2012 Ford F-450 Owner Complaints
Complaint Summary
The 2012 Ford F-450 has 25 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve engine and unknown or other.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 25 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
ENGINE
5 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4 16%
STEERING
3 12%
SUSPENSION
3 12%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
2 8%
Quick Insights
The top category is ENGINE, accounting for 20% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 11 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2012 Ford F-450
The 2012 Ford F-450 has 25 owner complaints in this dataset. ENGINE is the most common complaint category, representing about 20% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2012 Ford F-450 are ENGINE (5), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4), STEERING (3).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 18 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2012 Ford F-450?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 11 of 11 systems
ENGINE
5 Reports20% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG MY 2012 FORD F450SUPERDUTY TURBO DIESEL ALONG THE INTERSTATE 495 DC BELTWAY IN MARYLAND WITH MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT, WHEN A LCD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEEDOMETER GAVE A WARNING WHICH READ "REDUCED POWER" AND COULD IMMEDIATELY FEEL A REDUCED RESPONSIVENESS OF THE TRUCK TO THE ACCELERATOR. A MOMENT LATER ANOTHER SIGN READ " CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER" WHICH DISAPPEARED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. A MOMENT LATER A FINAL WARNING CAME UP WHICH READ" STOP AT A SAFE LOCATION. I BEARLY PULLED OVER TO A DANGEROUS SHOULDER WHEN MY TRUCK SHOT DOWN. AT THIS POINT I COULD NO LONGER MOVE MY TRUCK TO A SAFER LOCATION ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. THE HIGHWAY ON WHICH MY TRUCK STALLED IS THE BUSIEST HIGHWAY IN MARYLAND. THE TRUCK STALLING LIKE THE WAY IT DID PUT MY LIFE, MY SONS LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHER MOTORISTS AT RISK AT MOMENT IT DID. WHILE I WAS SEARCHING ONLINE FOR WHAT MIGHT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH MY TRUCK, I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE ON WHICH AMBULANCES WERE RECALLED AND SENSORS IN THE EXHAUST WERE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ONE STRIKING SIMILARITY WAS THE FIVE AUDIBLE CHIME THE TRUCKS WERE EMITTING WHICH MY TRUCK ALSO EMITTED. I WAS NOT ABLE START THE TRUCK AT THAT STALL POINT SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP.
10/3/2015
WHILE TRANSPORTING A PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE ENGINE ON OUR 2012 FORD AMBULANCE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DERATED. THIS CAUSED OUR AMBULANCE TO SLOW DRAMATICALLY AND DELAYED TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL. WE BROUGHT THE AMBULANCE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE ENTIRE DEF SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000! I RESEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR FORD AND HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE.
6/2/2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4 Reports16% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG MY 2012 FORD F450SUPERDUTY TURBO DIESEL ALONG THE INTERSTATE 495 DC BELTWAY IN MARYLAND WITH MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT, WHEN A LCD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEEDOMETER GAVE A WARNING WHICH READ "REDUCED POWER" AND COULD IMMEDIATELY FEEL A REDUCED RESPONSIVENESS OF THE TRUCK TO THE ACCELERATOR. A MOMENT LATER ANOTHER SIGN READ " CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER" WHICH DISAPPEARED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. A MOMENT LATER A FINAL WARNING CAME UP WHICH READ" STOP AT A SAFE LOCATION. I BEARLY PULLED OVER TO A DANGEROUS SHOULDER WHEN MY TRUCK SHOT DOWN. AT THIS POINT I COULD NO LONGER MOVE MY TRUCK TO A SAFER LOCATION ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. THE HIGHWAY ON WHICH MY TRUCK STALLED IS THE BUSIEST HIGHWAY IN MARYLAND. THE TRUCK STALLING LIKE THE WAY IT DID PUT MY LIFE, MY SONS LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHER MOTORISTS AT RISK AT MOMENT IT DID. WHILE I WAS SEARCHING ONLINE FOR WHAT MIGHT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH MY TRUCK, I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE ON WHICH AMBULANCES WERE RECALLED AND SENSORS IN THE EXHAUST WERE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ONE STRIKING SIMILARITY WAS THE FIVE AUDIBLE CHIME THE TRUCKS WERE EMITTING WHICH MY TRUCK ALSO EMITTED. I WAS NOT ABLE START THE TRUCK AT THAT STALL POINT SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP.
10/3/2015
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN A ACCIDENT 2 TIMES NOW FROM TRUCKS DEATH WOBBLE AND MOTOR SHUTTING OFF TOWING EQUIPMENT.
12/4/2015
STEERING
3 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN A ACCIDENT 2 TIMES NOW FROM TRUCKS DEATH WOBBLE AND MOTOR SHUTTING OFF TOWING EQUIPMENT.
