RoadVitals

2012 Ford F-150 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jan 27, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 1,776 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Jan 27, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake lights and taillights failed to function as intended. The neighbor who was driving behind the contact's vehicle, informed the contact that the brake lights and taillights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failed BCM. The contact was informed that the BCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11713564
Incident
Jul 21, 2025
Mileage
130,000 mi
EngineExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 9, 2025

When I was driving on the highway I was going about 65 mph in 6th gear and then without warning my 2012 Ford f150 3.5 truck shifted all the way down to 1st gear which almost caused me to wreck on the highway and other cars to almost slam into me. Now when I try to drive the truck it keeps throwing a wrench and the wrench blinks and my truck will not shift hardly at all between the gears. After I have researched this issue I see that there has been 4 recalls and a few CSP notices for the make and modle of my truck. The recall numbers are #19V075000, 12V190000, 16V248000, 12V198000 and the CSP campaign number is #16N02 regarding the lead frame issue that causes the extreme downshift. I contact the ford dealership to try and get this fixed and they said there is nothing they can do to help me.

NHTSA ID
11692444
Incident
Oct 9, 2025
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Jul 8, 2022

My power steering assist light and my advance track light came on then my steering locked up and I had no control of my vehicle. Luckily I was pulling Into my drive so no one was hurt. I had my 7 year old gson with me too. It could of been fatal. I did some research there's a recall on this on vehicles before 2012 and after 2012 but not on my vehicle which is a 2012 my rack and pinion went out I don't have any backup lights this could have been a serious accident and if anything would have happened to my grandson oh boy Ford but I want to know why my truck doesn't have a recall hurt

NHTSA ID
11472848
Incident
Jun 26, 2022
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Apr 3, 2017

WHEN STARTING MY 2012 F150 I TURN THE KEY AND THERE IS A DELAY AND THEN IT STARTS DON'T THINK THAT IS RIGHT I GET 15.6 MILES PER GAL ON MY 3.5 ECO-BOOST AND KICKING IN THE PASSING GEAR I LOOSE POWER AND ENG. LIGHT COMES ON 3 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPEN ALL TIMES I PULL OVER AND SHUT TRUCK OFF AND RESTART LIGHT GOES OUT.

NHTSA ID
10970052
Incident
Dec 12, 2016
Mileage
96,000 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Mar 7, 2017

3/7/2017 20 MINUTE DRIVE HOME, SHUT TRUCK OFF TO RUN INSIDE HOUSE CAMEOUT TO RUN ERRAND TO PHARMACY AND UPON STARTING TRUCK AFTER PHARMACY SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC SHOWED UP IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED MY TURN SIGNALS NOT TO WORK. THIS TRUCK HAS HAD A FAULTY TOURQUE CONVERTOR, REAR WINDOW REPLACEMENT DUE TO BREAK IN REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. NOW THIS, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND WILL BE PURSUING THE LEMON LAW IN MY STATE. WHEN SAFETY ISSUES ARISE AND ARE REPORTED THEY SHOULD BE ACTED ON IMMEDIATLY! SHOULD NOT WAIT TIL NUMBERS OF DEATHS BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. A CONSCIENTIOUS AUTOMAKER WITH CUSTOMER SAFETY IN MIND WOULD PUT OUT RECALLS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE.

NHTSA ID
10959473
Incident
Mar 7, 2017
Mileage
27,151 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 27, 2016

STARTED MY TRUCK AROUND 9 PM AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE, HAD TO BACK DOWN A LONG STRAIGHT PARKING LOT, SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 15 MPH. CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND PULLED OUT ONTO A MAIN ROAD, HIT THE MERGE TURN SIGNAL AND HEARD NOTHING. I DIDDNT THINK MUCH OF IT, THOUGHT I DIDDNT HIT THE TURN SIGNAL ARM HARD ENOUGH. TURNING ONTO MAIN ROAD AND HIT TURN SIGNAL AGAIN, NO SOUND. LOOKED AT DASHBOARD, EVERYTHING IS OFF, NO BACK LIGHTING AND NO GAUGE MOVEMENT/LIGHTS AT ALL. EXTERIOR LIGHTS WORK BUT NOT REVERSE LIGHTS, TURN TRUCK ON AND OFF 3X WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. 4TH TRY FINALLY REBOOTS THE COMPUTER AND HAS RUN FINE SINCE THEN

NHTSA ID
10861744
Incident
Mar 19, 2016
Mileage
53,212 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 1, 2013

2012 FORD F150 STX "AUTO LAMPS" CAN NOT BE TURNED ON BY DEALERSHIPS, IF THEY WERE NOT FACTORY INSTALLED, EVEN THOUGH FACTORY WIRING AND PROPER PARTS, EXISTS. "LIGHTS ON WITH WIPERS", WHICH IS AN AVAILABLE OPTION WITH THE AUTO LAMP FEATURE, IS REQUIRED BY PENNSYLVANIA LAW, WHO MUST CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533005
Incident
Jul 24, 2013
Mileage
7,500 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2013

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I HEARD A POP AND 'DING' SOUND BEFORE LOSING ALL ELECTRICAL ITEMS - DASH BOARD, HEAD LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC., BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL OPERATING. I THEN FELT A GRINDING NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE HIGHWAY SAFELY TO PARK AT A GAS STATION. I TURNED OFF AND REMOVED THE KEY BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I WAS ONLY A FEW MILES FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. I INSERTED THE KEY, TURNED IT TO THE ON POSITION AND TRIED TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO GEAR WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE TRANSMISSION BRAKE RELEASE WOULD NOT WORK. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO SCHEDULED A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THEY ADVISED THAT I SHOULD PULL THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FUSE WHICH DID STOP THE ENGINE. TO DATE, FORD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509104
Incident
Apr 13, 2013
Mileage
4,700 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .