | $1,300 |
| Engine problems | 483 | 27% | 24,000 | “ecoboost engine” (8%) | $2,300 |
| Steering problems | 204 | 11% | 72,000 | “steering assist” (16%) | $2,500 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 194 | 11% | 30,500 | “first gear” (10%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 173 | 10% | 66,500 | “rear defrost” (8%) | — |
| Service Brakes problems | 124 | 7% | 57,000 | “vacuum pump” (30%) | $840 |
| Unknown or Other | 119 | 7% | 72,600 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 95 | 5% | 60,000 | “rear window” (46%) | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 84 | 5% | 35,118 | “fuel pump fuse” (8%) | — |
| Air Bags | 37 | 2% | 49,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 36 | 2% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 35 | 2% | 19,650 | — | — |
| Visibility | 34 | 2% | 49,900 | — | — |
| Structure | 24 | 1% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 19 | 1% | 79,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 18 | 1% | 91,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 17 | 1% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 | 1% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 12 | 1% | 24,950 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 1% | 53,212 | — | — |
| Seats | 9 | 1% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 0% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 0% | 133,500 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 0% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 0% | 155,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 165,982 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Ford F-150 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S07.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Risk: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.
Exterior lighting:back up lights; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 âlamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.â these vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.
Risk: If this condition exists, the transmission may not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse ârâ position and the vehicleâs transmission does go in reverse, the ârâ may not illuminate on the dashboard of the f-150, expedition, or navigator models and/or the backup lamp on the rear of the f-150, expedition, navigator, or mustang vehicles may not illuminate. These conditions increase the risk of a crash or a pedestrian being struck due to the vehicleâs not signaling it is in reverse.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 11, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 f-150 vehicles manufactured from november 6, 2011, through november 15, 2011. Incorrect software for the occupant classification system module (ocsm) was installed on the vehicles either at the time of manufacturing or during the course of replacement of the module as part of a service repair. Under certain driving conditions, the ocsm may misclassify the passenger seatâs occupant such that the passenger side airbag does not deploy when it should, does not deploy as intended, or deploys when it should not.
Risk: A failure to deploy, failure to deploy as intended, or a deployment when not intended, increases the risk of injury to the passenger side seat occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ocsm free of charge. The safety recall began on may 21, 2012. Owners may contact the ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Unexpected Transmission Downshift (RQ17010) — opened Dec 25, 2017, closed Oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V075000.
- Brake Vacuum Pump Failure (EA15006) — opened Oct 16, 2015, closed Apr 28, 2016.
- Brake Vacuum Pump Failure (PE15026) — opened Jun 22, 2015, closed Oct 19, 2015.
- Reduced power during hard acceleration (PE13018) — opened May 22, 2013, closed Apr 7, 2014.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. The failure was a persistent failure, with the power train warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the…
I have a 2012 F150 that has a safety, hazard with the transmission. Itâs a 6 R80 transmission and the lead frame assembly is suddenly downshifting. from six gear to second year I have contacted the Ford motor company. They say they cannot do anything. That the safety issue is expired, but I…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the transmission seized while driving 15 MPH and making a left turn onto the highway in oncoming traffic, and the vehicle suddenly stopped. The wrench symbol was displayed. The instrument panel was blank. The contact stated that the…
On XXX, I brought my 2012 Ford F-150 (VIN: [XXX]) to an authorized dealership (Ed Morse Ford Geneseo) to complete mandatory safety recall 19S07 (Molded Lead Frame Software Update). The vehicle was fully operational, shifting safely, and completely functional upon arrival. Immediately upon…
While driving the truck suddenly shifted into first year with the automatic transmission. This was the third time that this has happened.
Other Ford F-150 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 F-150 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 F-150 | 12 | 5 |
| 2025 F-150 | 107 | 13 |
| 2024 F-150 | 193 | 11 |
| 2023 F-150 | 413 | 13 |
| 2022 F-150 | 597 | 23 |
| 2021 F-150 | 1,028 | 29 |
| 2020 F-150 | 736 | 11 |
| 2019 F-150 | 1,336 | 9 |
| 2018 F-150 | 2,318 | 18 |
| 2017 F-150 | 1,449 | 17 |
| 2016 F-150 | 2,074 | 13 |
| 2015 F-150 | 1,729 | 13 |
| 2014 F-150 | 1,537 | 8 |
| 2013 F-150 | 2,989 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1,783 | 4 |
| 2011 F-150 | 2,191 | 6 |
| 2010 F-150 | 843 | 1 |
| 2009 F-150 | 324 | 2 |
| 2008 F-150 | 369 | 1 |
| 2007 F-150 | 488 | 2 |
| 2006 F-150 | 585 | 4 |
| 2005 F-150 | 1,112 | 3 |
| 2004 F-150 | 2,029 | 5 |
| 2003 F-150 | 423 | 4 |
| 2002 F-150 | 821 | 2 |
| 2001 F-150 | 1,236 | 8 |
| 2000 F-150 | 1,075 | 6 |
| 1999 F-150 | 1,044 | 7 |
| 1998 F-150 | 1,381 | 8 |
| 1997 F-150 | 2,758 | 14 |
| 1996 F-150 | 324 | 2 |
| 1995 F-150 | 626 | 2 |
See all Ford F-150 problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-150?
Owners most often report power train, engine, steering problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 681 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Ford F-150?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Ford F-150 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-150 model years, the 2012 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.