Home · 2012 Ford F-250 Supercab · Complaints

What 323 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-250 Supercab

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 (323)Crash / fire / injury (12)Suspension (139)Steering (130)Engine (42)Electrical system (28)Engine & cooling (19)Fuel system (19)Wheels (19)Transmission & drivetrain (18)Brakes (14)Body & structure (9)

130 of 323 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 3 of 6

Jul 13, 2020SteeringSuspensionElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN YOUR DRIVING AROUND FIFTY MILES PER HOUR AND HIT A BUMP IT GOES INTO WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS THE DEATH WOBBLE THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER SEEN WINTER IT IS IN PERFECT CONDITION ONLY HAS 28 THOUSAND MILES I'M AN EX ASA MECHANIC SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH MECHANICS MY SON IN-LAW HAD A2011 SAME PROBLEM HE LIVED IN COLORADO AT THE TIME HE KEPT TAKING IT BACK TO A FORD DEALER THEY KEPT CHARGING HIM NEVER DID FIX IT 3000 DOLLARS LATER MY DAUGHTER MADE HIM SELL IT SHE WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS THAT THEY DON'T STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING

NHTSA ODI 11339210

Jun 30, 2020SteeringSuspension

MY TRUCK IS EXPERIENCING THE DEATH WOBBLE, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WITH ONE INCIDENT OF MY WIFE LOSING CONTROL. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED NEW TIRES. I GOT NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT AND THE TRUCK HAD THE DEATH WOBBLE AGAIN. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO FORD AND ALL THEY COULD TELL ME IS TO LOOK AT THE SERVICE ADVISORY AND DECIDE IF I WANTED TO PAY FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I ONLY HAD 50,000 MILES ONE THE TRUCK AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY ISSUE THAT'S IS GOING TO END UP KILLING SOMEONE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY

NHTSA ODI 11331713

May 31, 2020SteeringSuspension

WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I IN MY 2012 F-250 I GET DEATH WOBBLE, THE FRONT TIRES START SHAKING LIKE CRAZY AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES LIKE YOU CAN'T IMAGINE, IT STARTS AROUND 50MPH AND GETS REALLY BAD ABOUT 60-65MPH. I HAVE REPLACED BALL JOINTS,TIE RODS, SHOCKS, WHEEL BEARINGS, STEERING STABILIZER, U JOINTS AND TRACK BAR BUSHING, NONE OF IT FIXED IT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. IT ABOUT RUNS YOU OFF THE ROAD IT'S SO BAD SOMETIMES AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI 11326654

May 29, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL DRIVABILITY AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COURTESY BUICK GMC ABBEVILLE (1201 U S 167, ABBEVILLE, LA 70510) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11326472

Mar 22, 2020Steering

TRUCK BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ABOVE 60 MPH. FRONT WHEELS WOBBLED AND SHUCK VIOLENTLY. THEY GOT INTO A RHYTHM THAT KEEPS THE SHAKING GOING UNTIL I REDUCE SPEED TO ABOUT 25MPH. I HAVE ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED. HAD TO AGGRESSIVELY BRAKE WHICH ALSO ALMOST CAUSED OTHER CARS TO REAR END ME ON THE INTERSTATE. COMMON TIMING SEEMS TO BE WHEN I AM DRIVING OVER OVERPASS WITH RAISED RIDGES CONNECTING THE BRIDGE SECTIONS OR WHEN I CROSS GROOVES IN THE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS AND LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SOON

NHTSA ODI 11318972

Mar 15, 2020SteeringSuspension

2012 F250 PURCHASED NEW AND NO MODIFICATIONS EVER. I HAVE ALWAYS RUN THE STOCK MICHELIN TIRES. BEGINNING IN OR ABOUT 2015 I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE STEERING WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH WHEN AT LEAST ONE OF THE TIRES HITS A GROOVE, BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY TO CONTROL THE VIOLENT SHAKING IS TO QUICKLY REDUCE THE SPEED AND PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER.

NHTSA ODI 11318076

Mar 9, 2020SteeringSuspension

SEVERE SHAKING IN FRONT END AROUND 60MPH. TRUCK BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS. "DEATH SHUDDER"

NHTSA ODI 11317111

Feb 17, 2020SteeringSuspensionWheels

WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MILE AN HOUR THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO DOING A DEATH WOBBLE WHEN CROSSING UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR HITTING BUMPS. THE VEHICLE SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL AND HAS TO COME TO A STOP TO REGAIN FULL CONTROL. I HAVE THIS NICE TRUCK THAT I HAVE TO AVOID INTERSTATE TRAVEL BECAUSE OF FEAR OF HURTING MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HAVE HAD BEARINGS AND TRACK BAR REPLACED, HAD TRUCK REALIGNED AND TIRES BALANCED TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. I'M GETTING READY TO PURCHASE A STEERING STABILIZER TO TRY BUT I'M RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS AND MONEY TO SINK IN TRUCK BUT IT HAS TO BE FIXED. AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH AND TALKING TO OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM IT SOUNDS LIKE FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY CHARGE PREMIUM PRICES FOR THEIR PRODUCTS BUT MINE HAS TO SET AT THE HOUSE OR TRAVEL BACK ROADS TO STAY SAFE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ODI 11309630

