2012 Ford F-150: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Ford F-150: 4 recalls, 1783 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
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Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Exterior lights, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #12V190000 · 2012 · 10,500 vehicles
What's wrong: 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 âlamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.â these vehicles May have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.
Why it matters: If this condition exists, the transmission May not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse ârâ position and the vehicleâs transmission does go in reverse, the ârâ May not illuminate on the dashboard of the f-150, expedition, or navigator models and/or the…
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on June 11, 2012.
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V198000 · 2012 · 101 vehicles
What's wrong: Incorrect software for the occupant classification system module (ocsm) was installed on the vehicles either at the time of manufacturing or during the course of replacement of the module as part of a service repair. Under certain driving conditions, the ocsm May misclassify the passenger seatâs occupant such that the passenger side airbag does not deploy when it should, does not deploy as intended, or deploys when…
Why it matters: A failure to deploy, failure to deploy as intended, or a deployment when not intended, increases the risk of injury to the passenger side seat occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ocsm free of charge. The safety recall began on May 21, 2012.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V248000 · 2016 · 153,581 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that May unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Why it matters: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires May slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #19V075000 · 2019 · 1,263,051 vehicles
What's wrong: The transmission May unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Why it matters: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear May result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 14 mention a fire, 29 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (681): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (447), warning light on (189), stalls / loses power (96).
- Engine (483): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (190), warning light on (134).
- Steering (204): the most common themes are steering problems (185), warning light on (51), noise or vibration (29).
- Speed control / throttle (194): the most common themes are warning light on (42), stalls / loses power (40).
The 2012 Ford F-150 has 1783 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 37 F-150 model years for complaints (1.7× the average F-150 year). Complaints peaked in 2013 (240 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 63,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (2191 complaints, 6 recalls), 2013 (2987 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Regular |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Ford F-150.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Ford F-150 problems?
Owners have filed 1783 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (681), engine (483), steering (204).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford F-150 get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.7 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 14 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Ford F-150 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.