10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 10 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 8 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 76,068 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle independently shifted from first gear and failed to change gears appropriately. The contact had to turn off and restart the vehicle in order for it to return to normal. The failure recurred the following day. The dealer (athens Ford, 4260 atlanta hwy, athens, ga 30606, (706) 521-0778) diagnosed that the leaf frame wiring harness in the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer and the manufacturer made no mention of the service campaign (15N05 electric vacuum pump extended coverage), so the contact was uncertain if it was related. In addition, the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was excluded from a recall campaign. The failure mileage was not available.
- Clermont, FL, USA
First national recall (16S19). Software recall repair to prevent transmission from shifting down into 1st while driving. Completed Feb 2017. August 2017 while merging onto highway, transmission abruptly shifted into first and locked up my rear wheels. I was never informed by Ford that there was an additional fix/recall. Recall (16N02) lead frame replaced August 2017. Repair seems to have addressed shifting problem, but I now transmission damage that Ford states is unrelated.
- Richboro, PA, USA
Truck shifts from 5th gear down to 1st and also shifts from 1st gear up to fifth gear
- Fountain, CO, USA
While driving under normal conditions transmission will suddenly and randomly lock in 3rd or 5th gear and will not down or up shift. Difficult to get moving from a complete stop from 5th gear. Speedo does not work when this event occurs sometimes able to stop, place transmission in park and restart to reset the system for a short period. This does not always work though. Wrench icon illuminates on the info center, speedo and trip meters show blank lines as well. I have pics and a video clip but unable to share at the moment.
- Lower Burrell, PA, USA
When I start the truck the engine light is on, while driving the truck stalls and looses power and the tool sign comes on in read out window. I have to pull over and put the truck in park and restart it. This happens every 100 yards or so. I under stand this is an ongoing problem with the 2012 F150 Ford trucks. I can't understand why the want have a recall. I understand they need to add a deflector shield under the motor. It's very dangerous when a vehicle looses power while driving down the highway.
- Panama City, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle independently shifted into another gear, which caused the vehicle to stall on the highway. All the instrument panel warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.
- Columbus, NJ, USA
Vehicle is experiencing the issues described in Ford's April 27th, 2016 recall announcement of bad transmission software and/or hardware. My vehicle is said to be outside of the dates that was affected. While driving the vehicle at speeds of around 25 mph (multiple times) the speedometer becomes erratic and drops to zero mph. Throttle is held steady. The transmission bounces between gears and then goes into first gear at which point the vehicle slows abruptly and the rear tires squeal. I have not driven the vehicle at higher speeds to see if the issue occurs there as well. Video of this happening on my 2012 F-150 available here: Https://youtu.be/P5zxvesusuc
- Naples, FL, USA
On 5/9/17 I was driving my 2012 F-150 pickup on the highway at 60 mph when all of a sudden it came to an abrupt slow down and shifted into 1st gear. It was enough to cause a screeching of the tires and temporary loss of control. I eventually slowed down and came to a complete stop. Since I have the 5 year/100.000 drive-train warranty. I immediately called the dealer I bought the truck new from to have it towed to the shop. After they took a looked at the truck they called back and reported that they could not find anything wrong with it and suggested a PCM/transmission reprogram. I agreed to this service work. Thinking this incident was very strange I did an internet search of recalls for Ford trucks. My search found a recall for the exact symptoms I experienced. The dealer called and reported my truck was ready for pickup. When I went to get my truck I questioned the service guy about the recall. He indicated that this was an issue with 2011-2012 Ford trucks but mine did not meet the build date guidelines to qualify for the recall. They would not cover the $58.95 charge for the re-programming. This made me very upset. This incident could have had a very different end result if I would have hit another vehicle, went in the ditch, or worse yet been pulling my horse trailer. Please do something before someone dies in an accident.
- Seward, NE, USA
I was traveling at a speed of 60mph, when my transmission downshifted from 6-1, locking up the rear tires. This cause the semi pulling a load to have to swerve to avoid me.. another instance, I was pulling out in a busy intersection and the transmission went into 5th gear, causing the vehicle to nearly stall, resulting in 3 vehicles slamming on brakes to avoid me. Ford is denying me coverage of a recall issued due to me 2012 F150 being outside of the specified production dates with a production date of 7/12. Https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2011-12-Ford-F-150-among-vehicles-recalled-for-transmission-defect.html I am at Ford currently and they have diagnosed it with P0722- speed output sensor lead failure.
