2012 Ford F-350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
149 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 109 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 149 complaints (44.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 48 | 32.2% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 14.8% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 66 |
| Suspension | 65 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Wheels | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
Steering: 66; Suspension: 65; Engine: 25; Unknown Or Other: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Power Train: 9; Wheels: 9; Service Brakes: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 22 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 22
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 40 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 7 |
2012: 2; 2013: 11; 2014: 9; 2015: 12; 2016: 6; 2017: 3; 2018: 6; 2019: 19; 2020: 22; 2021: 13; 2022: 11; 2023: 17; 2024: 11; 2025: 7
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10606408 · 2014-06-27 (June 27, 2014)
AT 55 MILES AN HOUR ON ROUGH PAVEMENT, THE TRUCK BEGIN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE BACK AND FORTH. THIS SHAKING AND JERKING CAUSED ME TO ENTER INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. IN ORDER TO REGAIN I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTROL THEREBY GETTING THE SPEED DOWN TO 40 MILES AN HOUR. FORD SUGGESTED I CHECKING THE BALL JOINTS AND THE STEERING STABILIZERS. AFTER SPENDING OVER $600 IN PARTS (NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY)AND REPLACING THE WHOLE FRONT END LINKAGE, THE VEHICLE THEN DROVE FINE UNTIL I REACHED ANOTHER 45 THOUSAND MILES OR APPROXIMATELY 90 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10664333 · 2014-12-15 (December 15, 2014)
FIRST INCIDENT AT 20K MILES: AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I CROSSED A BRIDGE JOINT AND THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE HORIZONTAL STEERING STABILIZING SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED. SECOND INCIDENT AT 49K MILES. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE HORIZONTAL STEERING STABILIZING SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED. 99.9 PERCENT OF THE MILES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE ON HIGHWAYS. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT GO OFF-ROAD. THE FAILURE OF THE HORIZONTAL STEERING STABILIZING SHOCK ABSORBER IS A …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10486538 · 2012-11-30 (November 30, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BY TAKING HIS RIGHT FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND APPLIED IT TO THE BRAKE. , THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AT THE SAME SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 620 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 660. UPDATED 01/02…
Owner-reported narrative. 620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509690 · 2013-04-26 (April 26, 2013)
RECURRING EVENT: REAR LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING. SOME OR ALL MAY FAIL AT ANY GIVEN TIME. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANY WEATHER RELATED CONDITION. VEHICLE PLACED IN TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP REPAIR FACILITIES WITH MULTIPLE 'FIXES' BEING MADE. NONE OF THOSE REPAIRS HAS WORKED AS A PERMANENT FIX. THE REAR LIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT NOTICE ON PANEL WARNING SYSTEMS. EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AT NIGHT, IN UNFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND WITH TRAILER TOW. WITH NO REAR LIGHTS THE TRUCK CANNOT BE SEEN BY OTHER APPROACH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10649756 · 2014-10-24 (October 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350. AFTER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,178.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,178 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10664069 · 2014-12-13 (December 13, 2014)
TURBO CHARGER TUBE FAILED AT THE PLASTIC CONNECTION JOINT ON THE TURBO. PLASTIC CONNECTION BROKE CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED. 4-FAILURES IN FLEET TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. ONE TURBO HOSE HAD A CRIMP BAND JOINT FAILURE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A REAR END CRASH ON A TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER. FORD SAID ITS NOT A PROBLEM. 6.7 ENGINE EQUIPPED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507173 · 2013-04-04 (April 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH A WARNING APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH DISPLAYED PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN LIMP MODE. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED THE DEALER STATED THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION DUE TO BAD FUEL FLOWING THROUGH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE FUEL PUMP AND INJECTORS REPLACED. THE FAILURE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11350281 · 2020-08-19 (August 19, 2020)
RUST IN FUEL TANK. WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN WITH ENGINE OVER HEAT. NO LEAKS WHATSOEVER. JUST SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY. SHAME ON FORD!!!
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11350281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10499596 · 2013-02-21 (February 21, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ALLOW THE ENGINE RPMS TO INCREASE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY ENGAGE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THE PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MOST OFTEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505188 · 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK WHILE ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED A LOAD BEHIND THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11290749 · 2019-12-22 (December 22, 2019)
FREQUENTLY ON DAMP AND COLD DAYS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTS MALFUNCTIONING. THE WIPERS FAIL TO WORK. THE LIGHTS (HEAD, PARKING FOG, BLINKERS) ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE TRUCK DON'T WORK. WHEN I REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE TRUCK THE RADIO AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN AFTER I TRY TO LOCK THE DOORS. SOMETIMES THE RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHILE I'M NOT IN THE TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO FREEZE UP AND THE TRUCK PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. WHENEVER THE TRUCK IS TURNED ON THERE IS A LOUD HUMMING NOISE THAT COM…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11290749 at NHTSA ↗