Home · 2012 Ford F-150 Regular Cab · Complaints

What 1,717 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-150 Regular Cab

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,717)Crash / fire / injury (57)Transmission & drivetrain (642)Engine (473)Steering (197)Speed control (188)Electrical system (163)Brakes (135)Visibility & wipers (129)Fuel system (117)Airbags (37)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (36)

3 of 1,717 complaints match · Speed control · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Sep 1, 2023Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlCrash1 injury

I was driving at approximately 30 mph when the transmission's OSS (Output Speed sensor) suddenly malfunctioned, causing an unexpected downshift into first gear. This abrupt shift led to a loss of control, resulting in a harrowing collision with a tree. What I witnessed next is etched into my memory forever: a scene of blood, fluorescent white bone fragments, and shattered glass strewn all around. Bones were even protruding through my skin at various locations, including my wrists, forearms, legs, and ankles, not to mention the dislocated shoulders. Thankfully, there were no other individuals present at the scene; otherwise, the outcome could have been equally disastrous, if not fatal, for them. Astonishingly, there were no discernible warning signs such as unusual sounds or dashboard warning lights prior to this incident. Following the accident, my pickup truck was towed to Cedar Park Wrecker, only to be swiftly claimed by the insurance company and subsequently sent to auction within a matter of days.

NHTSA ODI 11542085

Apr 27, 2017Speed controlBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 3 MPH, THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER STRUCK A POLE. THE DRIVER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. ON THE WAY TO THE CONTACT'S HOME, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME FULLY DEPRESSED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 10981141

Jan 8, 2013Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HE PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. THE CONTACT RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER, THE WHEELS STARTED SPINNING AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN PUSHED THE OTHER VEHICLE INTO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S HOME WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10491864

Working with the data? Download all 1,717 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 15, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Ford F-150 Regular Cab verdict →