2012 Ford F-550 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#7 most-complained of 16 F-550 years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2012 Ford F-550 has 19 NHTSA complaints, 15 recalls, and a complaint index of 60, ranking 7th worst of 16 model years. It earns a Caution verdict, with Engine problems making up 68% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 19
- Recalls
- 15
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2012 Ford F-550 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine13 (68%)
- Electrical System3 (16%)
- Fuel System3 (16%)
- Other3 (16%)
- Brakes2 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (11%)
- Steering1 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (5%)
What owners report
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving, sometimes at highway speeds around 40 mph, tied to incorrect sensor readings sent to the engine computer.
- Complete engine shutdown at approximately 65 mph, with loss of both engine and interior power at once.
- Turbo hose disconnection accompanied by a loud banging noise and a sudden drop in engine power at low speed.
- Undercarriage fire that spread and fully engulfed the vehicle while driving off-road.
- Diesel exhaust fluid system failure that shut the truck down while driving and required towing.
- Wiring harness pinched under the cab caused a dead short and repeated battery failures.
2012 Ford F-550 recalls
15 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 15V112000Feb 25, 2015Other117 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy: Farber will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Farber's number for this recall is 14E-041.
- 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-550 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Ford F-550 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 19 complaints and 15 recalls for the 2012 F-550, with a complaint index of 60, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other F-550 model years.
- What is the biggest problem area on the 2012 Ford F-550?
- Engine complaints account for 68% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 72,000 miles.
- How does the 2012 F-550 compare to other years?
- The 2012 ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 60. The 2013 (index 20) and 2018 (index 13) rank as Best years, while 2019, 2021, and 2022 rank worse as Avoid years.
- Does the 2012 Ford F-550 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 15 recalls for the 2012 F-550, including transmission control module software updates and several aftermarket-body-related PTO pressure switch fixes.
- Were there any fires or crashes reported for the 2012 F-550?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 1 fire among the 19 complaints filed for the 2012 F-550.