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2012 Ford F-250 (regular Cab)
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
266 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 15, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Suspension problems dominate (47% of complaints, typically reported near 60k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →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.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file for this model year, 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-250 (regular Cab), plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (18) · Wheels (16) · Fuel system (15)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Suspension
47%125 complaints · typically near 60k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“Driving on Pa turnpike twice this year and at 70 mph my 2012 ford f 250 with 79000 miles on it started shaking uncontrollably , had my wife and granddaughter with me a…”
Steering
42%112 complaints · typically near 77k mi · 5 in the last 2 years
“I bought this truck used from a dealership in 2022-23 haven't really had any problems till about 2 months ago. Front end started a wobble. A friend of mine just sent m…”
Engine
10%27 complaints · typically near 63k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“Leaving oil spots on ground. Inside Cab smelling very strongly like burnt oil.”
Electrical system
7%18 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“I just had to replace the ECM because it fired. after replacing that it still won't start. I've talked to multiple people who have had the same problem.”
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-250 (REGULAR CAB) beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every F-250 (regular Cab) model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Ford F-250 (regular Cab) 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.