EQUIPMENT
2012 Ford F-450
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Ford F-450, most frequently naming the engine, steering and suspension categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 15 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 1 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 2014 | 2 | 4 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 5 |
| Dec 2015 | 1 | 6 |
| May 2016 | 2 | 8 |
| Jun 2016 | 2 | 10 |
| Apr 2019 | 1 | 11 |
| Feb 2020 | 1 | 12 |
| Nov 2020 | 1 | 13 |
| Mar 2026 | 1 | 14 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine735.0%
- Steering315.0%
- Suspension315.0%
- Fuel system315.0%
- Tires & wheels15.0%
- Electrical15.0%
- Exterior lighting15.0%
- Driver assistance15.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
4 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govENGINE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this RQ to investigate allegations that the scope and remedy of safety recall 13V-535 were inadequate. Recall 13V-535 was limited to a relatively small population of Ambulance Package vehicles and ODI received complaints of pickup trucks and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles being affected by the same defect. Ford manufactured approximately 555,985 subject vehicles between February 22, 2010 and January 30, 2015 that may be affected by defective EGT sensors and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software calibration. The subject vehicles are equipped with four (4) EGT sensors to monitor engine operating conditions. An EGT sensor fault may produce false exhaust over-temperature signals. If these signals are produced, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) implements a Failure Management Effects Mode (FMEM) and the driver receives a Stop Safely Now (SSN) system warning on the instrument cluster message center. The FMEM triggers a 70% reduction in available engine power over a period of no more than 45 seconds, during which it may not be possible to accelerate or maintain vehicle speed. The PCM then commands the engine to shut down when vehicle speed reaches approximately 1 mph. There is no immediate restart capability. Depending on the PCM software calibration, ignition key position and ambient temperature conditions, the engine may not restart until the end of a 10-60 minute cool down period.Ford and its component supplier(s) made numerous changes to the PCM software calibration and the design, material and manufacture of the EGT sensors over the period of subject vehicle production. This continuous product improvement affected vehicle performance regarding the alleged defect. Ford acknowledges the defect condition in the subject vehicles but argues that an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety is limited to Ambulance Package and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles where commanded shutdown could impact emergency response and patient care. Ford also argues that the defect trend is in decline. Ford also initiated a new safety recall (15V-175) to address the 13V-535 remedy concerns in the Ambulance Package vehicles and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles. The 15V-175 remedy reprograms the PCM with a new software calibration that stops a single EGT sensor fault to cause the vehicle to enter the FMEM shutdown mode.Ford also initiated an EPA emissions recall (14E03) for all subject vehicles that reprograms the PCM with the software calibration employed in safety recall 15V-175. Finally, Ford initiated a Customer Satisfaction Program (15M01) providing extended warranty coverage of 8 years or 80,000 miles for the the EGT sensors on certain MY2011-2012 subject vehicles.Due to the EPA emissions recall, that had a 66.6% completion rate in Ford's December 2015 progress report to the EPA, the defect trend is in decline. ODI is not aware of any crashes, deaths or injuries related to the alleged defect.ODI believes the alleged defect poses a safety risk but notes that the EPA emissions recall is addressing the safety problem.Compelling issuance of a duplicate recall would not represent a wise use of agency resources.Accordingly, this Recall Query is closed.This action is not a finding that no defect exists and NHTSA will take further action if such action is warranted.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-450. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed back to the residence. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the vehicle with fuel pump failure. The contact was unaware whether the fuel pump needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,188.
- NHTSA ID
- 11723101
- Incident
- Mar 9, 2026
- Mileage
- 98,188 mi
KEY IN IGNITION CIRCUIT IS OPEN - ENGINE LIGHT ON ' FIXD INDICATES INSPECTION ISSUE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11375953
- Incident
- Nov 23, 2020
- Mileage
- 67,911 mi
WE HAVE TO REPLACE OUR FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE LINING HAS DELAMINATED. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF THE LINING DETERIORATION.
- NHTSA ID
- 11310536
- Incident
- Feb 20, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT STALLED AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEN TO BAYSHORE FORD TRUCK SALES (LOCATED AT 4003 N DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720, (302) 656-3160) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,500.
- NHTSA ID
- 11203250
- Incident
- Apr 11, 2019
- Mileage
- 38,500 mi
I TOOK MY FORD F-450 LARIAT FOR ITS 60,000 MILES SERVICE. AFTER THE SERVICE WAS DONE, WHILE DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP (AUTONATION FORD IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX), ON THE FREEWAY AS SOON AS I GOT TO AROUND 50 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE'S FRONT STARTED TO SHAKE/WOBBLE VERY VIOLENTLY. SPEEDING UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT (60 MPH) DID NOT HELP AND THE SHAKING GOT ACTUALLY WORST, I HAD TO STOP FOR THE SHAKING/WOBBLING TO STOP, THANKFULLY I WAS STILL ON THE RIGHT LANE AND THERE WAS A WIDE ENOUGH SHOULDER FOR ME TO STOP. AS SOON AS I RESTARTED AND GOT TO ABOUT 50 MPH THE VIOLENT SHAKING RESTARTED, AND I HAD TO STOP AGAIN FOR THIS SHAKING TO STOP. I EXITED THE FREEWAY AT THE FIRST EXIT AND DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER. ON THE WAY BACK THE VIOLENT SHAKING REPEATED AT LEAST 5 MORE TIMES, ONCE ON THE CITY STREET WITH 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT. WHEN I DESCRIBED THE SHAKING TO THE SERVICE ADVISER, HE SAID THEY HEARD ABOUT THIS, AND THEY CALL IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE". ACTUALLY ONE OF HIS MECHANIC EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE ON HIS TRUCK. NOW MY FORD F-450 IS IN SERVICE AGAIN AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX MY "DEATH WOBBLE" PROBLEM. I FILED A COMPLAIN WITH FORD TODAY, BUT I DO NOT EXPECT MUCH TO HAPPEN. GIVEN THAT THE MECHANICS KNEW ABOUT THIS "DEATH WOBBLE", AND AFTER AN INTERNET SEARCH I FOUND THAT IS AFFECTING MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS (THERE ARE MANY GROUPS DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM), I CONSIDER THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES, BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT. STOPPING ON THE FREEWAY, WHILE SEMI-TRUCKS WERE BEHIND ME DRIVING AT FULL SPEED WAS THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCE, AND DID NOT THINK THAT I WILL GET AWAY WITHOUT BEING HIT BY OTHER TRUCKS. PLEASE TELL FORD TO FIX THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THIS FIX.
- NHTSA ID
- 10873258
- Incident
- Jun 8, 2016
- Mileage
- 63,000 mi
WHILE TRANSPORTING A PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE ENGINE ON OUR 2012 FORD AMBULANCE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DERATED. THIS CAUSED OUR AMBULANCE TO SLOW DRAMATICALLY AND DELAYED TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL. WE BROUGHT THE AMBULANCE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE ENTIRE DEF SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000! I RESEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR FORD AND HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10872171
- Incident
- May 30, 2016
- Mileage
- 75,000 mi
1/28/14- HPFP METAL SHAVINGS FOUND AFTER ENGINE POWER DOWN, ALL FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED. AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS (4/10/14) SAME THING. ON 4/25/16 SAME THING. NO WARRANT. FORD KNOWS THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING ISSUE, REFUSES TO WARRANTY WHILE OTHER MFG, IE VW DOES COVER SAME PART. I WOULD WELCOME CLASS ACTION SUIT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10871367
- Incident
- Apr 12, 2016
- Mileage
- 36,220 mi
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A PARKWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT, WE TRAVELED OVER SEVERAL BRIDGES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN AFTER HITTING A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD AND OVER THE BRIDGES THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WE HAD TO ALMOST COME TO A STOP TO HOLD IT IN THE ROAD. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. WE HAD JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED, I AM SCARED TO RIDE OR DRIVE THIS TRUCK ANYMORE, IT IS MY HUSBANDS AND HE DOES. WE PULL A HORSE TRAILER AT TIMES AND I AM SCARED TO DO SO BECAUSE IT PUTS OUR LIVES AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS LIVES AND MY HORSES IN DANGER. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED ASAP....HE PURCHASED SOME EXPENSIVE PART AND HAD IT PUT ON UNDER THE FRONT END AND IT HAS HELPED BUT LT STILL FEELS LIKE IT WILL START AT ANY MOMENT TO SHAKE WHEN YOU CROSS A BRIDGE OR HIT A POT HOLE, IT IS LIKE IT IS ON THE VERGE AND COULD START AT ANY MOMENT. IT DOES NOT DRIVE NORMAL!!!!
- NHTSA ID
- 10863436
- Incident
- Mar 13, 2016
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
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 diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P2043, P205C and/or P205D. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.
ELECTRICAL 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 inside the front display interface module (FDIM) or an improper software configuration of the FDIM.
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
Touchscreen navigation system - arabic language - blank screen
ENGINE
FORD: 2011-2014 F-SUPER DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.7L DIESEL ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE A RUNNING ROUGH OR MISFIRE DURING EXHAUST REGENERATION PROCESS *CN
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
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 SPEEDS WHEN THE REAR DOOR WINDOW(S) OR SUNROOF ARE OPEN. *TA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
FORD: CERTAIN 2011-2015 FORD F-SUPER DUTY WITH 6.7 DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION BUZZ NOISE FROM THE DIESEL FUEL CONDITIONING MODULE (DFCM) AND/OR MAY 10/1/1 PRESSURE FUEL LINES W/O DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE POOSA. *TA
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.