2012 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#6 most-complained of 16 F-150 years
The 2012 Ford F-150 has 1,781 NHTSA complaints, 4 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 6th worst of 16 model years. Its Caution verdict reflects transmission and engine problems, but it's less troubled than the 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2018 model years.
- Complaints
- 1,781
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 40 / 14
- Injuries / deaths
- 29 / 2
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 21 hwy
Top 2012 Ford F-150 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain679 (38%)
- Engine600 (34%)
- Steering204 (11%)
- Electrical System179 (10%)
- Brakes174 (10%)
- Fuel System119 (7%)
- Other119 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers114 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires48 (3%)
- Structure & Body40 (2%)
What owners report
- Trucks reportedly roll forward or backward while parked in gear, sometimes striking objects or vehicles.
- Engine loses power without warning during acceleration, in some cases leading to a rear-end collision.
- One owner reported the engine caught fire after condensation collected in the intercooler and was drawn into the intake.
- Vehicles reportedly shake, stall, and lose throttle response while accelerating from a stop or merging into traffic.
- Steering response reported as erratic, slow, and pulling to one side during turns.
- Owners describe brakes going hard and unresponsive during low-speed maneuvers, resulting in a crash.
2012 Ford F-150 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V075000Feb 11, 2019Transmission & Powertrain1,263,051 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 16V248000Apr 27, 2016Transmission & Powertrain153,581 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 12V190000May 3, 2012Electrical System10,500 vehicles
Exterior lighting:back up lights
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.
Remedy: 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.
2012 Ford F-150 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Ford F-150 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 F-150 carries a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst among 16 model years of the F-150. It has fewer reported problems than the 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2018 models.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-150?
- Transmission and powertrain issues make up 38% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 63,000 (90,000 for transmission specifically). Engine problems account for 34% of complaints, often occurring around 27,551 miles.
- Does the 2012 Ford F-150 have transmission recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists recall 19V075000 for unexpected downshifts into first gear and recall 16V248000 for a powertrain control module software update, both covering the 2012 F-150's automatic transmission.
- How does the 2012 F-150 compare to other years?
- The 2012 model's Complaint Index of 67 is worse than 2010 (13), 2017 (40), 2020 (20), and 2024 (7), but better than 2011 (87), 2013 (100), 2016 (80), and 2018 (93).