"How reliable is the 2012 Ford F-150?"

"Based on 2422 NHTSA complaints, the 2012 Ford F-150 has a median complaint mileage of 59000 miles. The most common issue is Power Train."

"What are common problems with the 2012 Ford F-150?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Ford F-150 is Power Train, accounting for a significant portion of the 2422 total complaints filed."

2012 Ford F-150: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2422 complaints

2422

Total Complaints

59,000mi

Median Mileage

Power Train

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

20,960 25th Percentile

59,000 Median Mileage

100,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Power Train

657

Engine

481

Steering

200

Vehicle Speed Control

192

Electrical System

153

Service Brakes

124

Unknown Or Other

118

Visibility/Wiper

Fuel/Propulsion System

Air Bags

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ENGINE MISFIRE, SHUDDER, BOGGING. TSB DIDNT FIX. *TR"

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-150 CREW CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH COVERS OVER THE FENDER WELLS OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THEY NO LONGER OFFERED THE FEATURE AND THAT HE COULD PURCHASE ONE AT HIS EXP..."

"WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE TRUCK ENGINE ALMOST DIED. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE, MAINLY WHEN I ACCELERATE QUICKLY AS IN TRYING TO PASS A CAR. IT COULD EASILY GET SOMEONE KILLED. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR COME UP WITH A FIX BEC..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Power Train 657 complaints

25th: 46,255 mi Median: 90,000 mi 75th: 129,725 mi

Engine 481 complaints

25th: 8,131 mi Median: 24,000 mi 75th: 63,000 mi

Steering 200 complaints

25th: 44,651 mi Median: 72,000 mi 75th: 114,000 mi

Vehicle Speed Control 192 complaints

25th: 10,975 mi Median: 30,500 mi 75th: 85,000 mi

Electrical System 153 complaints

25th: 37,000 mi Median: 61,950 mi 75th: 96,750 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 300 FL: 130 MI: 119 GA: 118 PA: 107 CA: 98 OH: 93 NC: 90 TN: 86 MO: 78

Who Files Complaints?

1.2%

Original Owners

98.8%

Second+ Owners

Ford F-150 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1990	25	76,696	Fuel/Propulsion System	0
1991	357	110,000	Tank Assembly	12
1992	553	130,325	Selector Devices	25
1993	753	140,000	Tank Assembly	32
1994	908	130,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	79
1995	788	117,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	61
1996	383	113,250	Cruise Control	22
1997	3285	108,000	Engine	205
1998	1624	112,337	Fuel System, Gasoline	96
1999	1322	98,000	Engine	116
2000	1269	91,032	Fuel System, Gasoline	102
2001	1451	98,000	Vehicle Speed Control	113
2002	963	90,000	Engine And Engine Cooling	63
2003	520	64,266	Electrical System	57
2004	2429	59,312	Power Window Devices And Controls	99
2005	1363	62,000	Power Window Devices And Controls	66
2006	735	62,000	Engine	72
2007	623	60,000	Engine	51
2008	455	60,346	Engine	48
2009	397	53,500	Vehicle Speed Control	34
2010	1131	56,183	Electrical System	33
2011	2938	68,500	Power Train	70
2013	3849	72,000	Power Train	102
2014	1859	64,000	Power Train	56
2015	2036	48,000	Service Brakes	64
2016	2373	42,000	Power Train	67
2017	1595	46,500	Power Train	47
2018	2627	38,000	Power Train	104
2019	1532	59,142	Power Train	30
2020	797	33,000	Power Train	30
2021	1138	40,000	Power Train	19
2022	702	25,000	Power Train	29
2023	494	18,614	Power Train	25
2024	195	3,700	Exterior Lighting	25
2025	112	6,500	Power Train	7

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28