2012 Ford F-150 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 179 Electrical System complaints for the 2012 Ford F-150, about 10% of all complaints that year, with 8 fires and 1 crash reported. Median mileage at failure was 66,500. A related recall (12V190000) covers a separate transmission range sensor issue tied to the electrical system.
- Electrical System complaints
- 179
- 10% of 1,781
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 8
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 66,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Rear defrost window gaskets and glass have caught fire or shattered while the rear or window defroster was running.
- Dashboards have spontaneously caught fire or filled the cabin with smoke, in some cases while the truck was parked and unoccupied.
- Heater fan motors have seized and overheated, igniting interior components and causing total loss fires.
- Battery cables and terminals have corroded and burned through, producing a burning odor under the hood.
- Sudden total electrical failure has occurred at highway speed, cutting out dashboard, lights, and signals while the engine kept running.
When 2012 Ford F-150 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 31, 2012, latest Sep 17, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Ford F-150
- 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.
Electrical System complaints by F-150 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does the 2012 Ford F-150 have?
- NHTSA lists 179 Electrical System complaints for the 2012 F-150, which is about 10% of the 1,781 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Are there fires linked to the 2012 F-150 electrical system?
- Yes. Owner complaints in this area report 8 fires and 1 crash, with 1 injury reported.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Ford F-150 electrical system?
- Yes, recall 12V190000 covers 2011-2012 F-150 trucks (along with the 2012 Expedition, Navigator, and 2012-2013 Mustang) for a transmission range sensor issue tied to the electrical system. It does not carry a do-not-drive or park-outside warning.
- At what mileage do 2012 F-150 electrical problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure among these complaints is 66,500 miles.
- How does 2012 compare to other F-150 years for electrical complaints?
- The 2012 F-150's 10% share of complaints tied to the electrical system is lower than 2010 (22%), 2021 (22%), 2022 (30%), and 2024 (45%), but similar to nearby years like 2013 through 2017.