Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-150, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train682
- Engine483
- Steering204
- Vehicle speed control194
- Electrical system173
- Service brakes124
- Unknown or other119
- Visibility/wiper95
- Fuel/propulsion system84
- Air bags37
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 29 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 217 2012 F-150 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 70 people died inside them, and 29 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2012 Ford F-150 failed the safety check 2.34% of the time — 7% less often than the average 2012 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 127,156 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 23 variants: combined 12.6–19.7 L/100 km (about 12–19 mpg US), CO₂ 272–414 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-150 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.3 | 10.5 | 12.6 |
| F-150 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.3 | 10.5 | 12.6 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.6 | 12.7 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.6 | 12.7 |
| F-150 FFV 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.0 | 11.4 | 13.4 |
| F-150 FFV 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.0 | 11.4 | 13.4 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 11.3 | 13.7 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 11.3 | 13.7 |
| F-150 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 11.4 | 13.7 |
| F-150 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 11.4 | 13.7 |
| F-150 FFV 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.6 | 12.3 | 14.7 |
| F-150 FFV 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.7 | 12.3 | 14.7 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.7 | 13.4 | 16.3 |
| F-150 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 19.3 | 14.2 | 17.0 |
| F-150 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 19.3 | 14.2 | 17.0 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 20.4 | 14.9 | 17.9 |
| F-150 Raptor 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 20.4 | 15.0 | 18.0 |
| F-150 FFV 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 20.3 | 15.3 | 18.1 |
| F-150 FFV 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 20.3 | 15.3 | 18.1 |
| F-150 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 20.8 | 15.4 | 18.4 |
| F-150 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 20.8 | 15.4 | 18.4 |
| F-150 FFV 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 22.1 | 16.6 | 19.6 |
| F-150 FFV 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 22.1 | 16.7 | 19.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2012 Ford F-150.
| 2019065 12 Feb 2019 | Powertrain Issue: On some trucks, a sensor problem may cause the transmission to suddenly downshift to first gear. This could cause the rear wheels to suddenly slow and p… |
| 2017246 8 May 2017 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with 3.5L V6 GTDI EcoBoost engines, the electric vacuum pump (EVP) may fail due to moisture entry through the engine vacuum harness… |
| 2016183 26 Apr 2016 | Powertrain Certain vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission may experience an intermittent loss of the Transmission Output-shaft Speed Sensor (OSS) signal t… |
| 2012149 1 May 2012 | Powertrain Certain vehicles may have been equipped with an incorrectly manufactured Transmission Range Sensor. In some instances, when the shift lever is placed in the "R… |
| 2012150 1 May 2012 | Airbag Certain vehicles may have been equipped with incorrect Occupant Classification System software. In some instances, these vehicles could temporarily experience … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 F-150 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 6, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2011. INCORRECT SOFTWARE FOR THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MODULE (OCSM) WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES EITHER AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING OR DURING THE COURSE OF REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE AS PART OF A SERVICE REPAIR. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE OCSM MAY MISCLASSIFY THE PASSENGER SEATS OCCUPANT SUCH THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD, DOES NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED, OR DEPLOYS WHEN IT SHOULD NOT.
