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Ford E-150Model year report

2012 Ford E-150 Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,000miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls
8campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
14 mpgcombined, 5.4L 8-cyl · flex-fuel RWD · 12 city / 16 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford E-150 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford E-150. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by other or unknown (2) and seat belts (2). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 21 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Steering (1), Tires (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “Was driving vehicle felt jerking and heard grinding noise. Pulled off highway into parking lot. Check could not find anything wrong. Tried to back up vehicle jerk very badlywouldnotback-up. Vehiclewoulddriveforward.”

NHTSA complaint #11327898, filed 2020-06, 180,887 miles

Other or unknown: “This problem has occurred 12-15 times. After the engine is turned on and put into drive, it starts to buck/hesitate like it is not getting gas. Sometimes this is violent and other times soft. It is not bad gas. Sometimes it will go for 6-7 weeks without doing it and other times it will happen two days in a row. Dealer will not attempt to fix it because after keeping it over night they could not duplicate the problem and would not take my word for it. …”

NHTSA complaint #10498574, filed 2013-02, 1,500 miles

Seat belts: “Passenger seat belt stopped working out of the blue. I've had tire sensor thing on my dash since I've bought it an I'm not sure what is happening. The horn stopped working recently. And the overhead dome light doesn't work.”

NHTSA complaint #11534519, filed 2023-07

Body and structure: “My 11 year old daughter was attempting to close the tailgate and didn't see there was something lodged in the crevice. The tailgate popped off and fell on her knee. She is in excruciating pain. We are at the er. This is not safe. There has to be a better safer way to attach the gate. I have owned 3 f150s and have never had this issue. Thank god my 6 year old was out of the vecinity. This could have easily injured or killed him as well.”

NHTSA complaint #10730232, filed 2015-06, 60,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,142 and 125,000 miles.

33%0–100%10–250%25–5022%50–750%75–10022%100–15022%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

201220132201420152016201722018202020232
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Ford E-150. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
E-150 · VAN RWDnot rated———3 · 27.9% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Ford E-150 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
E150 Van FFV RWD4.6L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic131715$4,450
E150 Van FFV RWD5.4L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic121614$4,800
E150 Wagon FFV RWD4.6L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic131614$4,800
E150 Wagon FFV RWD5.4L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic121613$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 8 recalls for the 2012 Ford E-150 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 21 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 21 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford E-150

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201686,5001———Not enough data
2015818,0001———Not enough data
2014616,7386—14—Not enough data
20131982,8006—14—Stable
20121260,0008—14—Not enough data
20112337,50011—14—Falling
20101042,5007———Not enough data
2009783,00012———Not enough data
20081166,32517———Not enough data
20071249,00018———Not enough data
20061744,37314—15—Stable
20051652,8792—15—Rising
20043365,0005—15Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20032116,3545—14—Stable
20022886,0003—14Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20013773,0004—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200050104,6026—15Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19998396,0006—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19986089,1465—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1997102103,0006—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199659120,0003—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19957195,0003—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1994121129,5007—14Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199371135,0004—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199264100,0004—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19911575,0001—13—Stable
199017126,0003—13—Falling
19893194,0002—13Not compared (before 2008)Rising
198814—0—13—Not enough data
19871770,0000—14—Stable
19869—0—14—Not enough data

All Ford E-150 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Ford E-150 have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford E-150 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Ford E-150 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 2.

Has the 2012 Ford E-150 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford E-150 get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Ford E-150 (E150 Van FFV, 5.4L 8-cyl · flex-fuel) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 16 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Ford E-150 reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,000 miles and the middle half falls between 5,142 and 125,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.