U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Ford F-250 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

266 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

79,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 197 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 120 of 266 complaints (45.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	73	27.4%
Braking behavior	43	16.2%
Engine operation	14	5.3%
Transmission and shifting	6	2.3%
Fuel system concerns	6	2.3%
Electrical and battery issues	4	1.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Suspension

120

Steering

112

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Wheels

Electrical System

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train

Suspension: 120; Steering: 112; Engine: 27; Unknown Or Other: 25; Wheels: 16; Electrical System: 15; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Power Train: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 46; 150,000 and above: 30

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 69 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 13; 2014: 18; 2015: 19; 2016: 15; 2017: 17; 2018: 17; 2019: 25; 2020: 47; 2021: 38; 2022: 20; 2023: 10; 2024: 8; 2025: 10; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 73 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10503219 · 2013-03-15 (March 15, 2013)

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, TRUCK HIT IRREGULARITIES IN THE ROAD. VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE SLOWED TO 10-15 MPH BEFORE THE SHAKING STOPPED. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY OCCURRED ON THIS INCIDENT. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND TRACK BAR ASSY / BUSHING WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND SERIOUS INCIDENT WAS @ 48,000 MILES A MERE 11,000 MILES LATER. WHILE TRAVELING 55-60 MPH THROUGH A LEFT HAND CURVE AND CROSSING ANOTHER IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD (BRIDGE-PAVEMENT JOINT) THE TRUCK AGAIN BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503219 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10559219 · 2014-01-09 (January 9, 2014)

I WAS SAFELY OPERATING MY FORD F 250 ON A CONCRETE BRIDGE IN PINE ISLAND FLORIDA . I WAS TRAVELING @ 63 MPH AND WAS MAKING A SLIGHT LEFT BEND . THE TRUCK CROSSED AN EXPANSION JOINT AND WENT INTO UNCONTROLLABLE VIOLENT OSCILLATION OF SUSPENSION AND STEERING . THE OSCILLATION WAS SUCH THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO HOLD ON TO AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS MULTIPLE FLAT TIRES OR A WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE . HARD BRAKING TO UNDER 30 MPH WAS WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO STABILIZE STEERING TO "NORMAL" . THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED AND I DIS…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559219 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10497702 · 2013-02-11 (February 11, 2013)

I DROVE THRU 12" OF SNOW ON MY ROAD TO MY HOME. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKING POWER AT ALL. I CHECKED IF THERE WAS ANY LEAKS AND THERE WERE NONE. THE TEMP WAS ABOUT 20 DEGREES AT THIS TIME. I WAITED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE TEMP WAS AT 30 DEGREES AND TRIED THE BRAKES AGAIN AND THEY WERE AT FULL STRENGTH. I CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY NEVER HEARD OF PROBLEM BEFORE. I CALLED FORD CUST CARE DEPT AND DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DUPLICATE THE BRAKE ISSUE TO REPAIR IT.. AT THIS…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10497702 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10498421 · 2013-02-17 (February 17, 2013)

TRAVELING ON BUMPY ROADS AT 55 TO 60 MPH THE FRONT END WILL START TO SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY THAT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL I HAD TO BRAKE AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN A DAY AND I TOOK THE TRUCK INTO A FORD DEALER IN MINNESOTA. THIS DEALERSHIP PUT A DAMPENER ON THE FRONT END AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SOLVED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN IN JAN OF 2013. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SHAKE AND I FEEL IT WILL CAUSE A ACCIDENT IF NOT RESOLVED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498421 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10469346 · 2012-08-06 (August 6, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS OVERHEATING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND ULTIMATELY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469346 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10503634 · 2013-03-19 (March 19, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER THIRTY MINUTES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600. ...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF UPDATED 05…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503634 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10526028 · 2013-07-21 (July 21, 2013)

I STARTED THE TRUCK ONE MORNING TO HEAD TO CHURCH PUT THE TRUCK IN (D) DRIVE HEADED OUT DOWN THE HWY PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN ON THE WAY WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE REVIVED UP REAL HIGH BUT THE TRUCK DIDN'T MOVE AND ABOUT THE TIME I STARTED TO LET OFF, THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKED AND TOOK OFF AND SHIFTED WEIRD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. THE TRUCK HAS RESPONDED TWO OTHER TIMES IN THE VERY SAME WAY ONCE GOING ABOUT 40MPH IT REACTED LIKE THE TRUCK SHIFTED IN NEUTRAL. FORD DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PUMP IN TRANSMISSION, I…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,729 miles reported. Look up ODI 10526028 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10548527 · 2013-10-19 (October 19, 2013)

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I START TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE MY FOOT TRAVELS HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE AND START TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY AND RESIDENTIAL DRIVING. MADE MY CONCERNS KNOWN TO FORD DEALER BUT I GET A PRINTOUT OF HOW "NEW" BRAKES WORK. WHEN I MADE IT CLEAR TO AVOID ACCIDENTS I HAD TO PUMP BRAKES IN ORDER TO ENGAGE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE, DEALER AGAIN INDICATES THAT IS THE WAY IT IS TO WORK. HAD DEALER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CLIMBED INTO TRUCK AND DEPRESS BRAKES WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548527 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10609630 · 2014-07-10 (July 10, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT DIESEL FLUID WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,799 AND THE CUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11160802 · 2018-12-11 (December 11, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT FOUND METAL SHRAPNEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, WHICH TRAVELED TO THE ENGINE. MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,180.

Owner-reported narrative. 188,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 11160802 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11417757 · 2021-05-19 (May 19, 2021)

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSULATION BURNED OFF THE WIRES FROM THE PASSENGER’S TO THE DRIVER’S SIDE CAUSING THE DOOR LOCKS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 83,404 miles reported. Look up ODI 11417757 at NHTSA ↗