What 1,717 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel

Check engine light came on p0720 Output speed sensor

NHTSA ODI 11635980

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the speedometer failed to operate as designed and went to zero. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the result from the diagnostic test was unknown. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the contact was unaware of the results. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N01 (6R80 Transmission 6R80 Sudden Transmission Downshift – Powertrain Control Module Programming). The failure mileage was 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 11632763

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly downshifted on its own, after which he heard an abnormal sound emanating from underneath the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,000.

NHTSA ODI 11632145

On 17 Dec 2024, I drove my 2012 F150 truck down a busy road (Powers Blvd). As I was accelerating to the speed limit of 45mph, the truck suddenly slammed into first gear and redlined the RPM gauge before the whole front dashboard went dead. As The truck suddenly slowed down, the seat belt grabbed my shoulder and held me back from the dashboard. Luckily all the traffic was to my right and the car behind me was a stoplight away. If this was later in the day, I have no doubt the truck would have created a multi-car accident. The truck remained in 1st gear as I slowed my speed and within a short time frame - maybe 20 seconds, the truck jerked into another gear. I brought the truck to a nearby parking lot and turned it off. I searched online and identified that there were recalls for this very item. Within an hour I called the Ford dealership and explained the issue, and they set me an appt a short time later. I drove the truck to the dealership and dropped it off and about an hour later they reproduced the issue. Ford found DTC P0722 for the output speed sensor, monitored data, and confirmed failure. I asked what about the recalls and Ford told me that none had been approved for my truck’s VIN. They gave me an estimated cost of $1900.00 to repair the issue, which I approved. The sensor is part of the Lead Frame, they removed the lead frame, removed the main control body, and replaced it as appropriate. They cleared the codes and test-drove the truck. The vehicle or component had not been inspected before this event. There were no warning lights, messages, or indication of any issues prior to this event. The truck has 85332 miles on it and maintenance is performed routinely by a local professional garage.

NHTSA ODI 11632226

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the transmission downshifted unexpectedly to third gear and then downshifted to first gear. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing erratic transmission shifting. The contact stated that upon coming to a stop, the transmission remained stuck in third gear. The contact stated that the transmission had been shifting between third gear and fifth gear. The speedometer and the odometer were inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.

NHTSA ODI 11631552

Stuck in 1st gear

NHTSA ODI 11631227

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted with the transmission warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic retrieved a fault code for transmission failure. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train); which the mechanic linked to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall or warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ODI 11630508

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while her husband was driving 70 MPH, the speedometer failed to operate as intended, and the transmission was stuck in first gear. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the valve body and connector needed to be replaced, and the transmission fluid needed to be flushed and refilled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 16N02 (Transmission Powertrain Control Module Reprogramming); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 129,000.

NHTSA ODI 11629940

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift into first gear. During the failure, the vehicle abruptly decelerated with the maintenance and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission speed sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was informed that the vehicle did not qualify for the Extended Warranty Coverage to fix the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11627734

It shifted out of gear into first. It wouldn’t pull giving it gas didn’t help I was lucky I wasn’t injured when it shifted. A wrench flashed on dash board when it jumped gears.

NHTSA ODI 11625828

Driving home at approx.50 mph my f-150 Ford downshifted into 1st gear for no reason? Locking up the rear tires and slamming me forward. I put in my vin number and found my truck is not part of Ford's recall for f 150's 2011 thru 2014. I don't know why it's not part of the recall ? The recall 19So7 describes what happened exactly. Ford said the Dealers fixed this by reprogramming the tcu or transmission control module. I believe there is damage to the transmission. I took it to Goode Ford in Burley,Idaho they said it has too many miles they would not even look at it ?

NHTSA ODI 11625568

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle downshifted with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 307,600.

NHTSA ODI 11625616

The known issue of a lead frame failure in the transmission of my vehicle occurred causing the vehicle to lose it's speedometer input and traction. Extremely dangerous condition and Ford refuses to acknowledge or take any responsibility for the incident.

NHTSA ODI 11623858

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, nearly causing a crash. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road temporarily. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The contact used a vehicle scanner and retrieved diagnostic trouble code 720, which indicated a speed output sensor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under an unknown recall because the recall had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

NHTSA ODI 11623517

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the transmission was slipping between gears. The vehicle unexpectedly downshifted while driving 70 MPH. The contact stated that the wrench symbol was displayed on the instrument panel. The gear message turned on and off while driving. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader and determined that the failure was due to the speed output sensor. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed the contact that there was no recall coverage for the failure on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who opened a case and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.

NHTSA ODI 11621917

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the transmission downshifted to second gear and the vehicle almost stalled. The contact stated that the "WRENCH" and air bag warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer needle was at "0". The contact stated that the failure had occurred at various speeds. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission leadframe needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the dealer that the manufacturer had issued Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N01 (Power Train) in 2019; however, the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11621580

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate as intended. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ODI 11621278

I have a 2012 f 150. I am the second owner of this truck. going down the road a wrench appears on my dash board. The issue seems to be Safety recall notice 16s19/ NHTSA recall 16v-248. The software update was done in 2019. The problem started 4-5 months ago. Ford tells me they dont have to fix the problem now because the it is out of the extended warranty they put on the vehicle. They admit there is a problem but won't fix it. I am driving a unsafe vehicle. I think they should. I drive my grandchilden to school in this truck. do i have any recourse?

NHTSA ODI 11617347

1.)Transmission shifts into 1st gear while traveling at 40mph causing skidding. 2.)Transmission drops into 3rd gear while driving and stays there even when trying to leave a stop sign at intersection 3.)Transmission will stick in 1st for half block then suddenly accelorate the engine and slam hard into a higher gear.

NHTSA ODI 11614691

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle downshifted with the check engine, transmission, and the air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The contact also noticed the vehicle had gone into LIMP Mode after the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the lead frame failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.

NHTSA ODI 11609798

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at highway speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from sixth to third gear. During the failure, the vehicle abruptly decelerated, causing the driver to almost lose control of the steering wheel. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11607592

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V075000 (Power Train). The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 223,965.

NHTSA ODI 11606071

Transmission suddenly downshifts to first gear. Will not get past third gear before shifting back down. Can’t drive it.

NHTSA ODI 11605764

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the transmission unintendedly downshifted to first gear, causing the vehicle to skid. The power train warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer read "0" and the odometer was malfunctioning. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact pulled to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted the vehicle; however, the transmission was stuck in 2nd or third gear while driving. The contact was able to drive to the residence and parked the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the failure was related to the transmission molded lead frame; however, Ford Campaign Number: 19N01 had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 243,200.

NHTSA ODI 11605047

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, and the gauges started operating erratically. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift into 4th through 6th gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the connector, screen assembly, connector plate, and lead frame needed to be. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11604481