2012 Ford F-450 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (3) · Fuel/Propulsion System (2) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-450 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Equipment 2014-08-13 · campaign 14V498000 · 3 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Engine 2013-10-30 · campaign 13V535000 · 2,951 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 F-350/450/550 Ambulance Package vehicles manufactured February 22, 2010, through October 19, 2012 and equipped with a 6.7L diesel engine. Due to an exhaust sensor problem, the vehicles may experience loss of power followed by an engine stall.
Risk: An unexpected engine stall increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, if this were to occur when the ambulance is transporting a patient, there is an increased risk of injury to the patient.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the exhaust gas temperature sensor, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S10.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2013-08-23 · campaign 13V380000 · 37 vehicles
Defect: Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 gasoline engined dual rear wheel chassis vehicles manufactured October 2011 through June 2012. The tailpipe on the exhaust system does not extend out beyond the edge of the body, allowing heat to build up in rear curbside storage compartment.
Risk: Excessive heat build up in rear compartment could result in fire.
Fix: Manning Equipment has notified owners, and dealers will install tailpipe extensions free of charge. The recall has already begun. Owners may contact Manning Equipment at 1-502-426-5210.
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.
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
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.
Engine 2015-08-10 · TSB15-0124 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: 2011-2014 f-super duty vehicles equipped with 6.7l diesel engine may experience a running rough or misfire during exhaust regeneration process *cn
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls 2015-07-01 · 44863 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: no service action is recommended for this condition. please use at your discretion. various 2010-2015 vehicles may experience a turbulence noise, similar to an helicopter noise, at highway speeds when the rear door window(s) or sunroof are open. *ta
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel 2015-01-09 · 44848 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: certain 2011-2015 ford f-super duty with 6.7 diesel engines may experience a vibration buzz noise from the diesel fuel conditioning module (dfcm) and/or may 10/1/1 pressure fuel lines w/o diagnostic trouble code poosa. *ta
Showing the 6 most recent of 15 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-03-09 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 98,188 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford f-450. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle failed to restart and was towed back to the residence. an independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the vehicle with fuel pump failure. the contact…”
2020-11-23 · Engine · 67,911 mi“key in ignition circuit is open - engine light on ' fixd indicates inspection issue.…”
2020-02-21 · Fuel/Propulsion System“we have to replace our fuel tank because the lining has delaminated. we have already had to replace the engine which may have been a result of the lining deterioration.…”
2019-04-23 · Engine · 38,500 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford f-450. while driving 40 mph, the vehicle began to stall and the check engine and oil pressure warning indicators illuminated. the contact was able to park the vehicle on the side of the road as it stalled and turned off. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and then to bayshore ford truck sales (located …”
2016-06-08 · Unknown Or Other · 63,000 mi“i took my ford f-450 lariat for its 60,000 miles service. after the service was done, while driving it home from the ford dealership (autonation ford in corpus christi, tx), on the freeway as soon as i got to around 50 miles per hour the vehicle's front started to shake/wobble very violently. speeding up to the speed limit (60 mph) did not help a…”
2016-06-02 · Engine · 75,000 mi“while transporting a patient to the hospital the engine on our 2012 ford ambulance suddenly and without warning derated. this caused our ambulance to slow dramatically and delayed transport to the hospital. we brought the ambulance to the dealer who stated the entire def system would need to be replaced at a cost of $5,000! i researching the in…”
2016-05-28 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 36,220 mi“1/28/14- hpfp metal shavings found after engine power down, all fuel system replaced. after only a few months (4/10/14) same thing. on 4/25/16 same thing. no warrant. ford knows this has been ongoing issue, refuses to warranty while other mfg, ie vw does cover same part. i would welcome class action suit.…”
2016-05-05 · Unknown Or Other“while driving down a parkway at the speed limit, we traveled over several bridges and all of a sudden after hitting a rough spot in the road and over the bridges the truck began to shake violently and we had to almost come to a stop to hold it in the road. it continued to do this almost every time we hit a bump in the road. we had just recently bou…”
2015-12-04 · Unknown Or Other · 65,378 mi“driving down the highway in the rain truck started shaking could not hold steering wheel . truck started going sideways on highway from shaking/ wobble. truck shuts off driving down the road with no warning no steering or brakes towing equipment. i have had my 1 year old daughter in truck almost in a accident 2 times now from trucks death wobble an…”
2015-10-03 · Unknown Or Other · 109,000 mi“i was driving along my 2012 ford f450superduty turbo diesel along the interstate 495 dc beltway in maryland with my seven year old son in the back seat, when a lcd in the middle of the speedometer gave a warning which read "reduced power" and could immediately feel a reduced responsiveness of the truck to the accelerator. a moment later another sig…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.