2012 Ford F-150 Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,784 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 13,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2012 Ford F-150, 1% of the 1,784 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 13,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While traveling on the interstate, my vehicle starting shuttering as I changed lanes to pass another vehicle. As I accelerated, the engine lost power, and the engine light started flashing. My vehicle continues to shutter under hard acceleration.”
NHTSA complaint #10632988, filed 2014-09, 13,000 miles“The vehicle felt like it was losing power and missing at times. The vehicle gas mileage had decreased over the last few times driving. The engine light came on and stayed on. Not flashing just illuminated. I took the vehicle to my local dealership the same day as the engine light came on. I was told by the dealership that the catalytic converter and vapor valve needed to be replaced. This could be a major safety concern if these 2012 ecoboost motors are losing power while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10576646, filed 2014-03, 25,000 miles“Vehicle engine stalled driving at highway speed (70 MPH). Engine went into safe mode. Similar problem occurred in the past (01/04/2013). Repair was performed under TSB 13-8-1 and previously under tsb12-10-19 (incident 01/04/2013). Corrective action both times was to install air deflector plate and replace catalytic converter for both occurrences. Ford says the problem only occurs on the 6 cylinder ecoboost engine after driving extended distances at prolonged highway speed. If I had been towing my rv trailer at either time, a serious accident could have occurred. …”
NHTSA complaint #10681251, filed 2015-01, 364,050 miles“While driving at normal highway speeds truck will abruptly die losing steering and brakes and has to be pulled to side of road and restarted. Normally happens while pulling rv trailer has not happened running empty. After restart will normally run several miles before recurrence. It always reflects service advance trac and shows a wrench at the read out. However, when taken to dealer there was no engine code so they are unable to find problem. I feel like we are at risk of a serious accident everytime we pull the trailer. This has happened 6 times. …”
NHTSA complaint #10573515, filed 2014-03, 21,000 miles“We had the scare of our lives along with our passengers. While I was driving my 2012 f150 on a trip back from charleston, wv to ohio on interstate 77. The truck had a major problem. We were traveling about 75 miles an hour and I accelerated to pass slower traffic in the right lane. As I entered the passing lane the truck lost power. Luckily, I'm an excellent driver and was able to quickly move back to the right lane before a large SUV rear ended us. I then tried to accelerate since our speed had dropped to about 50 MPH. The truck shook violently until I let off of the gas. …”
NHTSA complaint #10524420, filed 2013-07, 4,800 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10251951Mar 6, 2024Some 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. It is often…
- 10191525Apr 29, 2021Some 2011-2021 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. It is often referred to as typewriter noise…
- 10189007Feb 5, 2021This SKU is a Turbocharger. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the sealing plugs. If the plug isn't sealing properly it may lead to a oil…
- 10189006Feb 5, 2021This SKU is a Turbocharger. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the sealing plugs. If the plug isn't sealing properly it may lead to a oil…
- 10172885Feb 7, 2020This SKU is an Oil Dipstick. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the dipstick tube. The dipstick tube inner diameter may be small enough…
- 10155576Feb 26, 2019Some 5.0L 4V engines may exhibit a tick/tap/rattle or knock immediately after secondary timing chain tensioner installation. In some cases the secondary timing chain tensioners…
- 10156877Feb 7, 2019Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer…
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to…
- 10058057May 5, 2015Ford 2011-2015 f150, 2015 expedition, transit, 2015 lincoln navigator: certain vehicles equipped with a 3.5 l gasoline turbocharged direct injected engine built on 2/28/2015 may…
- 10058096Sep 8, 2014Ford: various misfire systems from turbocharge direct injection (gtdi)engines have stored diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) in powertrain control module p0300, p0301, p0302, p0303…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 4 | 2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0% |
| 2022 | 3 | 1% |
| 2021 | 19 | 2% |
| 2020 | 11 | 1% |
| 2019 | 62 | 5% |
| 2018 | 88 | 4% |
| 2017 | 70 | 5% |
| 2016 | 30 | 1% |
| 2015 | 25 | 1% |
| 2014 | 10 | 1% |
| 2013 | 20 | 1% |
| 2012 | 17 | 1% |
| 2011 | 33 | 2% |
| 2010 | 31 | 4% |
| 2009 | 10 | 3% |
| 2008 | 22 | 6% |
| 2007 | 41 | 8% |
| 2006 | 77 | 13% |
| 2005 | 111 | 10% |
| 2004 | 167 | 8% |
| 2003 | 69 | 16% |
| 2002 | 196 | 24% |
| 2001 | 234 | 19% |
| 2000 | 135 | 13% |
| 1999 | 219 | 21% |
| 1998 | 174 | 13% |
| 1997 | 529 | 19% |
| 1996 | 23 | 7% |
| 1995 | 71 | 11% |
| 1994 | 52 | 8% |
| 1993 | 52 | 9% |
| 1992 | 37 | 8% |
| 1991 | 17 | 6% |
| 1990 | 21 | 8% |
| 1989 | 13 | 6% |
| 1988 | 11 | 8% |
| 1987 | 9 | 10% |
| 1986 | 9 | 15% |
| 1985 | 4 | 14% |
| 1984 | 2 | 13% |
| 1983 | 3 | 30% |
Other parts of the 2012 Ford F-150
682 complaintsEngine
483 complaintsSteering
204 complaintsVehicle speed control
194 complaintsElectrical system
173 complaintsBrakes
137 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
129 complaintsOther or unknown
122 complaintsFuel system
119 complaintsAir bags
37 complaintsElectronic stability control
36 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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