CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2012 Ford F-350 SD

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

29

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Ford F-350 SD have filed 29 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2013 and February 2023. The most complained-about system is the suspension, named in 10 of them (34%). The typical failure was reported at 36,000 miles, the median across the 27 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 9 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (9)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

15V175000 · March 25, 2015

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured February 22, 2010, to January 30, 2015, and equipped with ambulance or fire engine preparation packages. The affected vehicles may detect an incorrect Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor (EGT) fault indicating that the vehicle is too hot, causing the engine management system to shut down the engine and prevent its immediate restart.
The risk
Engine shut down and a subsequent cool down period may delay medical treatment or assistance to those needing it, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S09.

Ford Motor Company · up to 6,322 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

14V453000 · July 24, 2014

The defect
Godwin Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Godwin) is recalling certain model year 2010 Ford F-450; 2011 Ford F-550; 2012 Ford F-350 and 2013 F-350 Super Duty trucks modified by Godwin and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
The 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.
The remedy
Godwin will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Godwin customer service at 1-800-892-0181.

Godwin Manufacturing Company, Inc. · up to 6 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

14V360000 · June 23, 2014

The defect
Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Palfleet) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 super duty vehicles modified by Palfleet and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
The 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.
The remedy
Palfleet will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 29, 2014. Owners may contact Palfleet customer service at 1- 502-376-2458.

Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC · up to 10 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

14V328000 · June 13, 2014

The defect
Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners and dealers to inspect the Muncie PTO pressure switch to determine if it is from the range of defective switches and if required, remove the pressure switch assembly and put a plug in the port where the PTO switch had been installed. This switch was never being utilized. This will be done free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-July 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.
The 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.
The remedy
Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.

Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. · up to 21 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

14V326000 · June 13, 2014

The defect
Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Manning and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
The 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.
The remedy
Manning will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. This action is the same as the service campaign action. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Manning at 1-800-876-8768.

Manning Equipment Inc. LLC · up to 10 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

14V327000 · June 12, 2014

The defect
Stahl is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Stahl and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
The 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.
The remedy
Stahl will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. Owners may contact Stahl customer service at 1-800-277-8245, or Muncie at 1-800-367-7867.

Stahl · up to 10 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

14V382000 · June 10, 2014

The defect
Somerset Welding & Steel, doing business as J&J Truck equipment (J&J), is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis with 6.8L gasoline engines modified by J&J to be equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
The 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.
The remedy
Somerset will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began August 2014. Owner's may contact Somerset customer service at 1-800-777-2671.

SOMERSET WELDING & STEEL, INC. · up to 4 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

14V379000 · June 10, 2014

The defect
Utility Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Utility Truck) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 UTLI41A, 2011 UTLN41, and 2012 UTLN46 aerial trucks manufactured December 2010 to September 2013 equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies installed on 2010-2013 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
The 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.
The remedy
Utility Truck will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Utility Truck customer service at 1-254-857-8813.

Utility Truck Equipment Company, LLC · up to 16 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

14V307000 · June 4, 2014

The defect
Tactical Vehicle Outfitters (Tactical) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ford F-350 and F-550 vehicles modified by Tactical and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
The 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.
The remedy
Tactical will notify owners, and dealers will install a new PTO pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Tactical customer service at 1-405-603-6700.

Tactical Vehicle Outfitters · up to 19 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown

RQ14005

Closed recall query · opened January 13, 2015 · closed March 15, 2016 · led to recall 15V175000

the electrical system, the engine, the engine and its cooling

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this RQ to investigate allegations that the scope and remedy of safety recall 13V-535 were inadequate. Recall 13V-535 was limited to a relatively small population of Ambulance Package vehicles and ODI received complaints of pickup trucks and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles being affected by the same defect. Ford manufactured approximately 555,985 subject vehicles between February 22, 2010 and January 30, 2015 that may be affected by defective EGT sensors and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software calibration. The subject vehicles are equipped with four (4) EGT sensors to monitor engine operating conditions. An EGT sensor fault may produce false exhaust over-temperature signals. If these signals are produced, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) implements a Failure Management Effects Mode (FMEM) and the driver receives a Stop Safely Now (SSN) system warning on the instrument cluster message center. The FMEM triggers a 70% reduction in available engine power over a period of no more than 45 seconds, during which it may not be possible to accelerate or maintain vehicle speed. The PCM then commands the engine to shut down when vehicle speed reaches approximately 1 mph. There is no immediate restart capability. Depending on the PCM software calibration, ignition key position and ambient temperature conditions, the engine may not restart until the end of a 10-60 minute cool down period.Ford and its component supplier(s) made numerous changes to the PCM software calibration and the design, material and manufacture of the EGT sensors over the period of subject vehicle production. This continuous product improvement affected vehicle performance regarding the alleged defect. Ford acknowledges the defect condition in the subject vehicles but argues that an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety is limited to Ambulance Package and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles where commanded shutdown could impact emergency response and patient care. Ford also argues that the defect trend is in decline. Ford also initiated a new safety recall (15V-175) to address the 13V-535 remedy concerns in the Ambulance Package vehicles and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles. The 15V-175 remedy reprograms the PCM with a new software calibration that stops a single EGT sensor fault to cause the vehicle to enter the FMEM shutdown mode.Ford also initiated an EPA emissions recall (14E03) for all subject vehicles that reprograms the PCM with the software calibration employed in safety recall 15V-175. Finally, Ford initiated a Customer Satisfaction Program (15M01) providing extended warranty coverage of 8 years or 80,000 miles for the the EGT sensors on certain MY2011-2012 subject vehicles.Due to the EPA emissions recall, that had a 66.6% completion rate in Ford's December 2015 progress report to the EPA, the defect trend is in decline. ODI is not aware of any crashes, deaths or injuries related to the alleged defect.ODI believes the alleged defect poses a safety risk but notes that the EPA emissions recall is addressing the safety problem.Compelling issuance of a duplicate recall would not represent a wise use of agency resources.Accordingly, this Recall Query is closed.This action is not a finding that no defect exists and NHTSA will take further action if such action is warranted.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 29.

