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2012 Ford F-150 Recalls & Complaints

4

open safety recalls on record

Serious

2,439 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.15 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious19V075000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, raises the risk of a crash.

Remedy & full details

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S07.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

Serious16V248000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, raises the risk of a crash.

Remedy & full details

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

Serious12V198000

Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive

FAILURE TO DEPLOY, FAILURE TO DEPLOY AS INTENDED, OR A DEPLOYMENT WHEN NOT INTENDED, raises the risk of INJURY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy & full details

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCSM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 F-150 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 6, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2011. INCORRECT SOFTWARE FOR THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MODULE (OCSM) WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES EITHER AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING OR DURING THE COURSE OF REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE AS PART OF A SERVICE REPAIR. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE OCSM MAY MISCLASSIFY THE PASSENGER SEAT’S OCCUPANT SUCH THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD, DOES NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED, OR DEPLOYS WHEN IT SHOULD NOT.

Serious12V190000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE “R” POSITION AND THE VEHICLE’S TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE “R” MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF TH…

Remedy & full details

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT" AND 108 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.

Complaint volume

2,439 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

57Crashes
21Fires
42Injuries
2Deaths

Across 2,439 complaints. Severity Index 0.15.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Power Train667 · 27%Engine482 · 20%Steering201 · 8%Vehicle Speed Control193 · 8%Electrical System155 · 6%Service Brakes124 · 5%Unknown Or Other119 · 5%Visibility/Wiper95 · 4%
  1. Power Train — 667 reports
  2. Engine — 482 reports
  3. Steering — 201 reports
  4. Vehicle Speed Control — 193 reports
  5. Electrical System — 155 reports
  6. Service Brakes — 124 reports
  7. Unknown Or Other — 119 reports
  8. Visibility/Wiper — 95 reports
  9. Fuel/Propulsion System — 84 reports
  10. Air Bags — 37 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (7) · 1996 (7) · 1997 (26) · 1998 (18) · 1999 (18) · 2000 (17) · 2001 (19) · 2002 (10) · 2003 (11) · 2004 (16) · 2005 (14) · 2006 (14) · 2007 (7) · 2008 (1) · 2009 (2) · 2010 (1) · 2011 (6) · 2012 · 2013 (3) · 2014 (8) · 2015 (14) · 2016 (14) · 2017 (18) · 2018 (19) · 2019 (9) · 2020 (11) · 2021 (29) · 2022 (23) · 2023 (12) · 2024 (10) · 2025 (12) · 2026 (1)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.