Feb 16, 2020SteeringSuspension

MY TRUCK HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE IN SEVERAL TIMES AT THIS TIME NO ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT THE ISSUES WAS OVER THE YEARS IT BECAME WORSE I FIXED SOME OF THE ISSUE AT MY OWN EXPENSE STILL HAVE ISSUES WORRIED I MAY DIE OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE WHEN THE WOBBLE OCCURS

NHTSA ODI 11309484

Feb 11, 2020Steering

DRIVING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY SCARES MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER SO BAD THEY WANT ME TO TRADE FOR A GMC.

NHTSA ODI 11308394

Feb 5, 2020SteeringSuspension

GETTING THE DEATH WOBBLE, HAVE REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND DAMPER, NOT LUCK. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY SOMETIMES WHEN HIT A BUMP AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. ITS TERRIBLE.

NHTSA ODI 11307178

Feb 5, 2020Steering

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL INADVERTANTLY BEGIN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE SPEED IS ALMOST REDUCED TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDLESS OF THE TIRE TREAD WEAR. HAS OCCURRED WITH BRAND NEW TIRES.

NHTSA ODI 11307252

Feb 3, 2020Steering

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 65 SOUTH FROM MONTGOMERY, AL HEADED HOME TO DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL, WAS CROSSING A BRIDGE THAT HAD BUMPS IN THE ROAD FROM WHAT I THINK WERE WHERE BRIDGE ROAD SECTIONS. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF A FOUR PART OF THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN I FELT THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2012 FORD F250 FX4 STARTED A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK SO BAD I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE! I THOUGHT THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK WAS COMING LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE! I COULD BARELY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL! I REDUCED SPEED AS QUICKLY AS I COULD AS I MANEUVERED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE FAR RIGHT. THANK GOD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT! A POLICEMAN STOPPED TO ASSIST ME ONCE I HAD THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE AND I TOLD HIM I WAS ALREADY SEARCHING FOR THE NEAREST FORD DEALERS FOR HELP. LOCAL DEALERS WERE TELLING ME I WOULD NEED TO HAVE SEVERAL FRONT END SUSPENSION PARTS REPLACED, BUT WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS AND BE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD DO WORK. I GOOGLED WHAT HAPPENED AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS HAPPENING AT AN ALARMING RATE FOR A LOT OF FORD F250 AND F350 TRUCK OWNERS. IT IS CALLED THE "THE FORD F250/F350 DEATH WOBBLE"! APPARENTLY THIS IS A FORD DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN AT ANY MILEAGE ON VEHICLE. I DECIDED TO TRY TO SLOWLY DRIVE MY TRUCK BACK TO OUR HOME IN DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE OKAY AFTER THE INCIDENT AS I DROVE BACK HOME AT A SLOW SPEED. I HAVE BEEN FEARFUL SINCE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 60MPH WITH IT AND MY WIFE WIL NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK ANYMORE! FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS!!

NHTSA ODI 11306657

Jan 21, 2020SteeringSuspension

CURRENTLY HAVE 53K MILES. PROBLEM RARE, STARTED AT 10K OR LESS. WITH OUR WILTHOUT PICKUP CAMPER LOADS: AT 60MPH OR HIGHER WHEN HITTING BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS OR RR TRACKS (PARTICULARLY AT ANGLES) IN WHICH ONE WHEEL STRIKES IRREGULARITY FIRST, A VIOLENT WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKE BEGINS. MUST IMMEDIATLY SLOW VEHICLE TO STOP IT. COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHEN ACTIVE. TOTAL OF PERHAPS 6 OCCURRENCES. CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR INVESTIGATION. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11300806

Jan 16, 2020Steering

IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THIS TRUCK BETWEEN THE LINES ON THE ROAD. IT HAS ABOUT 4 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND OVERCORRECTING THIS IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS....I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT

NHTSA ODI 11299981

Jan 10, 2020Steering

THE TRUCK HAS WHAT THEY CALL THE DEATH WOBBLE ITS IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS FOR COMPLAINTS OUT THE ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED IF ITS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. IT SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AS SOON AS YOU YOU HIT A BRIDGE CONNECTOR OR A BUMP OR ANY IMPERFECTION ON THE ROAD WHEN YOU DOING TIGER RATE OF SPEED APROX 60 TO 70 MPH. AND VERY DANGEROUS WHEN Y9OUR ON THE HIGHWAYS IT ALSO CAN HAPPEN IF THE WHEELS AREA AT A CERTAIN ANGLE AND YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. YOU HA E TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 10 OR 15 MPH AND CAN TO HIT THE BRAKES.OR GAS TO GET OUT OF IT.