SUSPENSION 10 34%
STEERING 9 31%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5 17%
TIRES 4 14%
WHEELS 4 14%
ENGINE 3 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 3%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 1 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 3%
POWER TRAIN 1 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 9.

2013 2014 2023
2013 to 2023

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash

ON 11/3/14, AT OUR OPERATION, WE HAD A COLLISION INVOLVING OUR EMPLOYEE AS HE WAS BACKING UP OUR 2012 F350 WHEN HIS FOOT GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING HIM TO BACK INTO A DOOR ON A BUILDING. IT APPEARS DUE TO THE DESIGN AND SPACING OF THE PEDALS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET YOUR FOOT STUCK UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AS YOU PIVOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. COINCIDENTALLY, ON 11/6 ONE OF THE LOCAL COMPANIES HAD A SIMILAR EVENT INVOLVING A 2012 F350 WHEN THERE EMPLOYEE WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, HE WENT TO STOP BUT HIS FOOT GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HE WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION RESULTING IN A COLLISION. APPEARS ON THE NEWER 2014 F350 MODELS, THE BRAKE

NHTSA complaint 10662216, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

196,475 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and lost motive power. The message "Stop Vehicle Safely Now" was displayed. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts and the message remained displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle started up after an hour and half. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to the exhaust gas temperature sensor. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the

NHTSA complaint 11509339, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
High speed wobble in front end Goes away of You slow down Getting worse Very scary, pulls steering wheel out of my grasp Wife refusing to ride in the truck

NHTSA complaint 11508072. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

142,000 miles

DEATH WOBBLE AT SPEEDS STARTING ANYWHERE FROM 40 MPH UP. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ON A HIGHWAY OR OVERPASS AND THERE'S NOWHERE TO SLOW DOWN OR TRY TO STEER TO. EXTREMELY SCARY. HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM 'TRY' TO BE FIXED GREATER THAN 5 TIMES. THE LAST FIX WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND HAS LASTED SO FAR BUT I'M STARTING TO FEEL VIBRATION AGAIN. THE FIXES AREN'T CHEAP EITHER. ALWAYS GREATER THAN $1000 WITH PARTS AND LABOR. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

NHTSA complaint 11348804. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

110,000 miles

THIS TRUCK WHILE DRIVING DOWNTOWN THE INTERSTATE AFTER CROSSING A BRIDGE DID A VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND NEARLY CAUSE ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR AND WRECK. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP TO GET IT TO STOP. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND ALSO FAMILY OWNED SHOPS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOBODY CAN FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint 11208967. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

71,000 miles

MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT 50 - 60MPH TOWING MY 12,000 LB 5TH WHEEL TRAILER, OFTEN IF I DRIVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, MY 2012 FORD F350 WILL START TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE FROM THE FRONT STEERING. I HAVE HAD PARTS REPLACED, ALIGNMENT DONE, NEW TIRES, NEW SHOCKS, BUT NOTHING STOPS THIS PROBLEM. I CAN'T TOW MY TRAILER ANYMORE. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN NOT TOWING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS TO BE SAFE. THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE SOLUTION. FORD SEEMS TO IGNORE IT. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA complaint 11208426. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

32,000 miles

MY TRUCK HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT. 6.7 DIESEL. UPON STARTING THE TRUCK ( STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY ) #3 FUEL INJECTOR POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE, CAUSING A MISFIRE AND SPRAYING DIESEL FUEL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE #3 INJECTOR HOLD DOWN CLAMP HAD BROKEN CAUSED BY A CRACK IN IT. . FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT.. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. FORD AGREED TO REPLACE HALF OF THE DEFECTIVE INJECTOR CLAMPS. (4) THIS LEAVES THE OTHER 4 PRONE TO FAIL AT ANY TIME. I WAS CHARGED $897.67. FOR THE" HALF REPAIR". FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AS IT IS A WELL KNOWN FAILURE AND DOCUMENTED ON NUMEROUS

NHTSA complaint 11111981, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford F-350 SD

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 14 6
2024 43 3
2023 39 15
2022 108 17
2021 94 14
2020 186 15
2019 465 11
2018 200 9
2017 572 13
2016 208 3
2015 207 3
2013 9 9
2011 43 7
2010 50 6

Other 2012 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst