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#BS-2012-FORF25-5427

2012 Ford F-250Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 520 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
520
Crashes
8
Fires
8
Recalls
2
TSBs
151
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 520 complaints, 8 crashes, 8 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

death wobble

4 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

ac not working

2 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX
3

coolant hose leak

2 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
4

turbo failure

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
5

death wooble at 50 mph

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SuspensionHIGH

134 owners reported suspension issues — failures commonly reported around 68K miles.

!Inspect the SteeringMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

84
0–30K
103
30–60K
65
60–90K
48
90–120K
50
120–150K
53
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (103 reports) • Median: 68K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Suspension (134 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Suspension134 (26%)
Steering130 (25%)
Engine47 (9%)
Other28 (5%)
Electrical25 (5%)
Wheels & Tires25 (5%)
Fuel System25 (5%)
Drivetrain17 (3%)

2012 Ford F-250: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 26% of all reports filed for the 2012 Ford F-250, with 134 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 68,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 68K-mile mark.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 25% of all reports filed for the 2012 Ford F-250, with 130 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2012 Ford F-250, with 47 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2012 Ford F-250, with 25 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
11
6
12
22
13
67
14
49
15
42
16
27
17
26
18
49
19
82
20
58
21
30
22
23
23
14
24
17
25
5
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2012 Ford F-250. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

11V582000Dec 2011

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. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 114, “THEFT PROTECTION.” THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL DUE TO BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SWITCH PROBLEM.

20E090000Dec 2020

EQUIPMENT

Icon Vehicle Dynamics, LLC (Icon) is recalling all 05-UP FSD 2.5 Centerline Stabilizer Kits with part number 65050. The kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks. The foam ring inside the stabilizer "through shaft" may block the piston ports, possibly causing the steering to lock up.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2012 Ford F-250 NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

3 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

RQ14005ClosedOpened Jan 2015 · closed Mar 2016

Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

The worst model year for the Ford F-250 is the 2006 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 520 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Ford F-250 Model Years

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972196919681967
View all Ford F-250 years →

2012 Ford F-250: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Ford F-250?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2012 Ford F-250 is related to the suspension, with 134 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2012 Ford F-250 reliable?
The 2012 Ford F-250 has 520 complaints, 8 crash reports, and 8 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How safe is the 2012 Ford F-250?
NHTSA rates the 2012 Ford F-250 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 3 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2012 Ford F-250 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2012 Ford F-250 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2012 Ford F-250 has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford F-250 problems start?
Based on 403 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 68,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2012 Ford F-250 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 520 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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