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2012 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel
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 19, 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.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#179 of 358Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel ranks #179, scoring higher than 47% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2012 Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 4x4
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 23%
4 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel, 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 · 52 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.”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 5 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 1,717 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 57 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Ford before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 66k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 41k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
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 SUPERCAB DIESEL beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every F-150 Supercab Diesel model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.