FordF-2502012Overview/ford/f-250/2012/base/
250 platform

2012 Ford F-250

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 F.

Body TRUCK

The 2012 Ford F-250 is a heavy-duty pickup built on the 250 chassis, specified with a 7.0-quart 5W-20 API oil capacity that anchors its routine service intervals. It enters the reference record carrying 1,717 owner complaints, four recalls, and a Power Train category that leads the issue mix — a volume that sits well outside the band defined by the 1990–2011 model-complaint history it follows, where the previous peak of 594 in 1999 had stood as the worst case and 1990 had registered just 4. For a researcher, that gap effectively resets the F-250 reliability baseline, making 2012 the year from which any longitudinal comparison has to be recalibrated rather than extrapolated.

Model year2025202420232012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque165 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 DIESEL · 750 DIESEL CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 DIESEL · 750 DIESEL CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.3 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height66.9 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight4083 lb
Track (front / rear)65.4 / 65.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the F of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.4–6.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2012 F-150 Harley-Davidson SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012F-150 Harley-Davidson SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 6.2L V86.40 sec15.00 sec411 hp4x4
2012F-150 Lariat SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.60 sec15.20 sec365 hp4x4
2012F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2L SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 6.2L V86.90 sec15.40 sec411 hp4x4
2011F-150 FX4 3.5L EcoBoost SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.10 sec15.00 sec365 hp4x4
2011F-150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.20 sec14.80 sec365 hpRWD
2011F-150 Harley-Davidson 6.2L SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 6.2L V86.30 sec15.10 sec411 hp4x4
2011F-150 Harley-Davidson 6.2L SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 6.2L V86.40 sec15.00 sec411 hp4x4
2011F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2L SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 6.2L V86.60 sec15.20 sec411 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-140 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 165 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.0-10.0
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-140
Differential Gear Oil Capacity14 PINTS
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity7.0 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · 15W-40 · 0W-30 · 0W-40

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket340.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle166.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket166.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts165 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Ignition Timing10

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityDiesel engines, 1.63; gasoline engines, 1.70. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityDiesel engines, 3.40; gasoline engines, 4.10. oz
Standard BCI Group Number65 DIESEL
Standard BCI Cranking Performance750 DIESEL cca
Standard BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Pressure Test16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature189-196 °F
Thermostat Opening TemperatureMain:190-198, Secondary: 68-131 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)51-62
RPM51-62 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)53-73
RPM53-73 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket55 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle166 ft-lbs / 203 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.433 in / 1.275 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 32 ft. lbs., Step 3: 13515 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9033 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1129 ft. lbs., step 2: 90129 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 7 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil. · Bolts 1-18

114.7 ft. lbs.14.7 ft. lbs
236.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
336.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
436.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
590 degrees90 degrees
690 degrees90 degrees
790 degrees; Bolts 19-2290 degrees
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 754 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1bolts 1-127.4 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-2015 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miCabin Air Filter (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 22,500 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
At 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miWheel Bearing (repack)
At 90,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Ford F‑250 sits in a generation that saw a sharp rise in complaints after the late‑1990s peak (594 complaints in 1999) followed by a gradual decline into the 2000s, reaching a low of 60 complaints in 2007 before climbing again to 370 complaints in 2011. Recall activity mirrors this pattern: after a high of 19 recalls in 1999, the count fell to single‑digit levels for most of the 2000s (as low as 1 recall in 2005) and remained modest at 3 recalls in both 2009 and 2011. The 2012 data show the highest complaint categories concentrated in Power Train (416 reports), Engine (222), Steering (148) and Service Brakes (95), with 37 crash‑related and 14 fire‑related complaints, indicating that while overall recall risk is low, component‑level issues are still prominent. Compared with the surrounding years, 2012 continues the post‑2007 upward trend in complaints but does not exceed the earlier 1999 spike, suggesting the model is not unusually problematic for its generation. **Takeaway:** 2012 is a relatively safe year regarding recalls, but prospective buyers should be vigilant about power‑train and engine reliability and verify any service‑brake or steering repairs.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
113
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,717
Owner complaints
37 involved a crash · 14 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,717 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train416
Engine222
Steering148
Service Brakes95
Visibility/Wiper70
Unknown Or Other67
Power Train,Engine60
Vehicle Speed Control,Engine52

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 113 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB 24-21882024-07-24WheelsThis article supersedes TSB 22-2219 to update the Parts List and Service Procedure to…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
SSM 523342024-03-06Engine And Engine CoolingSome 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick…
SSM 515362023-04-04StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis…
TSB 22-22192022-06-21Power TrainSome 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 F take?

7.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 F have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.