NHTSA ODI 11298442

Jan 6, 2020SteeringSuspensionWheels

WHILE TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 10 CROSSING OVER SIEGEN LANE, TRUCK PASSED OVER SMALL BUMP IN INTERSTATE AND STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE THE ENTIRE TRUCK ALMOST TO THE POINT OF NO CONTROL. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO INSPECT MY TRUCK. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AND ALL TIRES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. WHEN I STARTED AGAIN THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF 12 INCIDENTS OF WHAT I HAVE COME TO KNOW FROM RESEARCH AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". I HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK THE THE FORD DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE TO NO AVAIL. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND FORD CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. THIS IS THE MOST UNNERVING EXPERIENCE. THIS WAS A $70000 VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN KEPT UP TO DATE ON ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED OR EVER TAKE OFF ROAD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN ENGINEERING AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI 11298690

Jan 2, 2020SteeringSuspension

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED DEATH WOBBLE ON THE HIGHWAY MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. HAVING TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY TO 30 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IS NOT SAFE. OUR TRUCK IS UNDER FORD'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. FIRST THEY BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES SO WE HAD THEM REPLACED AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT. NOW, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE FRONT END TWICE WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. THE TRUCK NOW SHAKES SLIGHTLY AT ALL TIMES NO MATTER WHAT SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11296691

Dec 8, 2019Steering

DEATH WOBBLE OCCURS OVER 60MPH. TOOK PLACE FIVE TIMES WITHIN 15 MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11287761

Nov 22, 2019SteeringBody & structureElectronic Stability Control (esc)

EXPERIENCED 'DEATH WOBBLE' WHILE DRIVING A HIGHWAY 287 (SAME SPEED NO STOP AND GO WITH TRAFFICS). TRUCK WAS SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY SHAKING AND WOBBLING CAUSED MY HUSBAND ALMOST LOST CONTROL. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THE TUCK BUT SCARED HIM TO DEATH. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE DEATH WOBBLE PROVIDED A QUOTE.

NHTSA ODI 11281814

Nov 9, 2019SteeringSuspension

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE PARKWAY, A STRAIGHT ROAD, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE TO THE POINT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AND I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER. THEY KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND CALLED IT THE "DEATH WOBBLE". THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION BUT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. IT HAS DONE THIS 4 MORE TIMES. IT IS ALL I CAN DO TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND GET IT STOPPED. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN, IT DOES IT WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY FORD DEALER WANTS ME TO DUPLICATE IT FOR THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11279136

Nov 2, 2019SteeringSuspension

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN (LAST WEEK) I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 55MPH (PULLING A TRAILER), CLEAR SKY, TEMP IN THE 50'S. FELT A SLIGHT SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN THE FLOOR BOARD. WITHIN SECONDS IS WHEN A EXTREMELY VIOLENT SHAKING STARTED. I HAD TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY. IT HAPPEN AGAIN THIS MORNING GOING DOWN A DIFFERENT HIGHWAY ABOUT 60MPH, CLEAR SKY TEMP 42 OUTSIDE AND IT WAS THE WORST YET. MY ENTIRE ENTIRE 2012 FORD F-250 WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING TO THE POINT IT WAS SO SUDDEN AND ABRUPT WE COULDN'T STOP FAST ENOUGH TO STOP THE SHAKING

NHTSA ODI 11277650

Oct 30, 2019SteeringWheels

WHEN DRIVING 60MPH, OUT OF NO WHERE THE FRONT END STARTED WOBBLING LIKE CRAZY. WE ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER SLOWING DOWN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON OUR WAY HOME. WE WERE DRIVING ON A ONE LANE HIGHWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. THANK GOD MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11277118

Oct 25, 2019SteeringSuspension

WHILE TRAVELING TO OKLAHOMA , I WAS GOING 70 MPH AND HIT A BUMP AND EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKING AND HAD TO SLOW TO 45 TOO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS WAS ON 10/13/2019. I LATER LEARNED THAT THIS IS SO COMMON IN FORDS THAT IT HAS THE NICKNAME ' DEATH WOBBLE"

NHTSA ODI 11271102

Oct 21, 2019Steering

WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ANY UNEVEN SURFACE IN THE ROAD CAUSES THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SHAKING IS TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11270024

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Working with the data? Download all 323 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 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-250 Supercab verdict →