--- title: "How to Reset Oil Life on a 2012-2014 Ford F-150" description: "Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2012-2014 Ford F-150 in 4 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/oil-reset" updated: "2026-08-20" --- # How to Reset the Oil Life Indicator on a 2012-2014 Ford F-150 Reset the oil life or maintenance reminder on the 2012-2014 Ford F-150 in 4 steps, using only the controls already in the car. No scan tool needed. ## Reset procedure, 2012-2014 Ford F-150 (High confidence) 1. Turn the ignition to ON (engine off). 2. Use the steering-wheel arrows to open the message center and scroll to 'Truck Info' → 'Oil Life' (on base clusters, press SETUP repeatedly until 'OIL LIFE XX% HOLD RESET' shows). 3. Press and hold the OK/RESET button until the display shows oil life reset to 100%. 4. Turn the ignition off. Note: If your truck has no message center menu: ignition ON (engine off), fully press both accelerator and brake pedals together and hold ~25 seconds until the cluster confirms the reset. ## Which Ford F-150 model years does this cover? These oil life reset specifications apply to every Ford F-150 built from 2012 through 2014, the 12th generation (2009-2014; covered from 2012), full-size pickup (steel body; regular cab, supercab, supercrew). Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2012 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012) - [2013 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2013) - [2014 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2014) ## What changed during the 2012-2014 Ford F-150 | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2012 | Second year of the modern engine lineup (3.7/5.0/3.5EB/6.2); 6-speed 6R80 on all engines | | 2013 | Refresh: new grilles, HID-equipped trims, MyFord Touch available, Limited trim returns (22-in wheels) | | 2014 | Final steel-body year; STX SuperCrew and Tremor (short-bed 3.5L EB sport truck) added | ## 2012-2014 Ford F-150 oil life reset: common questions ### How do you reset the oil life on a 2012-2014 Ford F-150? 4 steps, using only the controls in the car, the full sequence is above. ### Do you need a scan tool to reset the oil light on a 2012-2014 Ford F-150? No. The procedure above uses the vehicle's own controls. A scan tool is only necessary if the reset does not take, which usually points at a different fault. ### Why won't the oil light reset on a 2012-2014 Ford F-150? Almost always a timing problem in the sequence, a step held too briefly, or the ignition in the wrong position. Repeat it exactly, with the engine off and the key in accessory rather than run, unless the steps say otherwise. If your truck has no message center menu: ignition ON (engine off), fully press both accelerator and brake pedals together and hold ~25 seconds until the cluster confirms the reset. ## Sources - [Ford 2013 F-150 Owner's Manual, capacities (via VehicleHistory/engine oil DB summaries)](https://www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/2013-ford-f-150-oil-type-and-capacity) - [Ford TSB 13-8-1, 3.5L GTDI intermittent stumble/misfire in humid conditions](https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/pubs/content/~WT/~MUS~LEN/3569/tsb13-08-01.htm) - [NHTSA recall 19V-075, unintended downshift, 2011-2013 F-150](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RCLRPT-19V075-8473.PDF) - [NHTSA recall 16V-345, brake master cylinder, 2013-2014 F-150 3.5L EB](https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls?nhtsaId=16V345000) - [Hardrock Offroad, F-150 OEM wheel/tire fitment guide by generation](https://hardrockoffroad.com/fitment-guides/ford-f150/) - [fueleconomy.gov, 2013 Ford F-150 EPA ratings](https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2013_Ford_F150.shtml) - [O'Reilly/AutoZone battery fitment, 2012-2014 F-150 Group 65](https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/battery/ford/f150/2012) ## Other Ford F-150 generations - [2021-2025 Ford F-150 oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2021-2025/oil-reset) - [2015-2020 Ford F-150 oil life reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/oil-reset) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/oil-reset). ## More for the 2012-2014 Ford F-150 - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/brakes) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/common-problems) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.