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2012 Ford F-150 (regular Cab) Gas
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
1,717 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (37% of complaints, typically reported near 66k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Ford F-150 (regular Cab) Gas, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
37%642 complaints · typically near 66k mi · 54 in the last 2 years
“Vehicle rolls backwards OR potentially forwards intermittently depending on direction of incline. Have only observed it rolling backwards. When changing gears, above t…”
Engine
28%473 complaints · typically near 41k mi · 10 in the last 2 years
“The cam phasers are in need of changing. Ford has acknowledged they are aware of the problems with the 3.5 Ecoboost engine but will not take responsibility and repair …”
Steering
11%197 complaints · typically near 60k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“My truck started to skid as I was making a left turn. I wasn't going fast enough to skid. I then noticed the idiot light was on so I took it in for an estimate. I was …”
Speed control
11%188 complaints · typically near 48k mi · 6 in the last 2 years
“Sudden shift into first gear at any speed. Dash lights flickering between p,r,n,d. Tool light coming on dash.”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Ford F-150 (REGULAR CAB) GAS beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every F-150 (regular Cab) Gas model year scores →
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What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.