Most common 2012 Ford F-250 problems
Share of the 266 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-250 complaints by model year
Best F-250 years: 2010, 2009, 2007. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 2012, 2011, 2006. Compare all years →
2012 Ford F-250 recalls (1)
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Ford F-250:
Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this RQ to investigate allegations that the scope and remedy of safety recall 13V-535 were inadequate. Recall 13V-535 was limited to a relatively small population of Ambulance Package vehicles and ODI received complaints of pickup trucks and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles being affected by the same defect.
What 2012 Ford F-250 owners say
Suspension all 125 →
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced a death wobble causing the vehicle to violently shake and vibrate. During the failure, the steering column failed as a result the driver lost control of the steering and drove off the road, and crash into a ditch. During the crash, the vehicle sustained damage to the subframe bracket. No injuries were reported. No police report was taken. The vehicle was towed away from the scene. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 206,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that since purchasing of the vehicle, the vehicle experienced the death wobble on two separate occasions. The contact stated that the failures occurred while driving at undisclosed speeds. The contact stated that after driving over bumps on the road the vehicle experienced a violent and uncontrollable shaking without warning. The contact stated that once the vehicle slowed down, the vehicle would resume normal operation. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who replaced the track bar and track bar ball joint; as well as, the front and rear shocks. Despite the repair, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic after the second failure and remained in the possession of the independent mechanic. …
Steering all 112 →
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle drove over a bump and experienced the death wobble. The contact pulled over and slowed down to stabilize the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and repaired, however, the failure recurred. The contact stated the vehicle was repaired six times for the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000. The VIN was not available.
Over 1 year (2025) steering front end shaking began. Our dealership on oil changes did not tell us to watch for anything and we should have been warned. When the shaking occurred we changed Ford shock asborbers from Ford dealership. Problem still occured. We lost faith in Ford and our regular dealership. We then at Moore's tires purchased 4 Michelin premium tires for F250 heavy duty truck and told them about the severe shaking in front end that we will crash because we can't maintain control only to pull off the road with a prayer. Very difficult when this happens on the route 80 highway going 70 mph speed limit. So, Moore's tires store replaced with new tires and replaced some suspension parts thinking they fixed it but not sure. No recall to alert any Ford owners or repair shops... no warnings to anyone. We spent over $7,000. in trying to solve the front end shaking issue. …
Engine & cooling all 39 →
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated while he was stopped at a traffic signal, he smelled a burning plastic smell. The contact observed that smoke was being emitted from under the vehicle's front end. The contact pulled off the road and parked. As he exited the vehicle, he observed that flames were shooting from under the vehicle. The contact stated that in a few minutes, the flames had engulfed the engine compartment. The fire department was called, and the police had also arrived. The fire was extinguished using water. The police did not filed a report. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the engine power was significantly reduced and there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. While starting the vehicle, there was a high-pitched whining sound heard. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and determined there was a failure with the fuel pump. The fuel pumps were replaced 4 times, and the front and rear fuel pressure regulators were replaced several times since 2012. The contact was adding coolant to the vehicle every 2 months. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Ford F-250 a good car?
Based on 266 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 F-250 rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-250 at the same age. It is one of the F-250 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Ford F-250?
The suspension — 125 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the steering (112) and engine & cooling (39).
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford F-250 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Ford F-250, the most recent from December 8, 2011 (automatic transmission). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford F-250?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 2012, 2011 and 2006. See the full Ford F-250 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford F-250 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 34% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.