YearToAvoid

2012 Ford F53 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

7/100

#15 most-complained of 16 F53 years

The 2012 Ford F53 has just 1 complaint and 1 recall on file, giving it a Complaint Index of 7, the lowest among all 15 model years with data. NHTSA ranks it 15th worst-first, meaning it has the fewest reported problems of any F53 year.

Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2012 Ford F53 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (100%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden and severe handling deterioration while driving on the highway.
  • Vehicle became difficult to control in crosswinds or when passed by a semi-trailer.
  • Inspection revealed the passenger side rear anti-sway bar bushing bracket, mounting bolts, and nuts were missing.
  • This suspension failure was reported at 22,000 miles.

2012 Ford F53 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 12V035000Feb 2, 2012Transmission & Powertrain13,239 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 f-53 and f-59 stripped chassis vehicles manufactured from february 1, 2010 through july 1, 2011 and certain model year 2012 f-53 and f-59 stripped chassis vehicles manufactured from may 10, 2011 through october 25, 2011. The â‘prndl⒠cable may break at the attachment to the transmission control selector arm assembly mounted on the steering column. If the cable breaks, the transmission gear indicator in the â‘prndl⒠display in the instrument panel will remain in the first gear position regardless of the gear selected.

    Risk: An incorrect gear indication in the instrument panel may prevent the driver from knowing if they are in park or reverse, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the transmission selector arm assembly and the â‘prndl⒠cable assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 2, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

2012 compared with other F53 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict010—
2011Good4771—
2012No verdict711—
2013Good4081—
2014Avoid93171—

All Ford F53 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Ford F53 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Ford F53 has a Complaint Index of 7, the lowest of the 15 model years tracked, with only 1 complaint and 1 recall filed.
What problems does the 2012 Ford F53 have?
NHTSA lists one complaint for the 2012 F53, involving the suspension, wheels and tires area, specifically a missing anti-sway bar bushing bracket and mounting hardware reported at 22,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Ford F53 have a recall?
Yes. Recall 12V035000 covers the transmission and powertrain; Ford dealers replace the transmission selector arm assembly and the PRNDL cable assembly.
How does the 2012 F53 compare to other years?
The 2012 model ranks 15th worst-first out of the years with data, with a Complaint Index of 7, far below years like 2020 (index 100) and 2014 (index 93), which carry Avoid verdicts.

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.