2012 Ford F-150 Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 129about this part
- Share
- 7%of 1,784 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 56,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 129 complaints about the visibility of the 2012 Ford F-150, 7% of the 1,784 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 56,500 miles. 5 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was loading up to go to the dump in my 2012 f150 and I tapped the back window just slightly with a piece of garbage and it shattered my back window including my slider and the driver side of the rear window, this was no harsh impact it was the slightest tap almost like it shattered with no force.”
NHTSA complaint #11362794, filed 2020-10, 163,289 miles“Yesterday was our first cold morning of the season. I had a dentist appointment in the morning. Drove to the appointment. Came out and the passenger side section of the sliding, heated rear window had shattered. The vehicle was parked and unoccupied at the time. In looking online it appears this is a common, unaddressed issue with this model.”
NHTSA complaint #11044786, filed 2017-11, 70,000 miles“I was driving home from work on 5/3/19 on on a county road ( katy hockley cuttoff ) and was coming to a stop behind a school bus that was stopped and picking up someone when I heard a loud pop. After I came to a complete stop I looked back and saw the passenger side rear windshield had shattered. I did have my rear defrost on at the time and when I looked back at the A/C controls the light for the rear defrost had went out.”
NHTSA complaint #11205454, filed 2019-05, 61,000 miles“I was driving home from work on 5/3/19 on on a county road ( katy hockley cuttoff ) and was coming to a stop behind a school bus that was stopped and picking up someone when I heard a loud pop. After I came to a complete stop I looked back and saw the passenger side rear windshield had shattered. I did have my rear defrost on at the time and when I looked back at the A/C controls the light for the rear defrost had went out.”
NHTSA complaint #11205455, filed 2019-05, 61,000 miles“I was driving home from work on 5/3/19 on on a county road ( katy hockley cuttoff ) and was coming to a stop behind a school bus that was stopped and picking up someone when I heard a loud pop. After I came to a complete stop I looked back and saw the passenger side rear windshield had shattered. I did have my rear defrost on at the time and when I looked back at the A/C controls the light for the rear defrost had went out.”
NHTSA complaint #11205456, filed 2019-05, 61,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10172884Jan 31, 2020This SKU is a Power Window Regulator and Motor Assembly. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the software. The software may be too…
- 10164508Aug 9, 2019Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. This is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in…
- 10057834Jul 1, 2015Ford: no service action is recommended for this condition. Please use at your discretion. Various 2010-2015 vehicles may experience a turbulence noise, similar to an helicopter…
- 10053423Jun 1, 2013Ford: a power sliding rear window, on some vehicles, may experience a possible inoperative rear window defrost. Models 2010-2013 f-150.
- 10052801May 13, 2013Ford: on some vehicles, the rear sliding glass center panel has a water leakage at the side panel. Model 2010-2013 f-150.
- 10044904May 24, 2012Ford: see document search button for owner letter. Standard power windows will continue to function when the one touch up front window system fails.
- 10044524May 23, 2012Ford: reverse camera in rear view mirror, on some vehicles, may display incorrectly, manual zoom and/or auto zoom feature selection in instrument panel cluster (ipc) message…
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 6% |
| 2024 | 6 | 3% |
| 2023 | 28 | 7% |
| 2022 | 46 | 8% |
| 2021 | 131 | 13% |
| 2020 | 63 | 9% |
| 2019 | 36 | 3% |
| 2018 | 84 | 4% |
| 2017 | 53 | 4% |
| 2016 | 144 | 7% |
| 2015 | 97 | 6% |
| 2014 | 142 | 9% |
| 2013 | 190 | 6% |
| 2012 | 129 | 7% |
| 2011 | 147 | 7% |
| 2010 | 193 | 23% |
| 2009 | 5 | 2% |
| 2008 | 12 | 3% |
| 2007 | 5 | 1% |
| 2006 | 19 | 3% |
| 2005 | 268 | 24% |
| 2004 | 863 | 43% |
| 2003 | 20 | 5% |
| 2002 | 30 | 4% |
| 2001 | 25 | 2% |
| 2000 | 27 | 3% |
| 1999 | 83 | 8% |
| 1998 | 66 | 5% |
| 1997 | 148 | 5% |
| 1996 | 4 | 1% |
| 1995 | 8 | 1% |
| 1994 | 15 | 2% |
| 1993 | 8 | 1% |
| 1992 | 2 | 0% |
| 1991 | 2 | 1% |
| 1990 | 3 | 1% |
| 1989 | 4 | 2% |
| 1988 | 8 | 6% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1983 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2012 Ford F-150
682 complaintsEngine
483 complaintsSteering
204 complaintsVehicle speed control
194 complaintsElectrical system
173 complaintsBrakes
137 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 28, 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