Your vehicle report
2012 Ford F-250
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 266
- Received Dec 2011 to Jun 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed122 complaints · 46% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks42 complaints · 16% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine suddenly shuts off while driving11 complaints · 4.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #11V582000Ford 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 out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to brake shift interlock switch problem.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speedFirst signal: Aug 2013
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 4 crashes, 5 fires, 5 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 10 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
- Fuel pump fails and engine stalls
1 more problem
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2020 | 47 |
| 2021 | 38 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 4 |
| Total | 266 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 122 | 46% | 31× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2013 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.3% |
| Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks | 42 | 16% | 17.9× | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 11 | 4.1% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 7 | 2.6% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 5 | 1.9% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 4 | 1.5% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 1.1% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 3 | 1.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 3 | 1.1% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 3 | 1.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #11V582000December 8, 201116,091 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission
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 out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to brake shift interlock switch problem.
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.
Remedy
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 Ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2012 Ford F-250.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN