Is the 2012 Ford F-250 SD a bad year?
323 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other F-250 SD years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Ford F-250 SD are in line with other F-250 SD years. Suspension and steering stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 F-250 SD owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 84,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 139 (43%) | 45k–133k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 130 (40%) | 48k–130k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 28 (9%) | 32k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 26 (8%) | 41k–126k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Wheels | 19 (6%) | 23k–120k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 18 (6%) | 19k–118k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 9 (3%) | 18k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 61 (19%) | 30k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 14 (4%) | 27k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exhaust | 13 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 84,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 323 complaints: 5 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 4 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jun 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Traveling down the highway at 55MPH with cruise set and hit brake to turn corner.
This is a diesel engine F250. Egt sensor failed and engine immediately shut down in the middle of the road. CEL was on and message said " Stop safely now".
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".
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 84,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Ford F-250 SD: 2
The kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks. The foam ring inside the stabilizer "through shaft" may block the piston ports, possibly causing the steering to lock up. If the steering locks, it can increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 114, theft protection. The transmission can be shifted out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to brake shift interlock switch problem. This will allow the operator to inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 139
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Ford F-250 SD. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain 2011-2012 Model Year F-Series Super Duty Vehicles Equipped with a 6.7L Diesel Engine State Inspection and Maintenance Test Failure Due to DTCs P2073…
Some 2011-2022 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 6.7L diesel engine may exhibit a ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change
Certain 2011-2014 Model Year Super Duty Vehicles Equipped with a 6.7L Diesel Engine Exhaust Gas Recirculation Cooler with Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0401 and/or…
Some 2011 2014 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engine may experience an exhaust leak due to broken exhaust manifold studs
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown
Neighbouring years
2011 F-250 SD: 370 complaints, keep it · 2013 F-250 SD: 116 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford F-250 SD year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All F-250 SD years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Ford F-250 SD a bad year?
323 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other F-250 SD years. At 84,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-250 SD?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: suspension (139), steering (130), electrical system (28), fuel system (26), wheels (19).
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford F-250 SD have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 20E090000), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 11V-582). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.