repaired · 2016 Q2
Equipment
Risk. The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
2012 Ford F-350Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 149 owner complaints about the 2012 Ford F-350, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-498 the manufacturer reports only 0% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 25, 2025. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Ford F-350 has problems
149 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
66Steering
65Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
25Engine2 crash/fire/injury
13Fuel/propulsion system
9Power train
9Wheels
8Service brakes
8Engine and engine cooling
6Electrical system
2111 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 66 | 0 |
| Suspension | 65 | 1 |
| Engine | 25 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 1 |
| Power train | 9 | 3 |
| Wheels | 9 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 21 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2012 Ford F-350 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2015 Q1
Engine
Risk. An unexpected engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Risk. Excessive heat build up in rear compartment could result in fire.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. THIS WILL ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO INADVERTENTLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR INJURY TO…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
112kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 46 steering complaints. 43% were reported before 100,000 miles.
4under 30k miles20under 100k miles26100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other F-350 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-350 median. How we score
'67'68'69'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Ford F-350, and the recalls they led to.
- Vehicle Commanded Engine ShutdownLed to recall 15V-175
In owners' words
What F-350 owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the contact rolled over a bump and the vehicle started to shudder and sway to the left and right violently. The contact slowed down to 20 MPH and regained control of the vehicle. The contact stated there…
I'm currently experiencing the "Death Wobble" with my vehicle, making it unsafe to drive past 60 mph due to intense shaking. This is a serious safety concern for both me and my family. This issue happens frequently on the freeway, and we all fear that the wheels could fall off or the vehicle might…
Truck has a random death wabble and differnt speeds. I've taken the truck to three differnt ford dealers multiple times and they alll can't find any worn parts, the dealers all with say ford knows there is a saftey issue with the trucks but don't have a real fix for the issue. several other ford…
Own a 2012 F-350?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.