2012 Ford F-250 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford F-250. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 27% of relevant complaints.
Better than 76% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Looking at a specific F-250?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.
Check a VINDoes the 2012 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 85 of 323 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 27% and the 2013 scores 27%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
Three of 85 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Ford F-250?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 F-150 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 F-250, F-350, F-450 AND F-550 HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 12, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2011. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 114, THEFT PROTECTION. THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE SHIFTED…
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 A NEARBY PEDESTRIAN.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SWITCH FUNCTION AND REPLACE THE SWITCH IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Before you buy a 2012 Ford F-250
- No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
- 1 recall campaign on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
- Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2012 Ford F-250
Does the 2012 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 85 of 323 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Ford F-250?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 11V582000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford F-250 years are better?
Among the Ford F-250 years we track, the 2017 (8%), the 2019 (8%) and the 2018 (10%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (27%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2012 Ford F-250?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2012 Ford F-250 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.