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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,747 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Ford F-150 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #162

Dec 062020

F-150

  • 269,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving at a normal highway speed of anywhere between 50 to 75 mph the transmission will down shift to 1st gear. Does not suddenly slow down because the gear returns to 5 or 6th gear immediately. I have had a Ford dealership address the issue by reprogramming the control module on the transmission but I am still experiencing this problem. I believe it to be a high safety risk. The occurrence happens intermittently. So there is no specific date available.

- Fort Defiance, AZ, USA

problem #161

Nov 262020

F-150

  • 140,000 miles
I am experiencing erratic shifting and my transmission on multiple occasions has shifted from 5th gear down to first gear while traveling high rates of speed resulting in my wheels locking up.

- Bryan, TX, USA

problem #160

Nov 212020

F-150

  • 156,000 miles
The speed reduced from 50 to 20 and then suddenly stop. The speedometer went to 0 after taking it to do the recall for sudden transmission downshift. Before that it wasn't doing it. Ford does not want to fix it because it's over 150,000 miles, but I just knew about this past recall.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #159

Oct 012020

F-150

  • 145,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving at approximately 40-45 mph the truck shifted into 1st gear and rear wheels locked up.

- Mont Vernon, NH, USA

problem #158

Sep 282020

F-150

  • 118,000 miles
Multiple times while in motion 45mph + (spontaneously), orange wrench comes up on my dash, speedometer drops to zero, engine power is cut to almost nothing, and a few times at higher speeds 60mph +, the wheels lock due to transmission downshifting out of nowhere. This has happened on the loop, city streets, highways, it's random. I can only limp my way to a safe spot to pull over, turn engine off then back on and everything generally starts working again. Last night on a city road doing about 55mph it locked up again but refused to drop out of 5th gear though I was at a dead stop. Even turning the key of and on would not re set it. It finally got to 1st after messing with it and I got it home, hooked it to my obd2 reader and it is throwing a P0720 output speed shaft sensor malfunction code and my check engine light will not go off. I have attached a picture of the code it is now showing, and date of malfunction is most recent.

- Odessa, TX, USA

problem #157

May 302020

F-150

  • 92,000 miles
The wrench symbol comes on and the digital instrument screen goes blank and the transmission either gets stuck in 5th gear or will start off in 3rd and only shift through 5th gear. You can turn the truck off and restart it and most of the time it will reset and start off in first and the screen will return to normal. Unusually when this occurs when starting to drive again it will not shift out of first gear and at this time you have to disconnect the battery and reconnect after 15 seconds to regain mobility. I have replaced the PCM to no avail. The new PCM is registering a code now for the output shaft speed sensor which has had a recall in other 2011-12 F150 models. Through research and conversations on Ford truck forum's I have learned a lot of other people are having the same issue.

- Glen Saint Mary, FL, USA

problem #156

Aug 262020

F-150

  • 177,400 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I completed recall... software problem which causes transmission to shift into first gear which could result in loss of steering control and cause wreck

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #155

Aug 212020

F-150

  • 100,000 miles
My F150 would jump out of gear at random time, I can be turning on to the highway or just been riding along then the next thing you know im being jerked with other vehicles around me. Ive notice the odometer gauge zeros out. I can pull off the road and shut the truck off for a few minutes and it drives like nothing as happened

- Hereford, AZ, USA

problem #154

Jun 282020

F-150 6-cyl

  • 137,389 miles
Truck was going 75 down 127 downshifted to second gear would not go out of second gear very dangerous local Ford would not repair there are 2 safety field service actions out on this truck number 15N05 electric vacuum pump and number 19N01 transmission molded lead frame extended coverage for up to 150,00 according to a letter by NHTSA I have recieved after purchasing the truck

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #153

Jun 262020

F-150 6-cyl

  • 137,895 miles
Ford refusing to fix field service action transmission molded lead frame extended coverage number 19N01 truck shifted down to second gear stayed stuck. There is a recall up to 150,000 miles I have 138,000 found this out ;local Ford dealer screwing me over saying not their issues I founs a NHTSA letter saying other wise also a electrical vacuum pump extended repair number 15N05 causing truck to stall going down roead.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #152

Jan 172019

F-150 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving down the road and heard an unfamiliar noise as I started to slow down I heard a loud pop and it felt as if the wheels locked up. After almost wrecking I got out to find that the ring and pinion was damaged.

