2012 Ford F-250 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (97) · Steering (31) · Engine (17)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-250 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
197 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2011-12-08 · campaign 11V582000 · 16,091 vehicles
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 F-150 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 F-250, F-350, F-450 AND F-550 HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 12, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2011. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 114, THEFT PROTECTION. THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL DUE TO BRAKE SHIFT INTE
Risk: THIS WILL ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO INADVERTENTLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR INJURY TO A NEARBY PEDESTRIAN.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SWITCH FUNCTION AND REPLACE THE SWITCH IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Service bulletins (15)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-24 · 24L05 · Other
certain 2011-2022 model year super duty vehicles equipped with 6.7l engine - emission control information label update for qualified vehicles
Fuel System, Diesel 2018-07-03 · tsb18-2190 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2011-2012 f-250/f-350 and 2011-2015 f-450/f-550 vehicles equipped with a 6.7l diesel engine built on or before 9-dec-2014 may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (mil) with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p2043, p205c and/or p205d. follow the service procedure steps to correct the
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2016-09-21 · SSM 46085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the powertrain control/emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (etbs). the etc_act and etc_dsd pids should not used to diagnose possible etb concerns. the ids has a limited refresh rate when reading these pids and cannot display quickly enough to
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2016-04-20 · TSB160066 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
touchscreen navigation system - arabic language - blank screen
Electrical System 2016-04-20 · 16-0066 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Steering 2016-01-12 · PC-01.12.2016 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in monitoring our technical service inquiries and technical service bulletins from ford, there is the potential for moderate to severe steering wheel oscillation (wobble) to occur. after extensive testing and outside feedback, the following details have been established to correct or prevent steer
Showing the 6 most recent of 15 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-03 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 477,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2012 ford f-250. the contact stated that they discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. the vehicle was a private sale. at the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 141,000. it was later discovered upon checking carfax, that the mileage was 477,000.…”
2026-04-21 · Suspension“over 1 year (2025) steering front end shaking began. our dealership on oil changes did not tell us to watch for anything and we should have been warned. when the shaking occurred we changed ford shock asborbers from ford dealership. problem still occured. we lost faith in ford and our regular dealership. we then at moore's tires purchased 4 michel…”
2026-04-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System“cp4 pump continuous failure sending metal into the fuel system. ford still uses an inferior product causing truck owners up to $18000 in repairs.…”
2026-03-16 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 330,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2012 ford f-250. the contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. the vehicle was a private sale. at the time of purchase, the mileage was 219,825 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was over 330,000.…”
2025-12-08 · Steering“i bought this truck used from a dealership in 2022-23 haven't really had any problems till about 2 months ago. front end started a wobble. a friend of mine just sent me information nhtsa put out about the death wobble. i believe it expired in 2024. i never received any kind of recall on this. i was wondering if it would still be something i could g…”
2025-07-23 · Power Train“i just had to replace the ecm because it fired. after replacing that it still won't start. i've talked to multiple people who have had the same problem.…”
2025-07-07 · Power Train · 27,500 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford f-250. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine seizure due to coolant intrusion in the engine. the contact stated that while the dealer was in the process of replacing the engine, the dealer informed the contact that the transmission also needed t…”
2025-07-02 · Structure:body“i purchased this truck new in 2013 and it has only been serviced by ford, except for an air lift suspension kit install to allow load leveling when towing. low miles: 54484 actual. no collision damage, original paint. date of repair:06/25/2025. jenkins ford ro#[xxx]. my truck has a supercab (extended cab) with short rear doors that open to the re…”
2025-06-09 · Fuel/Propulsion System“it keeps throwing a check engine light for miss fire but ive replaced all of the ignition and fuel parts and it keeps happening now its loosing power and getting hot for no reason.…”
2025-05-08 · Structure · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford f-250. the contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the rear end of the vehicle seemed to be falling apart. the contact stated that the failure was due to the cab mount bushing. there were no warning lights illuminated. the local dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufactu…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.