Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Ford F-550
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Ford F-550 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 13 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14V498000 PTO Pressure Switch Oil Leak may Result in Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V040000 Broken CNG Tank Brackets NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V535000 Ambulance Engine Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V380000 Insufficient Tailpipe Length NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V582000 TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 9 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
- Service Brakes 2 complaints
- Electrical System 1 complaint
- Engine and Engine Cooling 1 complaint
- Fuel System, Gasoline 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $10,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Ford F-550 has a below-average reliability due to several recalls, notably on its engine and transmission. Complaints mainly concern the engine, with additional issues in brakes and fuel systems, suggesting potential costly repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50,000-70,000 miles | $1,000–$4,000 | common |
| Exhaust System | 40,000-60,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | common |
| Transmission | 60,000-80,000 miles | $1,500–$5,000 | 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 change
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
- Timing belt inspection
- Differential fluid change
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual engine noises
- Exhaust odor in cabin
- Transmission slipping
- Reduced power on acceleration
- Excessive braking noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Ford F-550 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.