- Sanford, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed in fourth gear, the vehicle failed to shift into fifth gear and failed to accelerate without warning. The contact also stated that the vehicle independently shifted into second gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000.
- Wellston, OH, USA
My transmission intermittently shifts from high gears to low gears and vise versa. This occurs both when accelerating and when in high speeds. It appears to be a lead frame issue according to the dealership in el centro, ca. It is quite dangerous and scary when my child is in the car. I found 16N02 extended warranty and recall #16S19, but they do not cover my vehicle. They should!
- Heber, CA, USA
My truck is a 2012 platinum model with the 3.5L ecoboost motor. Motor failed at 60K miles due to head gasket leak and had to be replaced. Less than a month later I am now dealing with a "service advancetrak" message and steering wheel is locking up completely while trying to make right hand turns. Vehicle is very frightening to drive and has pulled me into oncoming traffic 2 times. Dealer is saying the truck needs a new steering rack and $2K to fix.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
Transmission randomly downshifts causing the vehicle to lock up in the back or lose traction completely.
- Brooklyn, MS, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving various speeds, the vehicle downshifted into first gear independently and the power train warning sensor illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the speed sensor panel needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V198000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
- Nixa, MO, USA
2012 Ford F-150. Multiple occurrences...vehicle in motion and the vehicle downshifts to 1 gear on its on. It sticks for 10-20 seconds before it releases and then you can accelerate again.
- Monroe, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving 70 mph, the transmission seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power train control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,000.
- Troutville, VA, USA
When accelerating from a stop or slow roll, the truck will jerk hard feeling like the it is coming from the driveshaft. There is no common cause for this issue such as going over a bump, etc. Brought truck to the local Ford dealership and was told it was "leaf spring slap" which it is clear under the truck that there is deep grooves on the drive shaft, yoke area. Ford denies this is the issue. This happens 80% of the time that I accelerate either from a stop or slow movement.
- Reserve, LA, USA
I was driving down highway on 3/19/17 and the truck starting jerking then the tach and the speedometer started bouncing then it started to shift from 6th to 2nd then to 5th back to 2nd and so on. Pulled over turned it off to see if the computer would reset then drove down the rode and around 50mph it throw itself into park, then it shifted back into gear and started the same thing over. Took to dealer they so called "fixed it" saying it was low voltage problem caused by alternator and bad battery got truck back 3/14/17, but this morning 3/15/17 it messed up see pic was going 30mph notice the speedometer and it downshifted hard once from 6th to 4th. Now they are telling me its something to O with the transmission computer so I spent over $900 for nothing and have to spend another $1200+ for something they not sure what it is..... the main issue is what if I was on the interstate and it went into park.
- Morristown, TN, USA
The ses, service engine soon, light came on. I noticed my truck lacking power and taking longer to shift gears when accelerating. It become less of a smooth shift and more jerky. When traveling on the highway at ~70 mph, the engine would not hold 6th gear. It would drop to 5th and 4th gear, until I gave it more gas. It would reach 3500 RPM's at times before shifting which was not normal. I also noticed starting in the fall of 2016 a short loud abnormal noise at cold start. After researching these issues, this led me to tsb 14-0194, code P0016, dealing with the 3.5L ecoboost engine. I took my truck to my local dealer and this was the issue. I have been the only owner of less than 5 years and was at 75,500 miles, out of the 60,000 mile warranty. I just had the repair done, costing me $3600. The repair included parts listed in tsb 14-0194 as well as timing belts, additional gaskets, seals, guides, tensioner, cam, sprocket, gear crankshaft, among others. I question how this known issue of timing chain stretch with the tsb is not a recall. This problem can cause an accident when accelerating on to a freeway. It can also cause an accident by suddenly downshifting while driving. I am glad my truck is fixed, however did not like the price tag. I fear that this known issue will lead to a deathly accident and it is unfortunate that a recall has not been issued yet. I hope this post helps make a change, saving consumers a costly repair and even someones life from a future accident.
- Rochester Hills, MI, USA
- Cranston, RI, USA