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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,416 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 23)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #433

Jul 292021

F-150

  • miles

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

When driving, vehicle will drop from 50 mph to 0, causing a sudden stop. Vehicle then will struggle to get out of first gear, and whine. Vehicle will not move in the speedometer, and will not shift past first gear.

- Garden City , KS, USA

problem #432

Jul 212021

F-150

  • miles
After starting the vehicle and putting it into drive, the vehicle would not shift out of 1st gear. RPS revved nearly to red-line and even when I removed my foot from the gas pedal, the revs remained high. Even when underway, the speedometer registered 0 MPH and the odometer was showing only dashes "-------------". After a short time, the wrench symbol appeared on the display and the airbag warning icon was illuminated. I pulled over and turned the truck off and back on and it operated normally. No error codes were stored and my service shop will not work on it since it is not happening all the time. On a different occasion about a week ago, I was driving up a residential street incline and the truck was not shifting from 2nd gear. I pressed the accelerator more and all of sudden the truck shifted extremely rough jerking myself and my passenger unsafely. After this the truck stuck in gear, displayed the wrench symbol and illuminated the air bag warning icon. This looks to be highly related to Ford Safety Recall 19S07 but my truck is not covered by this recall.

- Kenmore, WA, USA

problem #431

Oct 282020

F-150

  • 40,000 miles
In June of 2018 I purchased my 2012 F150 5.0 with 16,250 miles. I now have 40,650. Back in Oct of 2020 I began having issues with the trucks engine sputtering, chugging, etc.. when accelerating in day to day to traffic. The engine would run very rough while I sat on the side of the road or in the middle of traffic waiting for the truck to "work through it" or completely die. I'd wait a few minutes, start it back up and be on my way. I can be sitting at a light, it turns green and I take off and it'll act up or even when I'm traveling down the road a car in front of me slows down to turn and after they turn I press the accelerator and it acts up. It throws no codes but I'm a sitting duck out there when this happens due to the extreme quick loss of power. In most cases of this happening I usually don't have enough momentum to get out of the way of traffic causing unsafe conditions for all. Its very random and unpredictable evident by it occurring several times in a week or not at all for several weeks. As soon as this issue began I had the throttle body replaced by my mechanic but it still continued. My mechanic even kept my truck to drive around at different times during two sperate weeks to "re-enact" the issue, but it never happened. Within a day or two of getting it back from him it would happen again. I've been to Ford and if your vehicle doesn't throw a code they don't have time for you, "but if there's anything else they can do for you just let them know". this is a hassle, unsafe situation that I've been dealing with for several months now with no one able to give me any answers to fix this. Yes, I've seen and heard the list of everything it could possible be from bumper to bumper. I need a resolution because I've extinguished all other avenues.

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #430

Jun 062020

F-150

  • 5,000 miles

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

Manifold leak, chirping noise when accelerating.

- Grants Pass, OR, USA

problem #429

Jan 012018

F-150

  • 139,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150 the contact stated while driving approximately 60 to 80 mph, the vehicle downshifted to first gear. The contact stated that the failure occurred on numerous occasions. The check engine warning light illuminated and the instrument panel darkened during the failure. The contact moved onto the road shoulder, shifted into neutral, turned off the vehicle and opened the door to reset the computer. The contact then unlocked the door, restarted the vehicle and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The contact performed a self diagnostic test on the vehicle and retrieved dtc codes: P0722, P1500, T0720 which confirmed a loss of communication between the speed sensor within the transmission. The vehicle was taken to don rich Ford company Inc (221 E montgomery St, villa rica, ga 30180, (770) 459-5132) to be diagnosed. The dealer declined to re-flash the computer as requested by the contact. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.