12/4/2015
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A PARKWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT, WE TRAVELED OVER SEVERAL BRIDGES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN AFTER HITTING A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD AND OVER THE BRIDGES THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WE HAD TO ALMOST COME TO A STOP TO HOLD IT IN THE ROAD. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. WE HAD JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED, I AM SCARED TO RIDE OR DRIVE THIS TRUCK ANYMORE, IT IS MY HUSBANDS AND HE DOES. WE PULL A HORSE TRAILER AT TIMES AND I AM SCARED TO DO SO BECAUSE IT PUTS OUR LIVES AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS LIVES AND MY HORSES IN DANGER. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED ASAP....HE PURCHASED SOME EXPENSIVE PART AND HAD IT PUT ON UNDER THE FRONT END AND IT HAS HELPED BUT LT STILL FEELS LIKE IT WILL START AT ANY MOMENT TO SHAKE WHEN YOU CROSS A BRIDGE OR HIT A POT HOLE, IT IS LIKE IT IS ON THE VERGE AND COULD START AT ANY MOMENT. IT DOES NOT DRIVE NORMAL!!!!
5/5/2016
SUSPENSION
3 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN TRUCK STARTED SHAKING COULD NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL . TRUCK STARTED GOING SIDEWAYS ON HIGHWAY FROM SHAKING/ WOBBLE. TRUCK SHUTS OFF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING NO STEERING OR BRAKES TOWING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE HAD MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN TRUCK ALMOST IN A ACCIDENT 2 TIMES NOW FROM TRUCKS DEATH WOBBLE AND MOTOR SHUTTING OFF TOWING EQUIPMENT.
12/4/2015
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A PARKWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT, WE TRAVELED OVER SEVERAL BRIDGES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN AFTER HITTING A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD AND OVER THE BRIDGES THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WE HAD TO ALMOST COME TO A STOP TO HOLD IT IN THE ROAD. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. WE HAD JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED, I AM SCARED TO RIDE OR DRIVE THIS TRUCK ANYMORE, IT IS MY HUSBANDS AND HE DOES. WE PULL A HORSE TRAILER AT TIMES AND I AM SCARED TO DO SO BECAUSE IT PUTS OUR LIVES AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS LIVES AND MY HORSES IN DANGER. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED ASAP....HE PURCHASED SOME EXPENSIVE PART AND HAD IT PUT ON UNDER THE FRONT END AND IT HAS HELPED BUT LT STILL FEELS LIKE IT WILL START AT ANY MOMENT TO SHAKE WHEN YOU CROSS A BRIDGE OR HIT A POT HOLE, IT IS LIKE IT IS ON THE VERGE AND COULD START AT ANY MOMENT. IT DOES NOT DRIVE NORMAL!!!!
5/5/2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
2 Reports8% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
THIS VEHICLE IS AN AMBULANCE AND WAS DISPATCHED ON AN EMERGENCY CALL. THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT EVEN ENGAGE. ANOTHER AMBULANCE HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE CALL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATUR SENSORS HAD FAILED AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THERE WAS NOT AN OVER HEATED EXHAUST CONDITION NOR AN EXHAUST EMISSION PROBLEM AT THE TIME, WHICH IS WHAT THESE SENSORS ARE DESIGNED TO DETECT. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE(PCM) SHOULD NOT BE PROGRAMED TO SHUT DOWN A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF ONE SENSOR. REDUCTION OF POWER MAY BE ACCEPTABLE. IF MORE THAN ONE SENSOR DETECTS A PROBLEM THEN THAT MAY BE ACCEPTABLE. OUR AGENCY HAS SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES AND HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH MOST OF THEM.
3/4/2014
THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IS AN AMBULANCE, WAS DISPATCHED TO AN EMERGENCY CALL. AS THEY TURNED INTO THE DRIVE OF THE FACILITY THE CHIMES SOUNDED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HAD THIS VEHICLE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE CREW INVOLVED. AT THE VERY LEAST, ANOTHER AMBULANCE HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE CALL AND DELAYED CARE TO THE PATIENT. IT WAS DETERMINED LATER THAT THE EGT SENSOR HAD FAILED, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS APPARENTLY NO PROBLEM IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AT THE TIME.
3/4/2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2 Reports8% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
THIS VEHICLE IS AN AMBULANCE AND WAS DISPATCHED ON AN EMERGENCY CALL. THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT EVEN ENGAGE. ANOTHER AMBULANCE HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE CALL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATUR SENSORS HAD FAILED AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THERE WAS NOT AN OVER HEATED EXHAUST CONDITION NOR AN EXHAUST EMISSION PROBLEM AT THE TIME, WHICH IS WHAT THESE SENSORS ARE DESIGNED TO DETECT. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE(PCM) SHOULD NOT BE PROGRAMED TO SHUT DOWN A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF ONE SENSOR. REDUCTION OF POWER MAY BE ACCEPTABLE. IF MORE THAN ONE SENSOR DETECTS A PROBLEM THEN THAT MAY BE ACCEPTABLE. OUR AGENCY HAS SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES AND HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH MOST OF THEM.
