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Ford F-350 SDModel year report

2012 Ford F-350 SD Problems

Compared with other Ford F-350 SD years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

0/100 0.3× a typical year · 50 = typical

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
29filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
36,000miles, 27 complaints with mileage
Recalls
9campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford F-350 SD (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 29 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford F-350 SD. The part named most often is suspension, with 10 complaints (34% of the total), followed by steering (9) and engine cooling (5). 27 of the complaints include a mileage, and 63% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 36,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns and 130 technical service bulletins for this model year. Suspension complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Steering complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 12 Ford F-350 SD model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer 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.

Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Body and structure (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “Multiple times while driving at 50 - 60mph towing my 12,000 lb 5th wheel trailer, often if I drive over a bump in the road, my 2012 Ford f350 will start to violently shake from the front steering. I have had parts replaced, alignment done, new tires, new shocks, but nothing stops this problem. I can't tow my trailer anymore. This problem has also happened when not towing. There needs to be a recall for this to be safe. The dealer cannot figure out the solution. Ford seems to ignore it. Please help”

NHTSA complaint #11208426, filed 2019-05, 71,000 miles

Steering: “This truck while driving downtown the interstate after crossing a bridge did a violent shaking of the steering wheel and nearly cause me to hit another car and wreck. I had to slow down almost to a complete stop to get it to stop. I have since taken it to different Ford dealerships and also family owned shops to fix the problem and nobody can fix it.”

NHTSA complaint #11208967, filed 2019-05, 110,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Warning came on saying stop safely now and as I pulled to the side of the road the truck shut down and would not re-start. Luckily I was not on a busy road, pulling a trailer or out of cell range or there definitely could have been a problem. Because there is no warning and the vehicle will not start again and these trucks are way to big to simply push off the road this is a very dangerous situation. …”

NHTSA complaint #10610312, filed 2014-07, 60,000 miles

Tires: “I now have a third tire with tread separation. The tire is a bf goodrich all-terrain t/a ko, lt285/65r20 127/124s, DOT (be3f uh11 1313). This time the tire was located on the front driver side and caused a death shimmy. The tire still has the tread on and can still be inflated. It was removed from the rim for inspection and replacement. No internal damage or cracks was found inside, but there are cracks in the tread that indicates that the tread will separate from the tire. Are they trying to hurt or kill me and my passengers? …”

NHTSA complaint #10763951, filed 2015-09, 88,612 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

63% of the 27 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 71,386 miles.

0%0–1011%10–2552%25–5015%50–7511%75–1007%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (27 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 36,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2013201492015201620172018201920202023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

See all 9 recalls for the 2012 Ford F-350 SD → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

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. 130 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 130 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford F-350 SD

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20268—7———Too new
2025142,0507———Too new
20244514,0003——Too new to compareToo new
2023419,50015——50 · TypicalToo new
202211350,00017——66 · MoreRising
20219889,54514——51 · TypicalRising
202018959,00015——78 · MoreRising
201946721,00011——100 · MoreFalling
201820525,0009——88 · MoreFalling
201757526,00013——100 · MoreFalling
201620948,3003——39 · TypicalFalling
201520855,0003——35 · FewerFalling
2014740,0004———Not enough data
2013926,0009———Not enough data
20122936,0009——0 · FewerRising
20114343,1007——0 · FewerRising
20105070,0006——8 · FewerFalling
20091914,7754———Stable
200810139,7500——1 · FewerFalling
20072536,2751——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200612738,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200521744,9003——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200413075,4782——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200313245,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200212463,5253——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200115858,2952——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200015779,2002——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199914295,5002——Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Ford F-350 SD model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Ford F-350 SD have?

NHTSA recorded 29 consumer complaints for the 2012 Ford F-350 SD as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Ford F-350 SD is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 10 complaints (34% of the total), followed by steering with 9.

Has the 2012 Ford F-350 SD been recalled?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Ford F-350 SD reported?

Among the 27 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 36,000 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 71,386 miles; 63% 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.

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.