- Villa Rica, GA, USA

problem #428

Nov 042020

F-150

  • 107,000 miles
I was driving down a hill on a main street with my kids when my F150 2012 suddenly shifted into first gear. I almost lost control into on coming traffic and the vehicles behind me had to slam on their brakes to avoid rear ending me also. I had to put the truck in park before I was able to get it to shift out of first gear and make my way to my house. I told my wife what happened and she mentioned that something similar happened to her. I immediately called the local Ford dealership and they said there was a recall to solve the issue and could fix it in approximately six days. After picking the truck up the same incident happened on the drive home. It dropped into first gear from 3rd or 4th and almost locked up the tires on a busy road. I was extremely upset with Ford for returning an unsafe vehicle stating they had fixed the problem without testing it to be sure and putting my family in danger. I called them back and they said that was the only fix on the recall. I hope Ford is not getting off that easy by doing a software fix when obviously the problem is bigger. They must be held to a safe standard and accountable to ensure the safety of not only their customers but other people on the roads. The fact that the mechanics are now telling me that this is a common problem and they know the fix but want us the consumers to pay to fix their wide spread issues is frustrating and scary imaging how many people wont be able to or want to fix the issue and sell the vehicles passing the safety hazard on.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #427

Oct 182020

F-150

  • 229,000 miles

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

The 2011-2013 Ford F-150 eco boost is known to have timing chain stretch issues causing possible total engine failure. 25 months ago we spent $3,700 having cams and phasers and all chains repaired by a Ford certified dealer with Ford motor craft parts. Less than 1 month following the warranty of the work the secondary timing chain has failed leaving the vehicle useable while my wife was traveling down a gravel road and we are looking at another $3,700 repair plus a tow and inconvenience for a known and repeated problem and Ford will not stand behind these issues.

- Wentworth, SD, USA

problem #426

Sep 302020

F-150

  • 121,780 miles
I was backing out of my driveway when as soon as I got out my truck suddenly locked up and then the engine light came on with the service light and also the wrench light and as I was driving my speedometer wouldn't go past 0 but would still accelerate. This was happening while driving down the road going about 15mph.

- De Pere, WI, USA

problem #425

Jun 142018

F-150

  • 60,364 miles
My truck was 10,000 miles out of its extended warranty when on cold start up the engine would rattle on startup. I took it to the Ford dealer in my area and was told the timing chain and cam phasers would need to be replaced. The dealer had my truck for 2 months. With parts on back order. With the transmission service I had done the total bill was $3,085.51. The truck was regularly serviced every 5,000 miles by a Ford dealer. The cause of the problem was not lack of maintenance it was an engineering flaw from the manufacturer. Due to this I feel like I shouldn't be financially responsible.

- Columbia, TN, USA

problem #424

Aug 262020

F-150

  • 177,400 miles
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 #423

Aug 012020

F-150

  • 130,000 miles

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

The exhaust manifolds warp and in turn break off the exhaust manifold stud at the rear of the manifold making a very large exhaust leak at the block where it meets the exhaust manifold this happened under normal vehicle operation on highways

- Graham, WA, USA

problem #422

Jul 022020

F-150

  • 71,000 miles
Timing chain and phasers failure at 71K miles. Based on quick internet search this is a widespread problem that Ford refuses to repair after warranty despite being design flaw

- Setauket, NY, USA

problem #421

Jul 012020

F-150

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure also occurred at vehicle start-up. The contact sparked fuses 7 and 8 together to restart and drive the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact contacted sellers-sexton pre-owned trucks and imports (509 vfw memorial dr, St robert, mo 65584, (573) 336-4060) who relocated the fuse lines for the fuel pump. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Waynesville, MO, USA

problem #420

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 #419

Apr 062020

F-150

  • 53,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at woody folsom Ford (1633 golden isles w, baxley, ga 31513) for routine maintenance, the mechanic discovered that the radiator hose was leaking. The contact was given an estimate for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was taken to an independent and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

- Baxley, GA, USA

problem #418

Jan 012019

F-150

  • 85,000 miles
Timing chair rattle and engine misfires due to stretch in timing chain. Engine goes in lump mode and looses power.

- Wylie, TX, USA

problem #417

Dec 272019

F-150

  • miles
Transmission shift jerk or hesitation when hitting the gas for some reason. This vehicle only have 41,000 miles. Not sure why it's doing it.

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #416

Feb 012020

F-150

  • 88,000 miles
Started to stumble upon acceleration. Diagnosed with timing chain needs replacement both turbochargers need replaced. Truck is a 2012 F 150 with less than 89000 miles. Oil has always been changed within recommended intervals.this is a known problems for this motor, Ford issued a tsb on timing chain stretch. I believe this is a manufacture part failure, and should be recalled.

- Holt, MI, USA

problem #415

Jan 062020

F-150

  • 106,000 miles
Timing chain broke

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #414

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

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