2012 Ford F-350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#10 most-complained of 16 F-350 years
The 2012 Ford F-350 has 183 complaints, 16 recalls, and a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th worst out of 16 model years — a "Good" rating relative to other F-350 years. Suspension/wheels/tires and steering lead problem areas.
- Complaints
- 183
- Recalls
- 16
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2012 Ford F-350 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires81 (44%)
- Steering75 (41%)
- Engine51 (28%)
- Fuel System18 (10%)
- Other18 (10%)
- Brakes10 (5%)
- Electrical System10 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (5%)
- Structure & Body5 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden loss of braking ability, including one case of total brake loss after hitting a small curb at low speed.
- Some describe the transfer case failing to respond when shifting between four-wheel-drive ranges, sometimes with a loud grinding noise before an unintended movement.
- A vehicle placed in park on an incline reportedly rolled away on its own and struck another vehicle.
- Owners describe a "death rattle" sensation from the suspension that in one case led to loss of control at highway speed.
- Some report the engine losing power or shutting down unexpectedly on the highway, in one case with rust found inside the fuel tank.
- One owner reported the accelerator pedal responding with a delay, making it hard to slow the vehicle in an emergency.
2012 Ford F-350 recalls
16 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V175000Mar 25, 2015Transmission & Powertrain6,322 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
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.
Risk: Engine shut down and a subsequent cool down period may delay medical treatment or assistance to those needing it, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S09.
- NHTSA 14V507000Aug 18, 2014Other76 vehicles
Equipment
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.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy: Jerr-Dan will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Jerr-Dan customer service at 1-800-926-9666.
- NHTSA 14V498000Aug 13, 2014Other3 vehicles
Equipment
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.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy: PJ's has notified owners and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2014. Owners may contact PJ's customer service at 1-866-475-8782.
2012 compared with other F-350 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Ford F-350 reliable?
- Relative to other F-350 model years, the 2012 F-350 is rated "Good." It has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years covered, meaning most other years scored worse.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-350?
- NHTSA complaint data shows Suspension, Wheels & Tires as the top problem area, making up 44% of complaints, followed by Steering at 41% and Engine at 28%.
- Does the 2012 Ford F-350 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 16 recalls for the 2012 Ford F-350, including multiple campaigns tied to Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies installed by various truck body manufacturers, and none are marked do-not-drive.
- What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2012 F-350?
- The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 71,000 miles. Suspension issues showed up at a median of 91,500 miles, while engine problems appeared earlier, at a median of 55,500 miles.
- How does the 2012 F-350 compare to nearby model years?
- The 2012 F-350 (complaint index 40) compares favorably to 2015 (60, Caution) and much better than 2016 (80, Avoid) and 2017 (93, Avoid), but it has a higher complaint index than 2013 (7, Best) and 2014 (13, Best).