NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Ford F-550 Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Ford F-550 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 13 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-550. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 Ford F-550 owner complaints

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-550, describing incidents dated October 5, 2012 to May 17, 2024.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 10 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
  • Service Brakes 2 complaints
  • Electrical System 1 complaint
  • Power Train 1 complaint
  • Steering 1 complaint

Of the 13 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire; across all 13 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11590361 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-550 chassis with an Earth Roamer RV. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the turbocharger needle on the instrument cluster fell to zero. The…

  • ODI #11462602 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-550. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact made multiple attempts to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle repeatedly failed to start up. Due to the failure, the contact called the dealer and…

  • ODI #11354215 · Filed

    WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON TRAIL IT WAS NOTICED THAT SMOKE AND FIRE WERE COMING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH THE VEHICLE SUPPLIED FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AFTER THE EXTINGUISHER RAN OUT THE VEHICLE FIRE ACCELERATED AND TOTALLY ENGULFED THE VEHICLE.*DT*JB

Read all 13 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Ford F-550 in 2 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

PTO Pressure Switch Oil Leak may Result in Fire

NHTSA #14V498000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported August 13, 2014 · PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment Co.

Potentially affected: 3 vehicles

Repair completion: 0% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified November 12, 2014 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

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.

Broken CNG Tank Brackets

NHTSA #14V040000 · Fuel System, Other — Storage — Tank Assembly — Mounting · NHTSA notice

Reported February 6, 2014 · Almared, Inc.

Potentially affected: 18 vehicles

Owners notified January 10, 2014 · Vehicles built May 1, 2011 – April 13, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Almared, Inc., dba A-1 Alternative Fuel Systems, is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-550 transit buses manufactured May 2011 through April 2013, altered to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). In the affected vehicles, the brackets securing the passenger side CNG fuel tank may break.

Safety consequence

If the brackets break, the CNG tank may separate from the vehicle frame increasing the risk of a crash or possible fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Almared, Inc. has notified owners and all affected vehicles have been remedied, free of charge. Owners may contact Almared at 1-559-485-4427.

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.

Ambulance Engine Stall

NHTSA #13V535000 · Engine · NHTSA notice

Reported October 30, 2013 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 2,951 vehicles

Repair completion: 87.66% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 13S10 · Owners notified November 25, 2013

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

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.

Insufficient Tailpipe Length

NHTSA #13V380000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe · NHTSA notice

Reported August 23, 2013 · Manning Equipment Inc. LLC

Potentially affected: 37 vehicles

Owners notified July 24, 2013 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Excessive heat build up in rear compartment could result in fire.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

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.

TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER

NHTSA #11V582000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported December 8, 2011 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 16,091 vehicles

Ford campaign 11C21 · Owners notified December 22, 2011 · Vehicles built September 12, 2011 – September 22, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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 INTERLOCK SWITCH PROBLEM.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Ford F-550 model years

Check your 2012 Ford F-550 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford F-550 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Ford VIN