2012 FORD F 250 SD

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    alignment and pull

    15 unsafe

    15
    incidents
    Typical range: 27,500–90,000 mi

    Median 70,000 mi, based on 27 reports (10% had no usable mileage)

    • "SEVERAL TIMES, AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, GENERALLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH, I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN EXTREME "SHIMMY" IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING LIMITED CONTROL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DETERM…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1274592
    • "DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AND CAR STARTED TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. SLOWED DOWN AND EXITED HIGHWAY, ONCE TO 20MPH IT STOPPED. PULL OFF AND CHECKED UNDER CARRIAGE FOR ANY SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. NOTING FOUND. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I TOLD THEM THE ISSUES…"~28,560 mi, complaint #1130355
    • "VEHICLE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 70,000. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-65 MPH ANY MINOR BUMP WILL CAUSE TRUCK TO BEGIN TO VIBRATE THROUGHOUT THE STEERING SYSTEM AND SUBSEQUENTLY WOBBLE VIOLENTLY. APPLYING THE BRAKES MAKES IT WORSE UNTIL THE TRUCK SLOWS DOWN BELOW 35MPH.…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1588035
    • "EXPERIENCING WHAT IS KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT, VEHICLE BEGINS SHAKING (SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY). MUST APPLY BRAKES AND SLOW SPEED TO REMEDY"~90,000 mi, complaint #1518386
    • "WHILE TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON INTERSTATE [REDACTED ADDRESS], 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 AL…"~168,000 mi, complaint #1635385
  2. #2

    engine stall or no start

    3 stranded, 5 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=16, median 53,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 MINUTES A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL- NO CHANGE IN THE DRIVABILITY. ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THAT THE COMPUTER STARTED FLASHING DIFFERENT SYMBOLS INDICATING MANY PROBLEMS- THE ALARMS WERE GOING OFF NON-STOP- THEN…"~16,000 mi, complaint #1134231
    • "VEHICLE STALLED AND STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 231 IN MONTGOMERY AL. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER, SECOND INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATION [SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER) IS: XXX59219. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSIST. I HAVE 125K EXTENDED WARRAN…"~49,650 mi, complaint #1031346
    • "WHILE TRAVELING I-10 WEST NEAR CRESTVIEW, FL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, I RECEIVED A FORD DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN NOTIFICATION TO STOP VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND SLOWED THE TRUCK TO A STOP. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY WHE…"~57,514 mi, complaint #1156455
    • "STOP SAFELY NOW: WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF AND YOU HAVE TO ROLL AS FAR AS YOU CAN TO HOPEFULLY GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. I AM AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC AND DRIVER OF "NOT SO GREAT RUNNING VEHICLES" AS I HAVE TEST AND TUNE THEM TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE…"~59,937 mi, complaint #1089094
    • "DRIVING, HAD JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT SO WAS OUT OF TRAFFIC TRUCK ENGINE STOPPED. NO RE-START. HAD TOWED TO FORD, REPLACED 4 EGT SENSORS "~96,000 mi, complaint #1182395
  3. #3

    engine cooling

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "ON THE FIRST DAY OF AN EXTENDED TRIP WITH OUR TRUCK AND RV, WE ARRIVED AT CAMP TO DISCOVER A MAJOR COOLANT LEAK. THE TRUCK DID NOT GIVE US ANY WARNING MESSAGES THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER. THANK GOODNESS THIS PROB…"~28,796 mi, complaint #1305609
    • "MY TRUCK IS ONE OF MANY THAT HAVE A PRIMARY RADIATOR THAT LEAKS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR"~52,000 mi, complaint #1130588
    • "RADIATOR LEAK FROM DRIVERS SIDE LOWER PORTION. SAME AS PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR ISSUES. FORD CURRENTLY WARRANTIES EARLIER PRODUCTION, BUT WILL NOT EXTEND TO 2011 AND UP. TRUCK HAS ONLY 56000 MILES ON IT. LEAK OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE A…"~56,000 mi, complaint #1316283
    • "THE RADIATOR HAS A LEAK AT 59,200 MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!"~59,200 mi, complaint #1222679
  4. #4

    engine internal

    1 stranded, 3 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=6)

    • "CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON ADVISING ME TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND STOP. I PULLED OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND THE TRUCK STALLED AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. I CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUT…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1149821
    • "ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE USING THE REMOTE START FEATURE AND THE TRUCK STARTED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS THEN SHUT OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE TRUCK I HAD TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO TOW IT IN AND PERFORM NECESSARY REPAIRS, WHICH JUST HAPPENED TO BE AN…"~35,000 mi, complaint #1149835
    • "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". THE FAILURE OF THE EGT SENSOR WAS KNOWN BY DEALER AND HE SHOWED ME 2 TSB S ON THE PROBLEM. PROBL…"~51,000 mi, complaint #1140716
    • "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.…"~56,502 mi, complaint #1136025
  5. #5

    exhaust system

    1 stranded, 3 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "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 I…"~13,800 mi, complaint #1028052
    • "DRIVING [REDACTED ADDRESS] 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…"~35,000 mi, complaint #1130361
    • "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 NA…"~54,236 mi, complaint #1112629
    • "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 RESTA…"~58,000 mi, complaint #1108040
  6. #6

