2012 Ford F-450

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Ford F-450 has 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: this vehicle is an ambulance and was dispatched on an emergency call. the crew attempted to crank the vehicle, but the starter would not even engage. another ambulance had to be dispatched to the call. it was later determined that one of the four egt exhaust gas temperatur sensors had failed and di.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

9 complaints

35%

• THIS VEHICLE IS AN AMBULANCE AND WAS DISPATCHED ON AN EMERGENCY CALL. THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT EVEN ENGAGE. ANOTHER AMBULANCE HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE CALL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATUR SENSORS HAD FAILED AND DI
• THIS VEHICLE IS AN AMBULANCE AND WAS DISPATCHED ON AN EMERGENCY CALL. THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT EVEN ENGAGE. ANOTHER AMBULANCE HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE CALL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATUR SENSORS HAD FAILED AND DI
• THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IS AN AMBULANCE, WAS DISPATCHED TO AN EMERGENCY CALL. AS THEY TURNED INTO THE DRIVE OF THE FACILITY THE CHIMES SOUNDED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HAD THIS VEHICLE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE CREW INVOLVED. AT THE VERY LEAST

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

“THIS VEHICLE IS AN AMBULANCE AND WAS DISPATCHED ON AN EMERGENCY CALL. THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT EVEN ENGAGE. ANOTHER AMBULANCE HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE CALL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATUR SENSORS HAD FAILED AND DI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

15%

• I WAS DRIVING ALONG MY 2012 FORD F450SUPERDUTY TURBO DIESEL ALONG THE INTERSTATE 495 DC BELTWAY IN MARYLAND WITH MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT, WHEN A LCD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEEDOMETER GAVE A WARNING WHICH READ "REDUCED POWER" AND COULD IMMEDIATELY FEEL A REDUCED RESPONSIVENESS OF THE TR
• DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN
• 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 W

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

“I WAS DRIVING ALONG MY 2012 FORD F450SUPERDUTY TURBO DIESEL ALONG THE INTERSTATE 495 DC BELTWAY IN MARYLAND WITH MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT, WHEN A LCD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEEDOMETER GAVE A WARNING WHICH READ "REDUCED POWER" AND COULD IMMEDIATELY FEEL A REDUCED RESPONSIVENESS OF THE TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

3 complaints

12%

• DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN
• 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 W
• 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. SPEE

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

“DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

12%

• DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN
• 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 W
• 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. SPEE

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

3 complaints

12%

• 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
• 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.
• 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 diagnos

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~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 26 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THIS VEHICLE IS AN AMBULANCE AND WAS DISPATCHED ON AN EMERGENCY CALL. THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT EVEN ENGAGE. ANOTHER AMBULANCE HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE CALL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATUR SENSORS HAD FAILED AND DI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS DRIVING ALONG MY 2012 FORD F450SUPERDUTY TURBO DIESEL ALONG THE INTERSTATE 495 DC BELTWAY IN MARYLAND WITH MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT, WHEN A LCD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEEDOMETER GAVE A WARNING WHICH READ "REDUCED POWER" AND COULD IMMEDIATELY FEEL A REDUCED RESPONSIVENESS OF THE TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)