2012 Ford F-150 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 483about this part
- Share
- 27%of 1,784 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 24,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 483 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Ford F-150, 27% of the 1,784 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 24,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My timing chain on my f1 50 was stretched and I paid over $8000 to have it fixed and here it is not even a year later and it is stretched again. With all of the supposedly new and updated parts Ford obviously doesn't care about what vehicles we buy because they clearly don't want us to buy theirs since I don't want to fix this problem the right way!”
NHTSA complaint #11195713, filed 2019-04, 82,254 miles“I have a certified pre owned Ford f150 2012 lariat 4wd super crew 3.5l ecoboost, and I am having metal tapping noise in the top front of the engine on cold start up !!! I took it to Ford and they stated there was no trouble code set ! And said no issue present, my truck has only 70,000 miles and I cant get Ford to verify engine problem !”
NHTSA complaint #11176043, filed 2019-02, 59,184 miles“I am the third owner of this vehicle. We purchased vehicle with around 114,000 miles. Within a week and a half, the engine started knocking while driving/engine running. Upon further review, the engine needed replaced. Due to the fact we do not know previous owner(s), unsure if it was a maintenance issue or a manufacturer issues. Mechanic could not be definitive.”
NHTSA complaint #11270546, filed 2019-10, 117,000 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.”
NHTSA complaint #11362130, filed 2020-09, 121,780 miles“Tsb 15-0131 timing chain stretches and makes a loud rattle upon starting and eventually leads to loss of power and engine damage. The known cause of this is all the phasers,the intake and exhaust phasers. This is my main concern. Everyone I know who owns this vehicle has this problem. The other complaint is that I get 14 mpg.”
NHTSA complaint #11208179, filed 2019-05, 40,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10159494Apr 26, 2019SSM 47948 - 2010-2019 Various Vehicles - Turbocharged Engines - Oil Supply Filter Replacement When Replacing The Turbocharger Or The Turbocharger Oil Supply Tube For 2010-2019…
- 10156888Feb 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…
- 10148706Oct 25, 2018Some 2011-2015 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine and built on or before 29-May-2015 may exhibit a ticking/tapping or rattle type noise from the top front cover…
- 10095154Jan 10, 2017To help differentiate engine oil leaks from other possible sources, a new white-colored fluorescent engine oil dye is available. Workshop manual (wsm), section 303-00 has been…
- 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…
- 10091451Jul 11, 2016Customer satisfaction program 15n05 - supplement #1: certain 2011-2012 model year f-150 vehicles with 3.5l ecoboost engine - electric vacuum pump extended coverage
- 10204987Feb 5, 201649 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - March 2016 Air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B141B and/or B141C
- 10204986Feb 5, 201649 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016
- 10074713Sep 2, 2015Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10058702Aug 19, 2015Ford: 2011-2015 f-150 trucks will experience a ticking or tapping or rattling type of noise from engine's top front cover area when starting up
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 17% |
| 2025 | 4 | 4% |
| 2024 | 12 | 6% |
| 2023 | 27 | 6% |
| 2022 | 38 | 6% |
| 2021 | 84 | 8% |
| 2020 | 130 | 18% |
| 2019 | 322 | 24% |
| 2018 | 510 | 22% |
| 2017 | 314 | 21% |
| 2016 | 317 | 15% |
| 2015 | 265 | 15% |
| 2014 | 180 | 12% |
| 2013 | 548 | 18% |
| 2012 | 483 | 27% |
| 2011 | 482 | 22% |
| 2010 | 107 | 13% |
| 2009 | 42 | 13% |
| 2008 | 53 | 14% |
| 2007 | 105 | 22% |
| 2006 | 74 | 13% |
| 2005 | 117 | 11% |
| 2004 | 92 | 5% |
| 2003 | 28 | 7% |
| 2002 | 66 | 8% |
| 2001 | 44 | 4% |
| 2000 | 23 | 2% |
| 1999 | 27 | 3% |
| 1998 | 14 | 1% |
| 1997 | 15 | 1% |
| 1996 | 3 | 1% |
| 1995 | 2 | 0% |
| 1994 | 3 | 0% |
| 1993 | 1 | 0% |
| 1989 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 2012 Ford F-150
682 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 complaintsSuspension
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 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