Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2012 Ford F-150 Regular CAB — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Ford F-150 Regular CAB year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model (naming may differ or it predates EPA records).
4 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2012 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x4
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The parts named most often across 1,717 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
5 crashes · 6 injured
3 crashes · 2 fires
2 crashes
9 crashes · 1 injured
1 fire
2 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
2 complaint-reported fatalities on this model.
Vehicle rolls backwards OR potentially forwards intermittently depending on direction of incline. Have only observed it rolling backwards. When changing gears, above third gear usually, there is a resonant grumbling sound.
The transmission made a noise of metal and all electrical when out while driving but the engine stay on but no power to the road. yes its available. my car loss all power electrical and power to the road, had to put off to the side on the road and turn the truck off and on again. The problem has been reproduced but not confirmed by a dealer. I have done a existential look of the under and power train and cant see everything out of place. yes like every warning light when on seconds before all power when out. has never done that before.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 27,000.
Vehicle is downshifting unexpectedly into 2nd gear. Rear tires momentarily lock up and the engine RPM’s go extremely high. This behavior is causing potential accidents to happen.
The backup camera is spuratic in its operations. It works sometimes, but then it goes blank on the screen, or flutters. Also some times the screen shows clear picture, but the picture is 180 degrees out. What is on the left of the truck shows on the screen as on the right.
The cam phasers are in need of changing. Ford has acknowledged they are aware of the problems with the 3.5 Ecoboost engine but will not take responsibility and repair them. I definitely can not pay for this type of tepair
The backup camera intermittently work then gose dark and won't come back on it dose it while backing up
My truck started to skid as I was making a left turn. I wasn't going fast enough to skid. I then noticed the idiot light was on so I took it in for an estimate. I was told that the truck needed a power steering rack and the cost would be around $3000.00 I arranged for the repair. Truck mileage was 101051.
Three of my four doors sporadically fail to close and latch. When I open the door the latch does not fully open, so when I try to close the door the latch prevents it from closing. Maybe it is just normal wear and tear, but I understand there was a recall for something with latches on this era of f-150s, and my VIN is not part of that. I'm reporting this in case it's useful information and in case it indicates the recall should be expanded. So far I have been able to use a screwdriver to push the latch open, and the door will close and latch after that. I can not replicate this consistently.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the timing chain and valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from a higher gear into a lower gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and DTC: P0721 (Output speed Sensor Circuit Range/Performance; TCM)was displayed. The contact was informed that the transmission leadframe was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 110,458 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 174,000.
Showing 12 of 1,717 complaints.