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The 2012 Ford F-150 has 1,717 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 4 active recall campaigns.
The 2012 Ford F-150 has 1,717 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 617 complaints (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 F-150 | 324 | 2 |
| 2010 F-150 | 842 | 1 |
| 2011 F-150 | 2,137 | 6 |
| 2012 F-150 (this page) | 1,717 | 4 |
| 2013 F-150 | 2,796 | 3 |
| 2014 F-150 | 1,362 | 8 |
| 2015 F-150 | 1,425 | 14 |
The problems owners report most, open recalls, and the mileage where failures cluster — straight from the NHTSA record, in seconds.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the brakes was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: brakes is flagged severe on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
The paint is bubbling and has severe corrosion on the body and frame. There is issues with using the rear door due to the rust.
My vehicle has code p0722 for the output speed sensor. The problem description matches safety recall 16s19 but my VIN does not show up for this recall. It appears the recall needs to be expanded.
My f150 started to drop in to 1st gear unexpectedly when driving at at speeds greater than 50mph. At first the check engine light did not come on and mechanic could not find a source now I am getting engine codes p0720 and p0722. When I tried to investigate I found that this has…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford f-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 80 MPH, there was a sudden loss of engine power and the vehicle began to shake violently. The check engine warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.
A failure to deploy, failure to deploy as intended, or a deployment when not intended, increases the risk of injury to the passenger side seat occupant.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.6 out of 10 based on 1,717 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Ford F-150 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2012 Ford F-150 is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the brakes was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 7 fire-related complaints on the electrical system; Brakes: 108 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 5.6/10 — around the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 617 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 5.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 1,717 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 617 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,717 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.