FordF-4502012Overview/ford/f-450/2012/base/
450 platform

2012 Ford F-450

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

Body TRUCK

The 2012 Ford F-450 is a heavy-duty truck built on the 450 platform, powered by an engine that requires 7.0 quarts of 5W-20 oil. With 1,717 total owner complaints and four recalls, its most frequently cited problem area is the powertrain. In the model’s complaint history spanning 2003 to 2020, the 2012 year falls between the lowest (3 complaints in 2014) and highest (24 in 2020), placing it at a moderate point for researchers evaluating long-term reliability trends.

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

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 650 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 · 650 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. Torque the oil drain plug to 10.0 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
Engine CoolantUSE FORD PREMIUM GOLD COOLANT
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity7.0 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · 15W-40 · 0W-30 · 0W-40
Engine Oil Capacity15.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Ignition

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
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Thermostat Opening TemperatureMain:190-198, Secondary: 68-131 °F
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-195 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)51-62
RPM51-62 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)53-73
RPM53-73 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance150,000-210,000 na Diesel ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 na ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket46 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle295 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.472 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
132 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10532 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
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
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 754 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.5 ft. lbs., Step 2: 181.5 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; spark plugs every 97,500 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)
Every 50,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miWheel Bearing (repack)
At 90,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plugs (replace)

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 federal record tracks a stable baseline from 2003 through 2010, with 0 annual complaints and exactly 1 recall per year. The 2011 model introduces a sharp inflection to 9 complaints, 2 recalls, and 7 TSBs, and the 2012 target year sits at the peak of that initial surge with 14 complaints, 4 recalls, 1 investigation, and 15 TSBs. After 2012, metrics retreat through 2016—with 2013 falling to 6 complaints and 1 recall and 2014 dropping to 3 complaints and 0 recalls—before a second wave rises in 2017, placing 2012 at the crest of the generation's first major escalation. The 2012 record also registers significant component-specific activity in Power Train (416), Engine (222), Steering (148), and Service Brakes (95), alongside 37 crash-related and 14 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for these concentrations. Because 2012 captures the worst phase of an early spike that later subsides, it carries elevated risk relative to adjacent years, and a 2013–2014 example is the statistically safer purchase.

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 by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

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.
Recalls
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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.