2012 Ford F-350 SD

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Ford F-350 SD has 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: while driving an alarm sounded and the driver display stated " stop safely now" and lost all throttle response. when the vehicle stopped, the engine shut off and it would not crank or restart. it had to be towed from a busy intersection. the fault turned out to be a failed egt exhaust temperature se.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

12 complaints

24%

• WHILE DRIVING AN ALARM SOUNDED AND THE DRIVER DISPLAY STATED " STOP SAFELY NOW" AND LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK OR RESTART. IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE FAULT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILED EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SE
• WHILE DRIVING AN ALARM SOUNDED AND THE DRIVER DISPLAY STATED " STOP SAFELY NOW" AND LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK OR RESTART. IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE FAULT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILED EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SE
• DUE TO EGT SENSOR READING HIGH EG TEMPS TRUCK SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET UNTIL A GOOD SAMARITAN PULLED ME TO THE CURB. TRUCK WAS FULLY LOADED, BUT NOT OVER LOADED. *TR

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

“WHILE DRIVING AN ALARM SOUNDED AND THE DRIVER DISPLAY STATED " STOP SAFELY NOW" AND LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK OR RESTART. IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE FAULT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILED EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

10 complaints

20%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A ROAD BUMP AND THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE UPPER B
• WHEN CROSSING OVER SOME MINOR PAVEMENT IRREGULARITY, BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT ETC - THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I MUST HIT THE BRAKES AND SLOW DOWN TO TRY AND KEEP FROM LOSING CONTROL. IT IS WIDELY KNOWN ON THE FORD TRUCK FORUMS AS "THE DEATH WOBBLE" HERE IS A UTUBE VIDEO OF IT H
• THIS IS PROBABLY ABOUT THE 30TH TIME MY FORD F-350 HAS HAD A DEATH WOBBLE. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 69 BETWEEN PRESCOTT VALLEY AND PRESCOTT WHEN IT STARTED. IT WAS SHAKING SO BAD THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE MEDIAN. THE OTHER VEHICLES MUST HAVE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SHAKING BECAU

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A ROAD BUMP AND THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE UPPER B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints

18%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A ROAD BUMP AND THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE UPPER B
• WHEN CROSSING OVER SOME MINOR PAVEMENT IRREGULARITY, BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT ETC - THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I MUST HIT THE BRAKES AND SLOW DOWN TO TRY AND KEEP FROM LOSING CONTROL. IT IS WIDELY KNOWN ON THE FORD TRUCK FORUMS AS "THE DEATH WOBBLE" HERE IS A UTUBE VIDEO OF IT H
• THIS IS PROBABLY ABOUT THE 30TH TIME MY FORD F-350 HAS HAD A DEATH WOBBLE. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 69 BETWEEN PRESCOTT VALLEY AND PRESCOTT WHEN IT STARTED. IT WAS SHAKING SO BAD THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE MEDIAN. THE OTHER VEHICLES MUST HAVE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SHAKING BECAU

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

4 complaints

• THIS IS PROBABLY ABOUT THE 30TH TIME MY FORD F-350 HAS HAD A DEATH WOBBLE. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 69 BETWEEN PRESCOTT VALLEY AND PRESCOTT WHEN IT STARTED. IT WAS SHAKING SO BAD THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE MEDIAN. THE OTHER VEHICLES MUST HAVE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SHAKING BECAU
• DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, HIT A SMALL BUMP ON THE DRIVER SIDE ONLY. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY, THE FRONT END AND QUICKLY THE ENTIRE TRUCK FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS SHAKING APART AND WAS SWINGING BACK AND FORTH, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE SHAKING GOT WORSE UNTIL ABO
• I AM EXPERIENCING WHAT THEY CALL THE "DEATH WOBBLE". AFTER HITTING A SERIES OF BUMPS / POT HOLES, THE FRONT WHEELS START TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE THE TRUCK VIOLENTLY, VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AS THE MILEAGE INCREASES ON MY TRUCK, THE INCIDENTS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND INTENSE. TODAY,

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

“THIS IS PROBABLY ABOUT THE 30TH TIME MY FORD F-350 HAS HAD A DEATH WOBBLE. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 69 BETWEEN PRESCOTT VALLEY AND PRESCOTT WHEN IT STARTED. IT WAS SHAKING SO BAD THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE MEDIAN. THE OTHER VEHICLES MUST HAVE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SHAKING BECAU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

4 complaints

• ON OCTOBER 16, 2014 MY TRUCK WAS DAMAGED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION ON A BF GOODRICH ? ALL TERRAIN T/A KO, LT 285 / 65R20 TIRE (DOT BE3F UH11 0912), SOLD BY DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY IN ODESSA, TX. MY TRUCK IS A BLACK 2012 FORD, F-350 SUPER DUTY, FX4, LARIAT 1. WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 TRAVELING EAST AT 67 M
• 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 T
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY TRUCK BEGAN TO VIBRATE. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE TIRES CONDITION, AIR PRESSURE AND LUG NUTS. ALL SEEMED TO BE FINE. I CONTINUED DRIVING AND EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT BLOWOUT FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY

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

“ON OCTOBER 16, 2014 MY TRUCK WAS DAMAGED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION ON A BF GOODRICH ? ALL TERRAIN T/A KO, LT 285 / 65R20 TIRE (DOT BE3F UH11 0912), SOLD BY DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY IN ODESSA, TX. MY TRUCK IS A BLACK 2012 FORD, F-350 SUPER DUTY, FX4, LARIAT 1. WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 TRAVELING EAST AT 67 M”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 50 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING AN ALARM SOUNDED AND THE DRIVER DISPLAY STATED " STOP SAFELY NOW" AND LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK OR RESTART. IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE FAULT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILED EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A ROAD BUMP AND THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE UPPER B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A ROAD BUMP AND THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE UPPER B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: THIS IS PROBABLY ABOUT THE 30TH TIME MY FORD F-350 HAS HAD A DEATH WOBBLE. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 69 BETWEEN PRESCOTT VALLEY AND PRESCOTT WHEN IT STARTED. IT WAS SHAKING SO BAD THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE MEDIAN. THE OTHER VEHICLES MUST HAVE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SHAKING BECAU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)