2012 Ford F-250 Problems
Compared with other Ford F-250 years
More complaints than typical for this model
100/100 4.2× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 4.2× that of a typical Ford F-250 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 36 of its 266 complaints were filed by the end of 2014.
- Most reported problem: Front-end shake at highway speed ("death wobble") (145 complaints, median 92,000 mi).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2009, 2010
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 266filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 78,750miles, 196 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- —not in EPA data
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford F-250 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2012 F-250 most often describe violent front-end shaking at highway speeds after a bump, expansion joint or uneven pavement, a condition many complaints call the "death wobble." Reports also cover engine damage needing major repair and diesel fuel-system faults, along with wear in the steering hardware itself. Reported mileages span a wide range, from trucks under 15,000 miles to ones past 200,000.
- Steering
Front-end shake at highway speed ("death wobble")
- 145 complaints (55%)
- median 92,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (103 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 9 quotes)
- filed 2013–2026
Owners describe the steering wheel and front end shaking violently after hitting a bump, bridge joint or rough patch, usually above 50 mph. Complaints say the shaking continues until speed drops to roughly 10-35 mph, and many describe braking or pulling onto the shoulder to regain control. Some report the dealer replaced tires, the steering damper, track bar, bushings or ball joints, or realigned the front end, and that the shaking returned later; others say the dealer found no problem. Reported from about 10,000 miles to over 200,000, most often at 50-70 mph after a bump or uneven pavement.
What to check: Drive the truck at 55-70 mph over expansion joints and rough pavement before buying. Ask for service records showing whether the steering damper, track bar, ball joints or front-end bushings have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“It has happened twice and now I am too scared to drive it. It shakes violently at 65 to 75 miles an hour. Truely a death sentence to drive it.feels like both front tires blow out. I slow and pull to shoulder and nothing visually is wrong. I just recently took to Ford dealer ship, they have had it for a week with no answers. So have you heard of this?”
NHTSA complaint #11349730, filed 2020-08, 90,000 miles“While traveling at freeway speeds and hitting a bump, pothole or expansion joint the front end develops a horrible wobble and is very hard to control until I can get the speed below 35 MPH. I am aware there is a class action lawsuit against Ford motor company because of this issue. This has happened several times before and after work has been done to correct the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11361852, filed 2020-09, 42,000 miles - Engine
Engine internal damage requiring major repair
Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe a snapped piston rod that led to engine replacement, and a separate case where coolant entered the engine and it seized. Other owners report repeated broken valve springs on the 6.2L, with one break dropping a valve and putting a hole in the block. Reports also include the crankcase vent filter passing oil into the intake with pressure building at the oil cap, and an engine-bay fire that started while the truck was stopped at a signal. Reported from roughly 27,000 to 174,000 miles, with the oil-in-intake reports near 100,000 miles.
What to check: Check coolant level and condition and watch for white exhaust or a sweet smell. Pull the oil cap and look for oil residue in the intake and around the crankcase vent, and ask whether the engine or any valve components have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“On my 2012 Ford f250 it has the crank case ventilation filter that leaks oil into the intake I have seen alot of post about this exact problem it sorta feels like Ford wants our trucks to break sobwe have to buy a new one the filter is cheap but its a defect that the dealer made this truck has been in the shop twice already bc of the def sending unit and now with this problem thia truck only has 101k miles and I forgot to say when this happens it builds up extream pressure on the oil cap when it opens up it throws oil in your face I needed to …”
NHTSA complaint #11403986, filed 2021-03, 101,000 miles“The 6.2 engine has broken valve springs 3 times now. First two times was able to just replace the broken valve spring. The 3rd time it broke a valve spring it dropped the valve in the motor and put hole right through the block and seized the motor almost causing me to wreck”
NHTSA complaint #11394899, filed 2021-02, 174,000 miles - Steering
Steering play, loss of assist and front-end hardware
- 11 complaints (4%)
- median 114,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2015–2023
Complaints describe excessive free play in the steering wheel, with the truck wandering between lanes and needing constant correction. Owners also report the power assist dropping out briefly after a pothole, a steering column replaced and the symptom returning, and one case where the column gave way during a shaking event and the truck left the road. Another report describes the front axle shaft fracturing at the wheel during a turn so the wheel would not move. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 230,000 miles, often after a pothole, bump or low-speed turn.
