2012 Ford F-350 SD: problems, recalls and reliability
10 recalls and 29 owner complaints on record; most reports concern suspension; the 2013 and 2014 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Dec 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“High speed wobble in front end Goes away of You slow down Getting worse Very scary, pulls steering wheel out of my grasp Wife refusing to ride in the truck”Owner report · Suspension · Feb 2023
“Death wobble at speeds starting anywhere from 40 mph up. Very difficult to control especially when you are on a highway or overpass and there's nowhere to slow down or try to steer to. Extremely scary. Have had the problem 'try' to be fixed greater than 5 times. The last fix was about 4 months ago and has lasted so far but I'm starting to feel vibration again. The fixes aren't cheap either. Always greater than $1000 with parts and labor. I love my truck but this is getting out of hand.”Owner report · Steering · Mar 2020
“Multiple times while driving at 50 - 60mph towing my 12,000 lb 5th wheel trailer, often if I drive over a bump in the road, my 2012 ford f350 will start to violently shake from the front steering. I have had parts replaced, alignment done, new tires, new shocks, but nothing stops this problem. I can't tow my trailer anymore. This problem has also happened when not towing. There needs to be a recall for this to be safe. The dealer cannot figure out the solution. Ford seems to ignore it. Please help”Owner report · Suspension · May 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“Driving 70 mph on expressway when tread completely separated from belts on tire damaging the right rear wheel well, body, trim and bumper. Tire was a factory installed (bought the 2012 f350 new) general grabber hts size 245/75 r 17 with 54,000 miles on them. Dot # is a343 47db”Owner report · Tires · Jun 2017
“This truck while driving downtown the interstate after crossing a bridge did a violent shaking of the steering wheel and nearly cause me to hit another car and wreck. I had to slow down almost to a complete stop to get it to stop. I have since taken it to different ford dealerships and also family owned shops to fix the problem and nobody can fix it.”Owner report · Steering · Mar 2017
“Ford super duty truck developed a severe vibration at 70mph on interstate highway. It was a dangerous situation that caused the vehicle to swerve to the left instantly. I was in heavy traffic, I had to slow the vehicle drastically which caused other traffic to have to avoid me. Investigated online, they even have a nick name "death wabble" I found hundreds and hundreds of cases in 15 minutes, what are you doing there? This has to be a recall or something, I'm afraid to drive my truck. Help us”Owner report · Suspension · Nov 2016
“While driving on the highway my truck began to vibrate. I stopped and checked the tires condition, air pressure and lug nuts. All seemed to be fine. I continued driving and experienced a violent blowout from the right front tire causing extensive damage to the right front of the truck. I was told by the tire store that model tire was defective and they had seen a number of failures. A claim was filed with tire manufacturer and denied. I was told the newest model of that tire had been improved so the tires were replaced the truck was sent to the dealer for repairs.”Owner report · Tires · Jul 2016
“I now have a third tire with tread separation. The tire is a bf goodrich all-terrain t/a ko, lt285/65r20 127/124s, dot (be3f uh11 1313). This time the tire was located on the front driver side and caused a death shimmy. The tire still has the tread on and can still be inflated. It was removed from the rim for inspection and replacement. No internal damage or cracks was found inside, but there are cracks in the tread that indicates that the tread will separate from the tire. Are they trying to hurt or kill me and my passengers? What can I expect NHTSA and bf goodrich (michelin) to do in resolving this issue with their tires?”Owner report · Tires · Sep 2015
“I was driving down the road at 45 mph in 5 o'clock traffic and a stop safely now message came on my message board and immediately shut my truck down on the road blocking traffic and I was pulling a dump trailer. There was no way to push it out of the road and no where to push it to if I was able . Waited on a tow truck for to hours while all the passing motorists got angry and made that section of the road very dangerous! *tr”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford f-350 sd. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the exhaust gas temperature egt sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,538. Updated 04/17/14 ma *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Diesel · Feb 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 10 campaigns
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured February 22, 2010, to January 30, 2015, and equipped with ambulance or fire engine preparation packages. The affected vehicles may detect an incorrect Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor (EGT) fault indicating that the vehicle is too hot, causing the engine management system to shut down the engine and prevent its immediate restart.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S09.
Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Manning and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Remedy: Manning will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. This action is the same as the service campaign action. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Manning at 1-800-876-8768.
Stahl is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Stahl and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Remedy: Stahl will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. Owners may contact Stahl customer service at 1-800-277-8245, or Muncie at 1-800-367-7867.
Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners and dealers to inspect the Muncie PTO pressure switch to determine if it is from the range of defective switches and if required, remove the pressure switch assembly and put a plug in the port where the PTO switch had been installed. This switch was never being utilized. This will be done free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-July 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.
Remedy: Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.
Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Palfleet) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 super duty vehicles modified by Palfleet and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Remedy: Palfleet will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 29, 2014. Owners may contact Palfleet customer service at 1- 502-376-2458.
Utility Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Utility Truck) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 UTLI41A, 2011 UTLN41, and 2012 UTLN46 aerial trucks manufactured December 2010 to September 2013 equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies installed on 2010-2013 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Remedy: Utility Truck will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Utility Truck customer service at 1-254-857-8813.
Somerset Welding & Steel, doing business as J&J Truck equipment (J&J), is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis with 6.8L gasoline engines modified by J&J to be equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Remedy: Somerset will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began August 2014. Owner's may contact Somerset customer service at 1-800-777-2671.
Tactical Vehicle Outfitters (Tactical) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ford F-350 and F-550 vehicles modified by Tactical and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Remedy: Tactical will notify owners, and dealers will install a new PTO pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Tactical customer service at 1-405-603-6700.
Godwin Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Godwin) is recalling certain model year 2010 Ford F-450; 2011 Ford F-550; 2012 Ford F-350 and 2013 F-350 Super Duty trucks modified by Godwin and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Remedy: Godwin will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Godwin customer service at 1-800-892-0181.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics, LLC (Icon) is recalling all 05-UP FSD 2.5 Centerline Stabilizer Kits with part number 65050. 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.
Remedy: Icon will notify owners, and dealers will install a new shock assembly with a revised foam ring and steel support disc, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Icon customer service at 1-951-689-4266.
How other years compare
Check your exact F-350 SD by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Ford F-350 SD reliable?
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on record for the 2012 Ford F-350 SD. The most complained-about area is suspension.
Does the 2012 Ford F-350 SD have open recalls?
10 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm). Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.