FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES, DURING A PROGRAMMABLE MODULE INSTALLATION (PMI) OF ANTI LOCK BRAKE (ABS) MODULE AN IDS ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS, IF IDS SESSION STARTED WITH NEW ABS MODULE CONNECT. MODELS 2010-2013 F-150.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Ford F-150 brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Ford F-150 have filed 108 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 65,299 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
108
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 F-150 | 28 |
| 2009 F-150 | 25 |
| 2010 F-150 | 44 |
| 2011 F-150 | 143 |
| 2012 F-150 (this page) | 108 |
| 2013 F-150 | 310 |
| 2014 F-150 | 287 |
| 2015 F-150 | 270 |
| 2016 F-150 | 296 |
9crashes
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 108 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2012 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2012 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 108 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 85 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 41,000 and 105,000 miles, with the median around 65,299. A quarter of owners report trouble before 41,000; a quarter make it past 105,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Ford/F-150.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.