What to check: With the engine running, check how far the wheel turns before the front wheels respond and listen for clunks over bumps. Ask whether the steering column, front axle shaft or hub parts have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“It is almost impossible to keep this truck between the lines on the road. It has about 4 inches of play in the steering wheel and overcorrecting this is even more dangerous....I'm scared to drive it”
NHTSA complaint #11299981, filed 2020-01, 136,000 miles“The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced a death wobble causing the vehicle to violently shake and vibrate. During the failure, the steering column failed as a result the driver lost control of the steering and drove off the road, and crash into a ditch. During the crash, the vehicle sustained damage to the subframe bracket. No injuries were reported. No police report was taken. The vehicle was towed away from the scene. …”
NHTSA complaint #11489351, filed 2022-10, 206,000 miles - Fuel system
Diesel fuel-system and limp-mode faults
- 23 complaints (9%)
- median 48,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
- filed 2012–2025
Owners of the 6.7L diesel report the engine losing power and dropping into a reduced-power mode, with a whining noise from the engine bay and the check engine light on. Some describe metal debris in the fuel system traced to a failed high-pressure fuel pump, and repeated fuel pump and pressure regulator replacements. One report links the same limp-mode behaviour to transmission slipping and a fluid leak. Reported from roughly 75,000 to 161,000 miles, typically while driving at highway speed.
What to check: Ask for fuel filter and fuel pump service records and whether the truck has ever gone into reduced-power mode. Scan for stored codes such as P2043, P205C or P205D and check for fluid leaks underneath.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds over 50 MPH, the vehicle shifted into LIMP Mode. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the failures could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted and that the transmission was slipping while shifting. The contact also stated that prior to entering the vehicle, he noticed a fluid leak underneath. …”
NHTSA complaint #11512823, filed 2023-03, 160,100 miles“The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the engine power was significantly reduced and there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. While starting the vehicle, there was a high-pitched whining sound heard. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and determined there was a failure with the fuel pump. The fuel pumps were replaced 4 times, and the front and rear fuel pressure regulators were replaced several times since 2012. …”
NHTSA complaint #11652468, filed 2025-04, 120,000 miles
Buying note. The front-end shake dominates what owners report, so a highway test drive over bumps is worth doing and asking about prior steering and suspension repairs makes sense. Also ask for diesel fuel-system, engine and brake service history, since those reports appear across a wide mileage range.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 266 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford F-250. 196 of the complaints include a mileage, and 34% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 78,750 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 15 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 6 Ford F-250 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
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.
- Suspension125 47%
- Steering112 42%
- Engine27 10%
- Other or unknown25 9.4%
- Fuel system20 7.5%
- Electrical system18 6.8%
- Wheels16 6.0%
- Transmission and drivetrain15 5.6%
- Engine cooling12 4.5%
- Brakes10 3.8%
Also reported: Body and structure (9), Air bags (5), Tires (4), Electronic stability control (3), Exterior lighting (3), Vehicle speed control (3), Seat belts (2), Seats (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Equipment (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1).
Example complaints
Suspension: “Experiencing a severe front end shimmy, also known as the death wobble. I've replaced tires and almost all front end components. This has been going on since I bought the truck used, and no one can seem to cure it. Happens whenever I hit a small bump on the highway and is extremely dangerous as the truck must be brought to a complete stop to end the wobble”
NHTSA complaint #11190999, filed 2019-03, 155,000 milesSteering: “For the second time while traveling on major highways my truck started shaking violently to the point I could barely maintain a hold on the steering wheel. I have had my tires checked and they in good shape and balanced. The front ball joints are deemed fine. After a visit to the dealer they say they can find no problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11377755, filed 2020-12, 79,500 milesEngine: “Started my truck to let it warm up before I took it in to town. Went inside for around 150 min, come outside and I seen smoke coming from my doors and as soon as I opened it feom the passenger door it was full of smoke and I seen a fire on my driver side feint seat. It completely burnt my truck and another f250 the was parked next to it.”
NHTSA complaint #11194696, filed 2019-04, 113,000 milesOther or unknown: “Driving down interstate 85 at 65mph passing a vehicle and all the sudden truck starts to violently shake, making it nearly impossible to control until we got below 30 MPH. Felt as if tires were going to fall off or we were going to loose control.”
