2012 Ford F-150 Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Ford F-150. Part of Generation 12 — 2009–2014.

20112013
Complaints
2,424
Crashes
57
Fires
21
Injuries
42
Fatalities
2
Recalls
6

Worst 2012 Ford F-150 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1657 complaints

POWER TRAIN

Avg mileage:92,220 mi
Crash-related:12
Fires:1
#2482 complaints

ENGINE

Avg mileage:40,519 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:3
#3201 complaints

STEERING

Avg mileage:86,008 mi
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford F-150.

POWER TRAIN
657
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
1
Avg Miles
92,220
ENGINE
482
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
3
Avg Miles
40,519
STEERING
201
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
86,008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
192
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
52,518
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
153
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Avg Miles
69,368
SERVICE BRAKES
124
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
Avg Miles
64,017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
118
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
78,752
VISIBILITY/WIPER
95
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
62,429
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
84
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
50,160
AIR BAGS
37
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
Avg Miles
69,580
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
71,497
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
35
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
21,402
SUSPENSION
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
71,677
STRUCTURE:BODY
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
78,355
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,600
WHEELS
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
73,762
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
61,640
SEATS
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
19,758
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
42,281
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,094
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
136,750
TIRES
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
15,700
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
97,660
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
200,540
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
32,671
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
99,750
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
79,000
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
102,500
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,267
SEAT BELTS
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
133,500

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Ford F-150

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,700,784 vehicles.

19V075000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
~1,263,051 affected

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.

19V075000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
~1,263,051 affected

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.

16V248000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
~153,581 affected

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.

12V190000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
~10,500 affected

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 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.

12V190000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
~10,500 affected

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 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.

12V198000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
~101 affected

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 SEAT’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.

Other Ford F-150 Years

Wider context: See the full Ford F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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