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)

19 of 323 complaints match · Engine & cooling · clear filters

Jul 7, 2025Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine seizure due to coolant intrusion in the engine. The contact stated that while the dealer was in the process of replacing the engine, the dealer informed the contact that the transmission also needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the engine and the transmission. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was bucking and jerking. The gear shift indicator light displayed that the transmission was slipping from drive(D) to neutral(N) and reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, the part was on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,500.

NHTSA ODI 11671757

May 1, 2025Engine & coolingFire

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated while he was stopped at a traffic signal, he smelled a burning plastic smell. The contact observed that smoke was being emitted from under the vehicle's front end. The contact pulled off the road and parked. As he exited the vehicle, he observed that flames were shooting from under the vehicle. The contact stated that in a few minutes, the flames had engulfed the engine compartment. The fire department was called, and the police had also arrived. The fire was extinguished using water. The police did not filed a report. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.

NHTSA ODI 11658159

Apr 3, 2025Engine & coolingFuel System, Diesel

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the engine power was significantly reduced and there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. While starting the vehicle, there was a high-pitched whining sound heard. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and determined there was a failure with the fuel pump. The fuel pumps were replaced 4 times, and the front and rear fuel pressure regulators were replaced several times since 2012. The contact was adding coolant to the vehicle every 2 months. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652468

Mar 30, 2015Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

RADIATOR FAILED AT 47,500 MILES. FORD REFUSES TO FIX. HAVE READ MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF DEFECTIVE RADIATORS FAILING FROM NEW TO 100,000 MILES. THIS WEBSITE LISTS COMPLAINTS AND AVERAGE MILEAGE. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/COOLANT-LEAK-FROM-RADIATOR-931. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702758

Dec 9, 2014Engine & coolingFuel System, Diesel

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 63 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECOND DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,877. UPDATED 01/23/14*LJ UPDATED 01/26/15*JB

NHTSA ODI 10663076

Dec 3, 2014Engine & cooling

WHILE BACKING OUT A PARKING SPACE, THE ENGINE DIED AND A RED WARNING WAS DISPLAYED "PULL OVER SAFELY". THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE ENGINE IS A 6.7 LITER POWERSTROKE DIESEL THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BY A FORD CONTRACT TOWING AGENCY AND TESTED. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY EGT 12 SENSOR. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS, IT IMMEDIATELY SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE, WHICH "KILLS" THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE FAILURE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING, ALTHOUGH UNLIKELY. THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF THE PROBLEM AT THIS DEALER ALONE. AS THIS CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME AND SITUATION, I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10662021

Nov 17, 2014Engine & cooling

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EGT EXHAUST HEAT SENSORS 4 TIMES IN MY 2012 F-250. THE SAME SENSOR TWICE,FIRST AT 26K AROUND JUNE 2013 AND AGAIN AT 46K, OCT 2014. I'VE BEEN STRANDED 3 TIMES AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. I OCCASIONALLY PULL A 42FT 5TH WHEEL CAMPER AND AM VERY WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE PULLING IT WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND GET A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10658643

Nov 13, 2014Engine & cooling

DRIVING 65 DOWN ROAD WITH LIGHT ACCELERATION. TRUCK HAD BEEN RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. MESSAGE COMES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT STATES "STOP SAFELY NOW". THERE IS NO OTHER WARNING OR MESSAGE. SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER AND TRUCK DIES AT 10MPH. NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. TOLD THAT IT IS A FAULTY EGT SENSOR AND THEY HAVE SEEN A TON OF THESE. THERE ARE 4 SENSORS ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IF ONE GOES BAD IT WILL DISABLE THE WHOLE TRUCK. REPLACED SENSOR AND NOT COVERED AS RECALL OR WARRANTY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS DEPENDING ON THE SURROUNDINGS IT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH BEING STRANDED ON ROAD FROM A SENSOR, WHEN THERE ARE 3 OTHER REDUNDANT SENSORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10654810

