2012 Ford F-350 Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Ford F-350.

20112013
Complaints
310
Crashes
11
Fires
5
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
16

Worst 2012 Ford F-350 Problems

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

#175 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:98,801 mi
#275 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:105,206 mi
Crash-related:1
#331 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:72,552 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford F-350.

Steering Defects
75
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
98,801
Suspension Failures
75
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
105,206
Engine Problems
31
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
72,552
Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
81,907
Wheel Issues
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,792
Transmission / Drivetrain
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
59,589
Electrical Faults
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,861
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
37,042
Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
85,477
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
33,150
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
87,000
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Diesel Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Assist
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Hood
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Ford F-350. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Ford F-350

16 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~25,713 vehicles.

15V175000Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
~6,322 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured February 22, 2010, to January 30, 2015, and equipped with ambulance or fire engine preparation packages. The affected vehicles may detect an incorrect Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor (EGT) fault indicating that the vehicle is too hot, causing the engine management system to shut down the engine and prevent its immediate restart.

14V507000Other Equipment
~76 affected

Jerr-Dan Corporation (Jerr-Dan) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Superduty chassis modified by Jerr-Dan 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.

14V498000Other Equipment
~3 affected

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.

14V496000Other Equipment
~88 affected

Versalift East, LLC (Versalift) is recalling certain Aerial devices manufactured on 2009-2013 Ford, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty 6.8L gas engine chassis, modified by Versalift and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products FR67 PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

14V494000Other Equipment
~49 affected

Vanair Manufacturing, Inc. (Vanair) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperDuty chassis modified by Vanair and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies used with model 60-85 UDSM, 125-185 USDM, and Genair 125-185 driven air compressor systems. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

14V453000Other Equipment
~6 affected

Godwin Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Godwin) is recalling certain model year 2010 Ford F-450; 2011 Ford F-550; 2012 Ford F-350 and 2013 F-350 Super Duty trucks modified by Godwin 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.

14V360000Other Equipment
~10 affected

Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Palfleet) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 super duty vehicles modified by Palfleet 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.

14V326000Other Equipment
~10 affected

Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Manning 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.

14V328000Other Equipment
~21 affected

Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners and dealers to inspect the Muncie PTO pressure switch to determine if it is from the range of defective switches and if required, remove the pressure switch assembly and put a plug in the port where the PTO switch had been installed. This switch was never being utilized. This will be done free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-July 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.

14V327000Other Equipment
~10 affected

Stahl is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Stahl 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.

+ 6 more recalls

Other Ford F-350 Years

2012 Ford F-350 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Ford F-350 reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2012 Ford F-350 has 310 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash-related, and 16 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 75 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Ford F-350?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (75 complaints, avg 98,801 mi); Suspension Failures (75 complaints, avg 105,206 mi); Engine Problems (31 complaints, avg 72,552 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Ford F-350?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,950 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Ford F-350?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Ford F-350 include 11 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Ford F-350 have any recalls?
Yes — 16 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 25,713 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Ford F-350?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford F-350 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2012 Ford F-350

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