YearToAvoid

2012 Ford F-250 Suspension, Wheels & Tires Problems

NHTSA lists 147 Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints for the 2012 Ford F-250, 46% of all 323 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure was 80,000 miles. No related recalls are on file, though owners describe a recurring front-end wobble.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints
147
46% of 323
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
80,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical suspension symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe a violent front-end shaking, often called 'death wobble,' triggered by hitting bumps, seams, or bridge transitions at highway speeds of 45 to 70 mph.
  • Several drivers report losing steering control during the wobble, needing to slow to near a stop or pull off the road, with one case ending in a crash.
  • Multiple complaints describe tire tread wear, tread separation, or tires exploding, involving Michelin and Continental tires on the front and rear.
  • Some owners report the vehicle drifting out of its lane over bumps or potholes, with shocks later replaced by an independent mechanic after dealers found no fault.
  • Repeated wobble incidents were sometimes traced to track bar assembly, bushing, or ball joint wear, with owners noting the problem returned after repairs.

When 2012 Ford F-250 suspension complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 21, 2012, latest Apr 21, 2026.

2012 Ford F-250 suspension, wheels & tires complaints: complaints filed per quarter132012 Q22014 Q22015 Q42017 Q32019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22023 Q4
147 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2020 Q1 (13).

Suspension, Wheels & Tires recalls for the 2012 Ford F-250

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints by F-250 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005171 (39%)
  2. 2006266 (54%)
  3. 200761 (54%)
  4. 200873 (22%)
  5. 200943 (56%)
  6. 201047 (45%)
  7. 2011180 (49%)
  8. 2012147 (46%)
  9. 201355 (47%)
  10. 201495 (57%)
  11. 2015133 (45%)
  12. 2016118 (41%)
  13. 2017602 (52%)
  14. 2018203 (51%)
  15. 2019698 (60%)
  16. 202033 (13%)
  17. 202119 (12%)
  18. 20226 (5%)
  19. 20233 (7%)
  20. 20242 (5%)
  21. 20253 (19%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are suspension, wheels & tires problems on the 2012 Ford F-250?
NHTSA lists 147 complaints in this area for the 2012 F-250, which is 46% of the 323 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Ford F-250 suspension or steering wobble?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2012 F-250.
At what mileage do these suspension problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints on the 2012 F-250 is 80,000 miles.
What does the 'death wobble' complaint on the 2012 F-250 involve?
Owners describe violent front-end shaking after hitting bumps or road seams at highway speed, sometimes causing loss of steering control; one reported case involved a crash.
How does 2012 compare to other F-250 model years for this issue?
The 2012 F-250 had 147 complaints (46% share), lower than 2017 (602, 52%) and 2019 (698, 60%), but higher in share than 2020 through 2024, which ranged from 5% to 13%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.