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 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2012 Ford F-150: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11008948 | While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. |
| 11005305 | This article supersedes TSB 22-2219 to update the Parts List and Service Procedure to clarify applicable steps by vehicle application. Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE). To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to remove and cap the vacuum supply line or to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components. |
| 10254138 | All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad, the accessory keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is lost, follow these steps to recover the code. Dealer Key Code access is granted through the Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES); dealership managemen |
| 10251951 | Some 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. It is often referred to as typewriter noise because of its similarity to the sound of a mechanical typewriter. The noise in question may be heard on some engines when engine temperatures reach 150F (65C) or higher and engine speed is at idle up to approximately 1700 RPM. It can typically be heard at the front wheel well and is often isolated to the transmission bell housing or oil pan area. The typewriter noise tick rate can be faster |
| 10235153 | For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are |
| 10214754 | Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE). To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to remove and cap the vacuum supply line or to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components. |
| 10205031 | Touchscreen navigation system - arabic language - blank screen |
| 10204989 | Online automotive service information system for April 2016-AM/FM/CD or sync with a 4.2 inch screen may exhibit a blank screen and no a;udio after a crank event. |
| 10204987 | 49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - March 2016 Air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B141B and/or B141C |
| 10204986 | 49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016 |
| 10201087 | This program extends the warranty coverage of the automatic transmission molded leadframe to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. This is a one-time repair program. |
| 10201086 | This program extends the warranty coverage of the automatic transmission molded leadframe to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. This is a one-time repair program. |
| 10191525 | Some 2011-2021 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. It is often referred to as typewriter noise because of its similarity to the sound of a mechanical typewriter. The noise in question may be heard on some engines when engine temperatures reach 150F (65C) or higher and engine speed is at idle up to approximately 1700 RPMs. It can typically be heard at the front wheel well and is often isolated to the transmission bell housing or oil pan area. The typewriter noise is not detrimental to the engine function or durab |
| 10189007 | This SKU is a Turbocharger. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the sealing plugs. If the plug isn't sealing properly it may lead to a oil leak. If the oil leak persists it can lead to the oil check light coming on. |
| 10189006 | This SKU is a Turbocharger. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the sealing plugs. If the plug isn't sealing properly it may lead to a oil leak. If the oil leak persists it can lead to the oil check light coming on. |
| 10189002 | This SKU is a Power Window Regulator and Motor Assembly. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the software. The software may be too sensitive to the position of a locating magnet in the assembly causing the activation of the pinch point threshold prematurely. The window will stay open when it should have closed. |
| 10183767 | Some 2012-2016 vehicles equipped with a touchscreen navigation system and the language set to Arabic may exhibit a blank screen. This may be the result of the ribbon cables not being fully seated inside the front display interface module (FDIM) or an improper software configuration of the FDIM. |
| 10183669 | Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year F-150 and 2012- 2013 Model Year Expedition/Navigator Vehicles Equipped with A 6R80 Transmission Transmission Molded Leadframe Extended Coverage In some of the affected vehicles, an output shaft speed (OSS) sensor failure may result in an illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) and/or wrench light in the instrument cluster with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0720, P0722, P0731 and/or P1500 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). |
| 10183567 | For 2011-2020 F-150/Mustang vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine when installing a replacement secondary timing chain tensioner (6K254) or secondary timing chain guide (6K297), it is necessary to replace both components as a pair, using the latest level parts. Make sure to use secondary timing chain tensioner part number ML3Z-6K254-A and secondary timing chain guide part number ML3Z-6K297-A. |
| 10181917 | Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with TOD transfer cases may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE). To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to remove and cap the vacuum supply line. |
| 10177863 | This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. |
| 10172885 | This SKU is an Oil Dipstick. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the dipstick tube. The dipstick tube inner diameter may be small enough that it prevents installation of the OE dipstick. |
| 10172884 | This SKU is a Power Window Regulator and Motor Assembly. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the software. The software may be too sensitive to the position of a locating magnet in the assembly causing the activation of the pinch point threshold prematurely. The window will stay open when it should have closed. |
| 10164508 | Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. This is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash solutions as a cleaning agent. Hydrofluoric acid can attack the glass and cause visual distortion and/or discoloration on the outer surface which cannot be removed by further cleaning. If this type of distortion is found, inspect the area of the glass that is covered by the cowl and/or molding. The portion of glass that is covered by the cowl or molding will not be affected by the acid. Hydrofluoric acid d |
| 10164497 | For Ford and Lincoln vehicles that require positive or negative battery terminal replacement, it is not necessary to replace the complete battery cable harness (14300 and 14301) for this concern. Positive battery cable clamp BT4Z-14450-AA and negative battery cable clamp BT4Z-14450-BA are available for this type of repair. Do not cut or shorten the battery cable, instead carefully remove the affected battery cable clamp and clean the cable end as necessary to preserve wire length. Some rework may be necessary for some vehicle environments. Bend the new positive battery cable clamp as needed an |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Unexpected Transmission Downshift
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
Reduced power during hard acceleration
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation