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Air bagsPart report

2012 Ford F-150 Air bags Problems

Complaints
37about this part
Share
2%of 1,784 total for the year
Median mileage
49,500miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Ford F-150, 2% of the 1,784 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 49,500 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My truck does two things, both with the transmission. 1rst this is random and happens at any unsuspecting time and at all speeds. The truck goes into limp mode (killing all power) starts to clunk in and out of gears to the point it locked up the tires once going 55 MPH for a second as this is happening my MPH needle goes to 0, also the wrench light comes on. The other problem is random as well. …”

NHTSA complaint #11062092, filed 2018-01, 103,000 miles

“Someone stopped short in front of me. I applied the brakes but could not avoid hitting car. The brake indicator on front control display said my brakes are ok. Once I crashed the seat belt engaged but I still hit the steering wheel with my chest. The airbags did not deploy! There was some heavy smoke though around the seat belt area or from perhaps the electrical connections under the seat?”

NHTSA complaint #11039255, filed 2017-10, 57,000 miles

“I was involved in a traffic accident june 4, 2016 in which a car attempted to make a left turn in front of me at an intersection and the result was a moderate collision. Due to the collision my vehicle lost all power (engine and electrical) and the air bags failed to deploy.”

NHTSA complaint #10876019, filed 2016-06, 30,150 miles

“When vehicle starts has wrench light on, tracadvance light on, and airbag light on. Truck wants to call 911 about 1 minute after started. Auto shop diagnostic has air bag module is not responding. My family and I have been buying fords for years and Ford has treated us very well. I bought my first brand new car for my wife in 2016 and was a Ford explorer. Despite of the issues that that vehicle has had Ford has always done the right thing and has taken care of them. My grandfather owned a Ford dealership when I was a child and grew up riding in Ford vehicles. …”

NHTSA complaint #11406902, filed 2021-04, 65,000 miles

“Steering wheel clock spring, which controls all steering wheel electronics and airbag is faulty. Replacement clock spring required. I noticed this issue while driving and using my radio controls on the steering wheel. Upon pushing a button like volume up for instance, the radio station would change. The buttons were doing the improper functions. I brought it into Ford and they stated that the clock spring is faulty and needs to be replaced since it controls the airbag, which may be affected by the faulty unit.”

NHTSA complaint #10862560, filed 2016-05, 54,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202511%
202442%
202310%
202241%
202150%
2020101%
2019242%
2018382%
2017232%
2016362%
2015352%
2014312%
2013391%
2012372%
2011141%
2010192%
2009124%
2008298%
2007276%
2006488%
20051019%
2004854%
2003297%
2002354%
2001665%
2000696%
1999697%
1998423%
1997994%
1996237%
1995356%
19949414%
199310%
199141%
199010%
198910%

Other parts of the 2012 Ford F-150

Transmission and drivetrain
682 complaints
Engine
483 complaints
Steering
204 complaints
Vehicle speed control
194 complaints
Electrical system
173 complaints
Brakes
137 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
129 complaints
Other or unknown
122 complaints
Fuel system
119 complaints
Electronic stability control
36 complaints
Body and structure
24 complaints
Suspension
19 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Ford F-150

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology