2012 Ford F-250 SD

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Ford F-250 SD has 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: while driving my truck on a busy side road, the message center flashed a warning, "stop safe soon". a audible chime was heard and the truck shut off. complete lose of power brakes, power steering. i was not able to get the truck off the road completely since it happened so fast. traffic was stopped .

3 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

28 complaints

29%

• WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A BUSY SIDE ROAD, THE MESSAGE CENTER FLASHED A WARNING, "STOP SAFE SOON". A AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD COMPLETELY SINCE IT HAPPENED SO FAST. TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED
• WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A BUSY SIDE ROAD, THE MESSAGE CENTER FLASHED A WARNING, "STOP SAFE SOON". A AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD COMPLETELY SINCE IT HAPPENED SO FAST. TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED
• VEHICLE STALLED AND STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 231 IN MONTGOMERY AL. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER, SECOND INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATION [SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER) IS: XXX59219. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSIST. I HAVE 125K EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A BUSY SIDE ROAD, THE MESSAGE CENTER FLASHED A WARNING, "STOP SAFE SOON". A AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD COMPLETELY SINCE IT HAPPENED SO FAST. TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

18 complaints

19%

• VEHICLE STALLED AND STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 231 IN MONTGOMERY AL. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER, SECOND INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATION [SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER) IS: XXX59219. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSIST. I HAVE 125K EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO VIBRATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WA
• DRAMATIC WHEEL AND FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN HITTING A BRIDGE TRANSITION. VEHICLE BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AND CONTINUES TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE IN MY 2005 F250 AND HAD TO CHANGE ALMOST ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE FRONT END TO FIX. THERE ARE HU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE STALLED AND STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 231 IN MONTGOMERY AL. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER, SECOND INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATION [SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER) IS: XXX59219. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSIST. I HAVE 125K EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

14 complaints

14%

• DRAMATIC WHEEL AND FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN HITTING A BRIDGE TRANSITION. VEHICLE BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AND CONTINUES TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE IN MY 2005 F250 AND HAD TO CHANGE ALMOST ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE FRONT END TO FIX. THERE ARE HU
• AFTER HITTING PATCHED PORTION ON ROAD FRONT WHEELS BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. STOPPED VEHICLE AND INSPECTED. SAW NO DAMAGE SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. I THEN TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. NOT FINDING ANYTHING AS OF THIS DATE 8/30. *TR
• CLEAR AND DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. FACTORY TRUCK. DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TURNED TO THE LEFT, THE ROAD MADE A TRANSITION FROM CONCRETE TO ASPHALT WITH A SLIGHT RISE IN ROAD SURFACE AND THE COMMONLY WORDED "DEATH WOBBLE" TOOK OVER VIOLENTLY AND RAPIDLY PULLING MY STEERING WHEEL BAC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRAMATIC WHEEL AND FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN HITTING A BRIDGE TRANSITION. VEHICLE BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AND CONTINUES TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE IN MY 2005 F250 AND HAD TO CHANGE ALMOST ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE FRONT END TO FIX. THERE ARE HU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints

10%

• AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 MINUTES A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL- NO CHANGE IN THE DRIVABILITY. ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THAT THE COMPUTER STARTED FLASHING DIFFERENT SYMBOLS INDICATING MANY PROBLEMS- THE ALARMS WERE GOING OFF NON-STOP- THEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE COMPUTE
• CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON ADVISING ME TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND STOP. I PULLED OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND THE TRUCK STALLED AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. I CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE TRUCK RESTARTED AND I DROVE STRAI
• ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE USING THE REMOTE START FEATURE AND THE TRUCK STARTED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS THEN SHUT OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE TRUCK I HAD TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO TOW IT IN AND PERFORM NECESSARY REPAIRS, WHICH JUST HAPPENED TO BE ANOTHER EGT SENSOR. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 MINUTES A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL- NO CHANGE IN THE DRIVABILITY. ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THAT THE COMPUTER STARTED FLASHING DIFFERENT SYMBOLS INDICATING MANY PROBLEMS- THE ALARMS WERE GOING OFF NON-STOP- THEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE COMPUTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

6 complaints

• VEHICLE STALLED AND STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 231 IN MONTGOMERY AL. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER, SECOND INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATION [SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER) IS: XXX59219. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSIST. I HAVE 125K EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 63 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECOND DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
• CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON ADVISING ME TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND STOP. I PULLED OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND THE TRUCK STALLED AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. I CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE TRUCK RESTARTED AND I DROVE STRAI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 97 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A BUSY SIDE ROAD, THE MESSAGE CENTER FLASHED A WARNING, "STOP SAFE SOON". A AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD COMPLETELY SINCE IT HAPPENED SO FAST. TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: VEHICLE STALLED AND STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 231 IN MONTGOMERY AL. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER, SECOND INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATION [SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER) IS: XXX59219. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSIST. I HAVE 125K EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: DRAMATIC WHEEL AND FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN HITTING A BRIDGE TRANSITION. VEHICLE BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AND CONTINUES TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE IN MY 2005 F250 AND HAD TO CHANGE ALMOST ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE FRONT END TO FIX. THERE ARE HU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 MINUTES A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL- NO CHANGE IN THE DRIVABILITY. ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THAT THE COMPUTER STARTED FLASHING DIFFERENT SYMBOLS INDICATING MANY PROBLEMS- THE ALARMS WERE GOING OFF NON-STOP- THEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN BY THE COMPUTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)