Nov 13, 2014Engine & cooling

DRIVING DOWN EXPRESSWAY ABOUT 70MPH DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. TRUCK HAD BEEN RUNNING ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR. MESSAGE POPS UP ON INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT STATES "STOP SAFELY NOW", NO OTHER MESSAGE GIVEN. ONCE SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 10MPH THE ENGINE DIED AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THIS IS IN RUSH HOUR DALLAS TRAFFIC. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND TRY TO RESTART IT FOR 40-50 MINUTES WITH NO AVAIL. HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHICH NOW INFORMS ME THAT I HAVE 3 BAD EGT SENSORS AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASON, NONE. THEY STATE THAT THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THEM. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THIS ONE WAS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I KNOW OF 2 OTHER VERY CLOSE FRIENDS THAT HAVE FORD F-250 TRUCKS THAT THIS EXACT THING HAPPENED TO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10654813

Nov 3, 2014Engine & cooling

I WAS DRIVING ON I 26 AND A WARNING CAME ON SAYING TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER SAFELY. I DAD NO CHANCE TO DO THIS AS THE COMPUTER PUT THE VEHICLE IN "LIMP MODE". AN 18 WHEELER NARROWLY MISSED HITTING MY TRUCK AS WE MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE DIED. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. WE THEN DROVE TO THE DEALER WHO SAID HE COULD FIND NOTHING OTHER THAN A WARNING TO CHANGE THE OIL. IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS, THE TRUCK HAS SHUT DOWN TWICE AGAIN. A TOW TRUCK HAD TO BE CALLED BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON I 77 AND THE TRUCK WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SHUT DOWN AS I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER. THE NEXT TIME I WAS ON US 521 GOING UPHILL WITH NO SHOULDER. THE TRUCK AGAIN WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THEN STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. CARS AND TRUCKS WERE SWERVING TO AVOID US. MY WIFE WAS CRYING BECAUSE SHE WAS CERTAIN THAT AN 18 WHEELER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MISS US. I CALLED THE SHERIFF AND FORD AND LATER HAD THE TRUCK TOWED. THESE TWO TIMES, THE CAUSE WAS AN EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILURE. I BELIEVE #2 FAILED AND THEN #3 (THERE ARE 4 OF THESE SENSORS). DEPENDABILITY IS OF COURSE AN ISSUE HERE. BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS SAFETY. FORD HAS DESIGNED A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT STOPS THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE TO SAVE THE ENGINE AND/OR THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. IN DOING SO, THE LIVES OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS ARE PUT AT RISK AND COULD BE KILLED AS A RESULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652139

Oct 13, 2014Engine & cooling

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE TRUCK DASH BOARD SENSOR FLASHED THE "SAFETY SHUT OFF", WHICH IS RELATED TO THE EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR OF THE EMISSION CONTROLS. AFTER THE INDICATOR LIT UP, THE TRUCK INSTANTLY SHUT DOWN WITH NO ADDITIONAL WARNING OR PROVISION OF TIME TO MERGE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO A SAFE AREA. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART NOR TURN OVER HOWEVER THE BATTERIES WERE FINE. IN MY RESEARCHING OF CORRECTIONS OR CAUSES TO THIS PROBLEM, IT APPEARS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION AS OTHERS HAVE BROUGHT IT FORWARD TO THEIR ATTENTION YET AS OF TODAY FORD HAS NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. IT IS MY HOPE THAT IF ENOUGH THAT IF ENOUGH FORD DRIVERS COME FORWARD, FORD WILL LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM, FIND A SOLUTION AND PROVIDE A RECALL TO CORRECT IT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10644338

