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2012 Ford F-150 Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 1,783 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-150, most often about the transmission (38% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles). It is 6th of 27 F-150 model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.

Complaints1,783
Recalls4
Crashes reported40
Fires reported14
Injuries reported292 deaths reported

Most common 2012 Ford F-150 problems

  1. Transmission

    681 complaints · 38%

    Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.

    I was merging on the on ramp to obtain highway speed I stepped on the gas when all of the sudden the truck started to shake really bad. I tried to step on the gas to accelerate but there was no throttle response to the engine as the truck continued to lose speed. Every time I tried to step on the gas the truck would…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 31,004 miles
    The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle attempted to accelerate but the rpms increased and the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was coasted onto the emergency lane; however, he was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 27,000 miles

  2. Engine

    498 complaints · 28%

    Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.

    While driving on freeway and trying to pass, vehicle started shaking violently and lost power. Also when pulling out into traffic vehicle when lose power and engine shakes. Engine light came ona nd has remained on. Very dangerous situations continue to happen daily. Ford ecoboost system has a problem, dealership says…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 19,234 miles
    Driving on highway, began to pass a semi truck. Engine began to shake and shudder and then power loss. Had to make sudden brake to avoid head on collision with oncoming car. Engine light is on and Ford has told me that they did not have an immediate fix to the problem. Have since been told that there is a moisture…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 17,000 miles

  3. Steering

    204 complaints · 11%

    Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system, steering wheel /handle bar.

    Power steering goes out. Gauge says power assisted steering fault. Shutting vehicle off and starting corrects the problem, but it is intermittent. Has happened multiple times, even at higher speeds. Has almost caused multiple accidents.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 70,000 miles
    While I was driving to the store on 10 mar 2016, I made a left turn in my f150 which resulted in the steering making a squealing noise and preceding to lock up. I was able to muscle the truck home and am fearful to drive it anywere.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 69,000 miles

  4. Speed control

    194 complaints · 11%

    Half of these problems showed up before 30,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.

    While traveling to florida from tennessee we had stopped at a gas station. While pulling out into traffic and accelerating, the truck started shaking violently due to misfire indicated by flashing check engine light. The miss was so bad that I immediately had to pull over. I shut the engine off to clear the on board…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 33,100 miles
    I had the tsb (for known surging issue) performed on my truck (2012 super crew 4x4) in may at 25k miles. Everything seemed better, until... This past saturday, I left the house at 5am for a 7.5 hour/ 350 mile drive from home. It was raining continuously for the first two hours. Sometimes hard rain, but it didn't stop…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 27,800 miles

  5. Electrical

    173 complaints · 10%

    Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel, instrument cluster/panel, software, wiring.

    The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. When the vehicle was started, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the vacuum pump and wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 67,000 miles
    I was driving on residential street during light snow conditions. I turned the rear window defrost on and after 2 minutes I could smell a burning smell and heard a crackling/popping sound coming from the back seat area of my truck cab. I sensed it may be something wrong with the rear defrost so I switched it off.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 65,920 miles

  6. Brakes

    137 complaints · 8%

    Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist, antilock.

    After starting the truck the brake pedal was very hard like there was no power assist. It only happened periodically and I assumed my brakes were getting old. Brakes were replaced and the problem still existed at times. It is now happening more often. Just found out about the electric vacuum pump investigation and it…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 65,000 miles
    While driving on the interstate doing 75mph pulling a 6000lb camper the brakes wouldn't work. The stayed firm and would not allow me to depress them. Then errors came across the screens warning of a break system failure.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 62,000 miles

  7. Visibility and wipers

    129 complaints · 7%

    Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, glass, side/rear, sun/moon roof assembly, rearview mirrors/devices.

    Rear window open and closed when it wanted when pushing the switch and now it wont open at all. Fuses are good. Defrost will not work. Popping sound from the rear drive line when you leave from a slow stop.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 54,000 miles
    Windshield wipers fail to turn off completely after use. At times turn on by themselves. Both problems occur intermittently. Act similar to intermittent mode, but timing slightly different. Online search for issue revealed numerous other vehicles with similar problem, most caused by the multifunction switch that…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 60,000 miles

  8. Other or unspecified

    119 complaints · 7%

    Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles.

    While driving on the interstate at approximately 70 miles per hour, the sunroof on my truck exploded. No sounds of anything striking the window were heard, just a loud pop when it gave way.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 72,600 miles
    Just had my 2012 f150 fx4 super crew appearance package rear window shatter. Last night my truck is sitting all by its self on a flat surface I hit the automatic start as I'm walking out to my truck it's about 22 deg f out I hear this loud pop didn't know what it was then in the morning I noticed my right rear window…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 73,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2012 Ford F-150 recalls

  1. Transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

    NHTSA 19V075000 · February 11, 2019 · 1,263,051 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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.

  2. Transmission: automatic transmission

    NHTSA 16V248000 · April 27, 2016 · 153,581 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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.

  3. Lights: back up lights

    NHTSA 12V190000 · May 3, 2012 · 10,500 vehicles

    Risk: If this condition exists, the transmission may not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse â“r┠position and the vehicleâ’s transmission does go in reverse, the â“r┠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 vehicleâ’s 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.

    Full defect summary

    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 â“lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.┠these vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.

  4. Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive

    NHTSA 12V198000 · May 3, 2012 · 101 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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 seatâ’s occupant such that the passenger side airbag does not deploy when it should, does not deploy as intended, or deploys when it should not.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

NHTSA defect investigations

Questions about the 2012 Ford F-150

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-150?
By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (681 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); engine (498 complaints, typically around 23,000 miles); steering (204 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford F-150 have?
4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 11, 2019 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2012 a bad year for the Ford F-150?
It is 6th of 27 F-150 model years by number of complaints, with 1,783 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Ford F-150 years

Ford F-150 problems by year