FORD E-450 · model year

2012 FORD E-450

6 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012FORDE-450 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 E-450 is wheels with 2 filings, followed by engine (1) and power train (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2012 E-450. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

6 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
WHEELS2
ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1

Recalls (4)

15V11200025/02/2015

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

14V59500024/09/2014

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Elkhart Coach (Elkhart) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-350 and Ford E-450 vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to May 1, 2014 and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate

14V42600010/07/2014

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Roush Performance Products, Inc. (Roush) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford E-150 Wagons and Cargo Vans, E-250 Cargo Vans and Extended Cargo Vans, E-350 Wagons, Extended Wagons, Cargo Vans, and Extended Vans, and E-450 Cutaway models. These models were modified by Roush to be equipped wi

14V50100006/08/2014

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Adrian Steel Company (Adrian) is recalling certain model year 2012 Ford E-150, E-250 and E-350 Commercial Cargo Vans modified by Adrian between September 21, 2012, to September 24, 2012. The affected vehicles are equipped with certain propane fuel system conversion kits with an aluminum fuel line f

Recent Complaints

20221024TIRES:SIDEWALL

The contact owns a 2012 Forest River Sunseeker built on a 2012 Ford E-450 chassis, equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: LTX MS2, Tire Size: LT225/75/R16. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal vibration in the front end. The contact became aware that the driver’s side front tire belt was going through the side wall. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who changed another tire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The tire failure mileage was approximately 13,000. The vehicle failure mileage was unknown.

20221024TIRES:TREAD/BELT

The contact owns a 2012 Forest River Sunseeker built on a 2012 Ford E-450 chassis, equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: LTX MS2, Tire Size: LT225/75/R16. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal vibration in the front end. The contact became aware that the driver’s side front tire belt was going through the side wall. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who changed another tire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The tire failure mileage was approximately 13,000. The vehicle failure mileage was unknown.

20201204ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE MOTOR BLOCK BLEW. THERE WAS A LOUD, FAST CLICKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY CLUNKING AND SMOKE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. ALL FLUIDS WERE GOOD BUT THERE WAS A FEW DROPS OF OIL ON THE GROUND. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT HE HAS PREVIOUSLY SEEN. THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED AND THOROUGHLY CHECKED BEFORE THE ROAD TRIP.

Mileage: 23,337

20201204POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE MOTOR BLOCK BLEW. THERE WAS A LOUD, FAST CLICKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY CLUNKING AND SMOKE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. ALL FLUIDS WERE GOOD BUT THERE WAS A FEW DROPS OF OIL ON THE GROUND. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT HE HAS PREVIOUSLY SEEN. THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED AND THOROUGHLY CHECKED BEFORE THE ROAD TRIP.

Mileage: 23,337

20200722WHEELS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD E-450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR LUG NUT LOOSENED CAUSING THE WHEEL HUB TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRONG TYPE OF WHEEL WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ALUMINUM WHEEL WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED STEEL WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE SPECS CALLED FOR A HUB CENTRIC WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN RV CENTER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE INCORRECT WHEEL BEING INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE WRONG STYLE WHEEL WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,600. *LN*JB*DT*JB

Mileage: 16,600

20140306WHEELS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD E-450 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE WHEEL SIMULATORS SEVERING THE VALVE STEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

Compare 2012FORDE-450 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 FORD E-450 have?
The 2012 FORD E-450 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 FORD E-450?
Yes, the 2012 FORD E-450 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 FORD E-450?
The most-complained component for the 2012 FORD E-450 is WHEELS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2012 FORD E-450 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.