try.vin
Log in

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Ford F-150 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2012 Ford F-150 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,717 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Ford F-150, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2012 Ford F-150 owner complaints

Owners have filed 1,717 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-150, describing incidents dated January 3, 2011 to July 15, 2025.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 642 complaints
  • Engine 488 complaints
  • Steering 197 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 188 complaints
  • Electrical System 163 complaints
  • Service Brakes 136 complaints

Of the 1,717 complaints on file, 37 report a crash and 14 a fire; across all 1,717 complaints, owners report 26 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11675725 · Filed

    Vehicle rolls backwards OR potentially forwards intermittently depending on direction of incline. Have only observed it rolling backwards. When changing gears, above third gear usually, there is a resonant grumbling sound.

  • ODI #11674180 · Filed

    The transmission made a noise of metal and all electrical when out while driving but the engine stay on but no power to the road. yes its available. my car loss all power electrical and power to the road, had to put off to the side on the road and turn the truck off and on again. The problem has…

  • ODI #11673875 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of…

Read all 1,717 complaints

Owner-reported

2012 Ford F-150 mileage at failure

1,434 of the 1,717 complaints on file for the 2012 Ford F-150 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Power TrainMedian 95,000 milesMiddle half 55,000–135,000 milesBased on 520 complaints
EngineMedian 25,000 milesMiddle half 9,000–70,000 milesBased on 442 complaints
SteeringMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–115,000 milesBased on 162 complaints
Vehicle Speed ControlMedian 30,000 milesMiddle half 11,000–85,000 milesBased on 161 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 45,000–125,000 milesBased on 133 complaints
Service BrakesMedian 70,000 milesMiddle half 45,000–110,000 milesBased on 108 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Ford F-150 in 4 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Unexpected Transmission Downshift

NHTSA #19V075000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM) · NHTSA notice

Reported February 11, 2019 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 1,263,051 vehicles

Repair completion: 59.96% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 19S07 · Owners notified March 4, 2019 · Vehicles built April 28, 2010 – November 18, 2013 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S07.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Unexpected Transmission Downshift

NHTSA #16V248000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported April 27, 2016 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 153,581 vehicles

Repair completion: 68.92% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 16S19 · Owners notified September 16, 2016 · Vehicles built February 11, 2011 – January 31, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

"PRNDL" ILLUMINATION AND BACKUP LAMP ACTIVATION

NHTSA #12V190000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM) · NHTSA notice

Reported May 3, 2012 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 10,500 vehicles

Ford campaign 12C23 · Owners notified June 11, 2012 · Vehicles built October 13, 2011 – February 27, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE “R” POSITION AND THE VEHICLE’S TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE “R” MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, OR NAVIGATOR MODELS AND/OR THE BACKUP LAMP ON THE REAR OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, OR MUSTANG VEHICLES MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. THESE CONDITIONS INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR A PEDESTRIAN BEING STRUCK DUE TO THE VEHICLE’S NOT SIGNALING IT IS IN REVERSE.

Manufacturer remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes

FORD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 12C23.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

NHTSA #12V198000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported May 3, 2012 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 101 vehicles

Ford campaign 12S31 · Owners notified May 30, 2012 · Vehicles built November 6, 2011 – November 15, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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 SEAT’S OCCUPANT SUCH THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD, DOES NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED, OR DEPLOYS WHEN IT SHOULD NOT.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCSM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes

FORD'S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 12S31.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Ford F-150 model years

Check your 2012 Ford F-150 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford F-150 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Ford VIN