The Lemon Index2012 Ford F-150.
The 2012 Ford F-150 is about average by owner complaints: 694 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 99, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 13 to 19 mpg combined. The best Ford F-150 year is 2007.
Covers the whole F-Series (F-150 plus the F-250/F-350 Super Duty): Ford reports their sales together.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 2,306 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford F-150 year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 28K to 105K miles on the car (1,873 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 45K–130K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 9K–65K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 45K–127K miles
Recalls 5
- transmission & drivetrain 2019
The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
- transmission & drivetrain 2016
The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
- airbags 2012
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 F-150 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 6, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2011.
Show all 5 recalls
- transmission & drivetrain 2012
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. …
- transmission & drivetrain 2011
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 …
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 129 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Noise is coming from rear axle on acceleration, an intermittent clicking or snapping, from stop
- Stumble/misfire intermittently on acceleration from highway cruise in humid or damp conditions
- Some vehicles, with turbochared gasoline direct injection engines, will exhibit flashing…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedUnexpected transmission downshift2017–2019
- ClosedBrake vacuum pump failure2015–2016
- ClosedBrake vacuum pump failure2015
- ClosedVehicle commanded engine shutdown2015–2016
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x4 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x2 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x4 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x2 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400–4950 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.7L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Accelerator would not respond while entering an intersection. The vehicle went into "limp home mode" and the display indicated the vehicle should be repaired immediately.
2012 Ford F-150 owner · NHTSA complaint 10535358
More owner reports
Ecoboost engine sputters and loses power when passing. Engine starts running rough and loses all power. Very dangerous when attempting to pass.
NHTSA complaint 10572642
Vehicle lost power while passing another vehicle. Unable to complete passing maneuver. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed.
NHTSA complaint 10513881
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Ford F-150 reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 99; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford F-150 year by this measure since 2010 is 2025.
What are the most common 2012 Ford F-150 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (47%), transmission & drivetrain (18%) and speed control (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford F-150 have?
5 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford F-150 get?
13 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Ford F-150 safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford F-150 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 28,700 and 105,000 miles. The middle report was at 64,000 miles, from 1,873 complaints.
Does the 2012 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 18% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Ford F-150 cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 to $4950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Ford F-150 have?
3.5L 6-cyl, 3.7L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
What Ford F-150 year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2010 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works