3/4/2014
THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IS AN AMBULANCE, WAS DISPATCHED TO AN EMERGENCY CALL. AS THEY TURNED INTO THE DRIVE OF THE FACILITY THE CHIMES SOUNDED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HAD THIS VEHICLE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE CREW INVOLVED. AT THE VERY LEAST, ANOTHER AMBULANCE HAD TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE CALL AND DELAYED CARE TO THE PATIENT. IT WAS DETERMINED LATER THAT THE EGT SENSOR HAD FAILED, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS APPARENTLY NO PROBLEM IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AT THE TIME.
3/4/2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 Reports8% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
1/28/14- HPFP METAL SHAVINGS FOUND AFTER ENGINE POWER DOWN, ALL FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED. AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS (4/10/14) SAME THING. ON 4/25/16 SAME THING. NO WARRANT. FORD KNOWS THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING ISSUE, REFUSES TO WARRANTY WHILE OTHER MFG, IE VW DOES COVER SAME PART. I WOULD WELCOME CLASS ACTION SUIT.
5/28/2016
WE HAVE TO REPLACE OUR FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE LINING HAS DELAMINATED. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF THE LINING DETERIORATION.
2/21/2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
WHEN PARTIALLY DEPRESSED THE TURN SIGNAL WILL ONLY BLINK 3 TIMES. I THINK I HAVE ACTIVATED A PROPER TURN SIGNAL ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS A PARTIAL. FORD SAYS THERE IS NO WAY TO PROGRAM THIS DIFFERENTLY. DOES 3 BLINKS CONSTITUTE A TURNSIGNAL? *TR
3/16/2012
TIRES
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
ON AUGUST 15, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 HOURS, I WAS TRAVELING AT SPEED LIMIT NORTH ON I-95 NEAR MILE MARKER 78, LIBERTY COUNTY, MIDWAY, GEORGIA. THE HIGHWAY WAS CLEAN AND NO DEBRIS IN SIGHT, WHEN SUDDENLY A POP SOUND TOOK PLACE AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT INSTANTANEOUSLY FLAT FOLLOWED BY HEAVY NOISE OF DESTRUCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ON THE EMERGENCY LANE (SIDE OF THE ROAD). I CONDUCTED AN EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS DESTROYED (DISINTEGRATE) AND THE TOP OF THE TIRE THREAD WAS REMOVED FROM THE TIRE. THIS CAUSED A DENT AND DAMAGES TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER, BENT THE UNDER FENDER WALL, FENDER LINER WAS ALSO DENT AND THE ROAD BOARD WAS CRACKED. IN ADDITION, THE RIM HAD STRUCK PAVEMENT PARTICLES WHICH CAUSED SMALL DENTS INTO THE RIM. THE VEHICLE FORCEFULLY TURNED LEFT ON HIGHWAY BUT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT JC LEWIS FORD DEALER, FORD AUTO COLLISION, 9505 ABERCOM STREET, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, 31406. THE VEHICLE IS BRANDNEW, WITH 3,041.6 MILES. NOTE THAT THE TIRE IS AN LT245/75R17 RUGGED TERRAIN T/A. *TR
8/17/2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG MY 2012 FORD F450SUPERDUTY TURBO DIESEL ALONG THE INTERSTATE 495 DC BELTWAY IN MARYLAND WITH MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT, WHEN A LCD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEEDOMETER GAVE A WARNING WHICH READ "REDUCED POWER" AND COULD IMMEDIATELY FEEL A REDUCED RESPONSIVENESS OF THE TRUCK TO THE ACCELERATOR. A MOMENT LATER ANOTHER SIGN READ " CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER" WHICH DISAPPEARED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. A MOMENT LATER A FINAL WARNING CAME UP WHICH READ" STOP AT A SAFE LOCATION. I BEARLY PULLED OVER TO A DANGEROUS SHOULDER WHEN MY TRUCK SHOT DOWN. AT THIS POINT I COULD NO LONGER MOVE MY TRUCK TO A SAFER LOCATION ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. THE HIGHWAY ON WHICH MY TRUCK STALLED IS THE BUSIEST HIGHWAY IN MARYLAND. THE TRUCK STALLING LIKE THE WAY IT DID PUT MY LIFE, MY SONS LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHER MOTORISTS AT RISK AT MOMENT IT DID. WHILE I WAS SEARCHING ONLINE FOR WHAT MIGHT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH MY TRUCK, I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE ON WHICH AMBULANCES WERE RECALLED AND SENSORS IN THE EXHAUST WERE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ONE STRIKING SIMILARITY WAS THE FIVE AUDIBLE CHIME THE TRUCKS WERE EMITTING WHICH MY TRUCK ALSO EMITTED. I WAS NOT ABLE START THE TRUCK AT THAT STALL POINT SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP.
10/3/2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
KEY IN IGNITION CIRCUIT IS OPEN - ENGINE LIGHT ON ' FIXD INDICATES INSPECTION ISSUE.
11/23/2020
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2012 Ford F-450?
Are complaints about the 2012 Ford F-450 a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2012 Ford F-450?
Are complaints about the 2012 Ford F-450 severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Ford F-450: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 25
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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