This page covers 6 recalls and 1765 owner complaints for the 2012 Ford F-150.
For the 2012 F-150, the bulk of owner complaints center on the powertrain and engine. On the transmission side, owners frequently report unexpected downshifts, sometimes dropping multiple gears at once while driving at normal speeds, along with hesitation, rough shifting, and a failure to accelerate as intended when the throttle is pressed. Some owners also describe warning lights appearing alongside these events. Engine complaints cover a range of symptoms including stalling, rough running, and loss of power. Steering draws the third-largest complaint volume, with owners describing the electric power steering intermittently losing assist and then returning abruptly, which produces a sudden jerk in the wheel, a pattern owners say is especially noticeable at highway speeds. A smaller cluster of reports mentions brake pedal firmness and ABS activation in situations where owners didn't expect it.
1,765
Total Complaints
40
Crash-Related
14
Fire-Related
23
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Ford F-150 has 6 recalls, the most serious being an automatic transmission that can unexpectedly drop into first gear at any speed, causing the truck to slow sharply and the rear tires to lock or slide.
Two other transmission issues round out the drivetrain concerns. On certain vehicles, the shift interlock can allow the driver to move the transmission out of park without pressing the brake pedal, which raises the risk of an unintended rollaway or striking a nearby pedestrian. There is also a compliance issue where the transmission may not engage reverse properly, or the backup lights may not illuminate when the shifter is moved to reverse, leaving drivers without the expected visual warning. On the safety equipment side, incorrect software in the passenger seat occupant classification system can cause the front passenger airbag to deploy when it should not, fail to deploy in a crash, or misread the seat occupancy and trigger false warning lights on the dash.
At a glance
What can fail
The 6-speed automatic transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear while driving, regardless of how fast the vehicle is moving.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module at no cost to fix the downshift issue.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The automatic transmission may unexpectedly downshift to first gear at any speed, which can cause loss of vehicle control.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software at no cost to fix the transmission downshift issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission range sensor may be calibrated incorrectly for reverse gear, preventing proper gear selection and starter interlock operation.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission range sensor at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The occupant classification system module has incorrect software that may cause it to misidentify who is sitting in the passenger seat, leading the passenger airbag to not deploy, deploy incorrectly, or deploy when not needed.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the occupant classification system module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles have incorrect software in the Occupant Classification System, which may misidentify whether a passenger is in the seat. This could prevent the passenger front airbag from deploying in a crash when it should.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the Occupant Classification System Module to correct the software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake shift interlock switch may not work properly, allowing the transmission to shift out of Park without pressing the brake pedal.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the brake shift interlock switch if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