NHTSA complaint #11309562, filed 2020-02, 142,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
34% of the 196 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 38,000 and 128,300 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Ford F-250. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-250 Super Crew · crew cab 4x2 | ★★★★☆ | 4 / 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 · 19.1% risk |
| F-250 Super Crew · crew cab 4x4 | ★★★★☆ | 4 / 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 · 23.7% risk |
| F-250 Regular Cab · regular cab 4x2 | not rated | — | — | — | 4 · 19.1% risk |
| F-250 Regular Cab · regular cab 4x4 | not rated | — | — | — | 3 · 23.7% risk |
| F-250 Supercab · extended cab 4x2 | not rated | — | — | — | 4 · 19.1% risk |
| F-250 Supercab · extended cab 4x4 | not rated | — | — | — | 3 · 23.7% risk |
Neighbouring years: 2013: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Recalls and investigations
- 11V582000Dec 8, 2011Power train › Automatic transmissionCovers: Ford F-250 2012, F-150 2011, F-450 2012 +2 more
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 f-150 vehicles manufactured from september 9, 2011, through september 22, 2011, and model year 2012 f-250, f-350, f-450 and f-550 heavy duty vehicles manufactured from september 12, 2011, through september 22, 2011…
Recall details for the 2012 Ford F-250 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- RQ14005Vehicle Commanded Engine ShutdownClosed · Jan 13, 2015
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. 15 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11023852Sep 24, 2025Other or unknown, Engine. Certain 2011-2022 Model Year Super Duty Vehicles Equipped with 6.7L Engine - Emission Control Information Label Update for Qualified Vehicles
- 10144185Jul 3, 2018Fuel system, Electrical system. Some 2011-2012 F-250/F-350 and 2011-2015 F-450/F-550 vehicles equipped with a 6.7L diesel engine built on or before 9-Dec-2014 may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with…
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016Engine cooling, Engine. The 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 diagnose possible ETB…
- 10205031Apr 20, 2016Equipment. Touchscreen navigation system - arabic language - blank screen
- 10183767Apr 20, 2016Electrical system. Some 2012-2016 vehicles equipped with a touchscreen navigation system and the language set to Arabic may exhibit a blank screen. This may be the result of the ribbon cables not being fully seated…
- 10179912Jan 12, 2016Steering. In monitoring our technical service inquiries and technical service bulletins from Ford, there is the potential for moderate to severe steering wheel oscillation (wobble) to occur. After extensive…
- 10058677Aug 10, 2015Engine. Ford: 2011-2014 f-super duty vehicles equipped with 6.7l diesel engine may experience a running rough or misfire during exhaust regeneration process
- 10057834Jul 1, 2015Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). Ford: 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 noise, at highway…
- 10053471Jun 15, 2013Equipment. Ford:lincoln: on some vehicles, there are various related concerns about the sync features, such as sync features inoperative, lack of or slow response to phone and voice button operation. Models…
- 10053411May 1, 2013Engine cooling. Ford: due to loose, missing, modified or damaged ground g400, various malfunction indicator light (mil) dtc's, related to glow plug control module (gpcm), may be exhibit on some diesel equipped…
Other model years of the Ford F-250
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 142 | 81,000 | 0 | 4 | — | 43 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 95 | 77,000 | 0 | 4 | — | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2012 | 266 | 78,750 | 1 | 4 | — | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2011 | 248 | 70,000 | 2 | — | — | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2010 | 73 | 75,666 | 0 | — | — | 29 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 54 | 67,703 | 0 | — | — | 28 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 197 | 70,000 | 7 | — | — | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2007 | 60 | 42,000 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 221 | 60,000 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 144 | 65,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 154 | 39,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 116 | 75,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 156 | 89,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 220 | 65,000 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 326 | 75,768 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 581 | 99,000 | 14 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 56 | 115,738 | 6 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 304 | 115,604 | 10 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 176 | 125,940 | 4 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 184 | 129,000 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 123 | 103,000 | 8 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1993 | 130 | 160,000 | 6 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 119 | 91,000 | 4 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 107 | 102,000 | 5 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1990 | 111 | 119,052 | 6 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1989 | 112 | 98,000 | 6 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 62 | 144,000 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 38 | 135,000 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 38 | 377,089 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 21 | — | 2 | — | 13 | — | Stable |
| 1984 | 10 | 208,000 | 3 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
All Ford F-250 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-250?
Owners of the 2012 F-250 most often describe violent front-end shaking at highway speeds after a bump, expansion joint or uneven pavement, a condition many complaints call the "death wobble." Reports also cover engine damage needing major repair and diesel fuel-system faults, along with wear in the steering hardware itself. The issues reported most often: Front-end shake at highway speed ("death wobble"); Engine internal damage requiring major repair; Steering play, loss of assist and front-end hardware.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Ford F-250 have?
NHTSA recorded 266 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford F-250 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2012 Ford F-250 is reported most often?
Suspension is named most often, in 125 complaints (47% of the total), followed by steering with 112.
Has the 2012 Ford F-250 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2012 Ford F-250 do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2012 Ford F-250 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Ford F-250 reported?
Among the 196 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,750 miles and the middle half falls between 38,000 and 128,300 miles; 34% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.
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.