- Trenton, GA, USA

problem #151

Jan 212020

F-150

  • 118,000 miles
After experiencing a speed sensor failure in my Ford F-150, I took it to a local dealer to have the recalled part replaced (speed sensor/lead frame). They did not replace the part, instead flashed the sensor with new software. The next day, encountered a related issue, after taking it back, the service rep stated that it seems to be the lead frame and would be covered by Ford but did not off an additional appointment, advised to call back if the problem persists. I have continued having these issues. Issue: Vehicle stops shifting, locks into the gear that it is in, speedometer stops working, all data goes blank and transmission acts like it slips. Then, stop the vehicle, turn it off, restart, then runs fine until next occurrence. After much much research and agreed discussion with the service rep at 2 different dealerships, it displays the exact symptoms of the lead frame which is mentioned in the recall issued related to this issue. 2 different dealerships have now refused to replace the part because the error code is not present when I get the vehicle there and that is because I have to get the issue to clear so I can continue driving it. I have also contacted Ford Motor Co. Customer service and have had the issue escalated 3 times, each time they come back with a response "there are no current programs available to assist" even though there is a Ford issued recall issued in Feb. 2019. I have also waited for a week for a call back from the service manager but no response. The issue persists with no action from Ford. I am stuck driving my truck everyday in fear of being stranded and causing an accident. I have also sent an email to the general manager of peoria Ford in phoenix AZ and have yet to receive a response.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #150

Jan 032020

F-150

  • miles
Engine accelerates by itself when I turn it on or if I'm at a red light or as soon as I put it in drive

- San Juan, TX, USA

problem #149

May 182018

F-150 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
Very little to no brakes at all. Of course the same issue everyone else is having. Vacuum pump/ brake booster! definitely a safety issue and how they haven't fixed this issue yet is beyond me. No actually I do know since I'm a Ford employee myself, but I'll save that for a representative. Remember 'quality is job one!' [xxx] from louisville Kentucky. Email: [xxx]. ssn [xxx] address [xxx]phone # [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #148

Dec 162019

F-150

  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving 75 mph in fog, the contact attempted to pass a tractor trailer. The vehicle hesitated, failed to accelerate, and decelerated to 60 mph. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated, the rpms fluctuated between 2000-4000, and the gear shifted from fourth to sixth gear. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 51,000.

- Hayes, LA, USA

problem #147

Sep 032019

F-150

  • 230,000 miles
My transmission sticks in one gear, shifts very hard, and down shifts unexpectedly. There is a recall for this, but Ford has not started to fix this problem. It is causing additional damage to my vehicle the more I drive it. The recall was started in febuary of 2019.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #146

Oct 022019

F-150

  • 75,000 miles
I was driving along rt. 837 highway on my way to work, going about 45 mph, when all of a sudden all of the gauges on my dash went blank and my speedometer went to zero. Then a big orange wrench appeared on my dash. The truck dropped into first gear and I had very little power. I was able to turn my hazard lights on and pull over to the side of the road without being rear ended. I ended up making it to work, which was about 3 minutes away, in first gear. After shutting off the ignition and restarting the engine all of the gauges were working again. I made it home fine that day and an advanced auto scan of the vehicle brought up no codes. Two days later I had the same problem occur on rt. 30 highway and I had a scan tool I had bought with me. I got 2 codes, (P0720, P0722) both relating to the output shaft speed sensor circuit.

- North Huntingdon, PA, USA

problem #145

Apr 252019

F-150

  • 152,000 miles
I purchased my vehicle used from a Ford dealership in 2017. I brought it in a few months after I purchased it due to rear tires locking up and a sudden downshift. Was told no codes were found wrong and they couldn't duplicate the issue. April 30, 2019 had to have it towed back in. Was informed of a recall on lead mane frame for first time. After replacing lead frame vehicle still will not preform properly and I have now been told entire transmission needs to be replaced. I haven't received any letter nor made aware at time of purchase of any recall. Ford continues to refuse any remedies to justify this problem. I'm a single mother of 3 and am outraged by the companies failure to notify me of this safety recall. The company refuses to help because my mileage is 152,000 miles. 2,000 over the extended warranty for recall. If I would have been notified in a timely manner of this faulty transmission and possibly deadly recall I would have immediately tended to it. My children are my world and Ford cares less about their safety and mine and it is wrong. Please help me and my babies.

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #144

Apr 012019

F-150

  • 102,000 miles
My vehicle was serviced for recall 19S07 regarding unexpected downshifting in to first gear while driving. After my vehicle was serviced, my truck began downshifting in to first gear while driving. A new recall 19S19 was issued for improper/insufficient repair of original recall 19S07, however my vehicle's VIN is not yet showing up under this new recall, but my vehicle is still downshifting in to first gear while driving

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #143

May 242019

F-150

  • 90,000 miles
Takata recall- I just got my 2012 F150 and I really like the truck but everytime I drive it and im slowing down it all suddently shifts down real hard, I try to avoid it to shift down so hard but nothing works. It really doesnt feel safe at all driving it and this happens everytime I drive it.I just want to get that recall problem fixed as soon as possible

- Smyrna, GA, USA

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