Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Ford F-250
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Ford F-250 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 266 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V582000 TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 125 complaints
- Steering 112 complaints
- Engine 27 complaints
- Unknown or Other 25 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Wheels 16 complaints
Of the 266 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 266 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$20,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Ford F-250 shows several issues with a high number of complaints related to suspension and steering, but limited recall campaigns. This suggests recurring problems but an overall lack of manufacturer-initiated fixes. Complaints are notably high in specific areas, indicating patterns of failure. Given the significant concerns in critical systems, this vehicle demonstrates a below-average reliability outlook.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 50,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Steering | 60,000–90,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | common |
| Engine | 70,000–120,000 miles | $2,000–$7,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections and pads
- Cooling system flushes
- Transmission fluid changes
- Suspension checks
- Steering alignment
- Tire rotations
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering stiffness
- Suspension noise
- Engine misfires
- Transmission shifting issues
- Electrical failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Ford F-250 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.