2012 Ford F-450 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-450 years
- More complaints than other years 4th of 18 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-450. That ranks 4th out of 18 F-450 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (5 complaints, 36%), typically at around 71,456 miles. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 14owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Ford F-450 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 36% | 71,456 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 29% | 65,378 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 21% | 64,189 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 21% | 64,189 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 14% | 51,889 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 14% | 36,220 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 7% | 67,911 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 7% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 7% | 3,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 7% | 98,188 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 7% | 3,041 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Ford F-450 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment
Problem: PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment Co., (PJ's) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis modified by PJ's and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: PJ's has notified owners and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2014. Owners may contact PJ's customer service at 1-866-475-8782.
Engine
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 F-350/450/550 Ambulance Package vehicles manufactured February 22, 2010, through October 19, 2012 and equipped with a 6.7L diesel engine. Due to an exhaust sensor problem, the vehicles may experience loss of power followed by an engine stall.
Risk: An unexpected engine stall increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, if this were to occur when the ambulance is transporting a patient, there is an increased risk of injury to the patient.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the exhaust gas temperature sensor, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S10.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Problem: Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 gasoline engined dual rear wheel chassis vehicles manufactured October 2011 through June 2012. The tailpipe on the exhaust system does not extend out beyond the edge of the body, allowing heat to build up in rear curbside storage compartment.
Risk: Excessive heat build up in rear compartment could result in fire.
Fix: Manning Equipment has notified owners, and dealers will install tailpipe extensions free of charge. The recall has already begun. Owners may contact Manning Equipment at 1-502-426-5210.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 f-150 vehicles manufactured from september 9, 2011, through september 22, 2011, and model year 2012 f-250, f-350, f-450 and f-550 heavy duty vehicles manufactured from september 12, 2011, through september 22, 2011. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 114, âtheft protection.â the transmission can be shifted out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to brake shift interlock switch problem.
Risk: This will allow the operator to inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake shift interlock switch function and replace the switch if necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on december 22, 2011. 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
- Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown (RQ14005) — opened Jan 13, 2015, closed Mar 15, 2016, led to recall 15V175000.
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-450. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed back to the residence. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and…
Key in ignition circuit is open - engine light on ' fixd indicates inspection issue.
We have to replace our fuel tank because the lining has delaminated. We have already had to replace the engine which may have been a result of the lining deterioration.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT STALLED AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT…
I took my ford f-450 lariat for its 60,000 miles service. After the service was done, while driving it home from the ford dealership (autonation ford in corpus christi, tx), on the freeway as soon as i got to around 50 miles per hour the vehicle's front started to shake/wobble very violently…
Other Ford F-450 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 F-450 | 24 | 1 |
| 2019 F-450 | 20 | 4 |
| 2018 F-450 | 10 | 3 |
| 2017 F-450 | 21 | 4 |
| 2016 F-450 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 F-450 | 6 | 2 |
| 2014 F-450 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 F-450 | 6 | 1 |
| 2012 | 14 | 4 |
| 2011 F-450 | 9 | 2 |
| 2010 F-450 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 F-450 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 F-450 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 F-450 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 F-450 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 F-450 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 F-450 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 F-450 | 0 | 1 |
See all Ford F-450 problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-450?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, steering problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Ford F-450?
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-450 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-450 model years, the 2012 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.