2012 Ford F-350 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Ford F-350 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 252
- 97 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 66 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 9 reported crashes · 6 injuries · 5 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,105
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Ford median
-85
median 338 across 514 Ford records
Vs 2010-2014
-40
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
26%
Steering: 66 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Ford F-350
- STEERING 66
- SUSPENSION 65
- ENGINE 25
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13
4 recalls on record for the 2012 Ford F-350
- NHTSA 14V498000 · 2014 · EQUIPMENT The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may
- NHTSA 13V535000 · 2013 · ENGINE An unexpected engine stall increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, if this were to occur when the ambulance is tran
- NHTSA 13V380000 · 2013 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM Excessive heat build up in rear compartment could result in fire.
- NHTSA 11V582000 · 2011 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THIS WILL ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO INADVERTENTLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, INCRE
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Ford F-350
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford F-350 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Ford F-350 reliable?
NHTSA has 252 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Ford F-350 and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (66 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford F-350 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-350?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (66), suspension (65), engine (25), unknown or other (17). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Ford F-350?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.