    brake hydraulics

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "BRAKES ARE SPONGY HAVE BLOWN THROUGH STOP LIGHT TWICE WITHOUT TIME TO PUMP BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT CALIPERS RESURFACED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS AT MY EXPENSE NO IMPROVEMENT. PEDAL TRAVELS 1/2 TO 3/4 TO FLOOR ON INITIAL BRAKING WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW…"~36,000 mi, complaint #1297015
    • "FORD DEALER REVIEWED SQUEALING AND DETERMINED THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE STICKING. THIS PROBLEM IS NOTED IN A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD FOR MODEL YEAR 2011. DEALER INDICATED THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTICED ON OTHER F250 MODEL YEAR 2012 BUT NO TSB FROM FORD.…"~62,000 mi, complaint #1219200
    • "LOUD SQUEAL FROM WHEELS WHEN STARTING FROM PARKED LOCATION. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY TECHNICIANS AT FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE SHOWED THAT BRAKE CALIPERS WERE STICKING. THIS PROBLEM IS SAME AS FOUND ON SAME MODEL IN 2011. "~66,146 mi, complaint #1213707
  7. #7

    fuel pump

    1 stranded, 1 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH WITH CRUISE SET AND HIT BRAKE TO TURN CORNER. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DIED WITH SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING--SCARY BECAUSE IT HAPPENED AT A CRITICAL TIME WHILE TURNING A CORNER ON A HIGHWAY. ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING…"~72,000 mi, complaint #1206206
    • "THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE SAID THE SAME THING. THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT IS A FUEL ISSUE BUT THE PUMP ON THE TRUCK ISN'T EQUIPPED WITH THE INCORRECT FUEL PUMP FOR THE DIESEL THAT IS SO…"~76,000 mi, complaint #1169216
  8. #8

    suspension arms and bushings

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "THE VEHICLE HAS 34,000 HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. THIS ISSUE FIRST BEGAN ON I95 @ 29,000MI. WHEN HITTING A BUMP, SUCH AS BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE BOUNC…"~29,000 mi, complaint #1267900
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A…"~68,000 mi, complaint #1271371
  9. #9

    suspension struts shocks

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-60 MPH THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK SHAKES/VIBRATES VIOLENTLY. THE TRUCK BECOMES DANGEROUS AND IS NO LONGER STEERABLE UNLESS YOU STOP COMPLETELY."~98,000 mi, complaint #1329090
  10. #10

    tire failure

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "ON HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH WHEN REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED. TIRE FRAGMENTS TORE AND BENT FENDER WELL METAL CAUSING $2700 DAMAGE. STEEL BELTS WERE BROKEN ACROSS THE TIRE IN TWO LOCATIONS ON THE CIRCUMFERENCE. FENDER AND TIRE REPLACED. LIKELY WOULD HAVE CAUSED SEV…"~48,309 mi, complaint #1381371
  11. #11

    wiring harness

    1 stranded, 1 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE LOCKED ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON. INDEPENDENT OF WEATHER. NO WAY TO TURN OFF UNTIL ELECTRONIC SWITCHES THAT CONTROL THE WIPERS, BLINKERS, AND HIGH BEAMS WERE REPLACED. PROBLEM STARTED ON THE HIGHWAY IN MOTION. RT 89 N VERMONT. CONTIN…"~39,900 mi, complaint #1283498
    • "DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH ,MY TRUCK STOPED RUNNING. THE COMPUTER SAID IT WAS LOW ON OIL,IT WAS NOT. THIS HAPPENED APPROX. 6 MORE TIMES BEFORE I GOT HOME. I DIDN'T WHERE A FORD DEALER WAS SO I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A TRUCK REPAIR SHOP,THE TRUCK STOPPED 3…"~49,775 mi, complaint #1485362
  12. #12

    ac compressor and refrigerant

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I WANT THIS ON RECORD. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS SELLING FORD F-250 WITH SUB PAR AIR CONDITIONING PARTS. I SENT MY TRUCK TO ESTABROOK FORD IN PASCAGOULA MS BECAUSE OF A FOUL SMELL. I WAS TOLD THAT MY "EVAPORATOR INSIDE THE…"~53,000 mi, complaint #1220482
  13. #13

    airbag system

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I CURRENTLY HAVE 122,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND IT'S ALL STOCK, EVEN THE TIRES ARE THE SAME TYPE AS OEM. FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND ABOUT 60,000 MILES I CONTINUALLY HAVE THE SAME DASH WARNING LIGHTS COME ON; HILL DECENT CONTROL & ADVANCED TRACK. THE BAD PART ABOUT TH…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1274371
  14. #14

    emissions aftertreatment

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "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…"~60,200 mi, complaint #1101817
  15. #15

    fuel tank and lines

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "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 SUBSTANC…"~18,877 mi, complaint #1137535
  16. #16

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE OCCUPANT WAS ABLE TO SECURE OUT OF PLACE WITH THE SEAT BELT FASTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO DETERM…"~7,000 mi, complaint #1200242
  17. #17

    throttle and pedal

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, AN UNKNOWN SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WAS…"~20,000 mi, complaint #1298138
  18. #18

    unintended acceleration

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWICE NOW WITH MY 2012 F-250 SUPER DUTY WITH THE 6.7 DIESEL ENGINE. ON FRIDAY JANUARY 22ND AND WAS SIMILAR TO A PREVIOUS EVENT INVOLVING A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OF MY TRUCK WHILE IN DRIVE. BOTH INSTANCES HAVE OCCURRED FROM THE T…"~200,048 mi, complaint #1256852

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for FORD F 250 SD directly.