Sep 20, 2014Engine & cooling

EGT EXHAUST GAS SENSOR # 2 ON 2012 F250 - I HAD NO WARNING THAT THE SENSOR HAD GONE BAD - TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED - I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN I'M TOWING MY TRAILER AND THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC - I OFTEN TRAVEL TO NATIONAL PARKS WHERE I HAVE NO SHOULDER OR CELL SERVICE OR AM NOT NEAR A DEALERSHIP - I WOULD BE STRANDED WITH MY FAMILY I HAD TO PAY HAVE THIS SENSOR REPLACED - MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR TOW SERVICE AS THIS ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY OR AS A RECALL I FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR AS A RECALL AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN IF ONE CANNOT SAFELY GET OUT OF TRAFFIC - THERE ARE 4 SENSORS - PERHAPS ONE SENSOR SHOULD BE USED AS "SPARE" SO THAT TRUCK DOESN'T JUST "STOP" AND LEAVE ONE STRANDED - HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAS THIS ISSUE CAUSED? IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE SIMILAR TO GM THAT HAS JUST NOW BEEN ADDRESSED AFTER SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS? I SENT THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL TO FORD. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT KEEP RECORDS ON THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS AFTER THE 50,000 WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD THAT IF ENOUGH OF THESE CONCERNS WERE "REGISTERED" WITH YOU THEN YOU WOULD NOTIFY FORD OF A RECALL IF WARRANTED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON 9-12-14. EGT SENSOR #4 FAILED THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10638930

Sep 10, 2014Engine & cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE EGT EXHAUST SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTICED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 10632229

Aug 25, 2014Engine & cooling

THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE TRUCK FLASHES A CODE "SAFETY SHUT OFF". IT IS RELATED TO THE EGT EXHAUST TEMP SENSOR PART OF THE EMISSIONS CONTROLS. AFTER IT FLASHES THE TRUCK WILL SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING, NO TIME TO MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE TRUCK WILL NOT RESTART AND THE STARTER WILL NOT ENGAGE. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 4 TIMES AND EACH TIME I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A PROGRAMMING ERROR I BELIEVE AND IS A PROBLEM FORD MUST ADDRESS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE OR BE INJURED IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED!! I REPEAT THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT! PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS PROBLEM THAT IS HAPPENING TO OTHER FORD TRUCK OWNERS. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627957

Aug 12, 2014Engine & cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EGT EXHAUST SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 10621711

Dec 21, 2013Engine & cooling

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A BUSY SIDE ROAD, THE MESSAGE CENTER FLASHED A WARNING, "STOP SAFE SOON". A AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD AND THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD COMPLETELY SINCE IT HAPPENED SO FAST. TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WHILE WE DID OUR BEST TO PUSH THE 7,500 POUND TRUCK TO THE NARROW SHOULDER. SINCE THE SHOULDER WOULD NOT FIT THE ENTIRE TRUCK, IT WAS BASICALLY HALF IN THE ROAD. TRAFFIC HAS BACKED UP AND WE HAD TO WAIT CLOSE TO AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER, HE TOLD ME THE TRUCK HAS A BULLETIN OUT ABOUT A FAULTY EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THIS SMALL SENSOR FAULT SHUTS THE TRUCK DOWN AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10556889

Jul 16, 2013Engine & cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND AN ALERT ADVISING TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EGT SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 8,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,600.

NHTSA ODI 10525208

Mar 19, 2013Engine & cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER THIRTY MINUTES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600. ...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF UPDATED 05/22/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10503634

Dec 16, 2011Engine & coolingFuel systemEquipment Adaptive/mobility

DRIVING THROUGH A FARM FIELD AND SOMETHING HIT THE OIL PAN AND CRACKED IT WITH A HAIR LINE FRACTURE, 1/8 INCH, AND OIL LEAKING. NO VISABLE DAMAGE OR MARKING UNTIL PULLED FROM TRUCK, EVEN THAN NO MARKS BUT A SLIGHT DENT IN PLASTIC. NO OTHER VISABLE DAMAGE ANYWERE ELSE UNDER TRUCK. ASKED IF ALL OIL PANS ARE PLASTIC AND I WAS TOLD BY DEALER, YES. THIS IS A TRUCK DESIGNED TO FOR OFF ROAD HEAVY DUTY WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10440155

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 →