KnownCarProblems2012 Ford Explorer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 829 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer, most often about the steering (43% of complaints, typically around 96,500 miles). It is 12th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2012 Ford Explorer problems
Steering
360 complaints · 43%Half of these problems showed up before 96,500 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system, rack and pinion, hydraulic power assist system, gear box (other than rack and pinion).
I started my vehicle as usual, had just turned left off my street onto a two lane road, and approximately 0.25miles later I lost power steering. As I was accelerating from my turn, going approximately 40mph I felt the brake pedal pulsate and the steering wheel jerk a little. Immediately I had an alert on my dash…
I bought a certified preowned Ford Explorer with 19,900 miles in last week of june 2012. Within one month, I had multiple incidence ( roughly ten times)of the vehicle power steering assist failing while driving. It would fail both at complete stops , slow speeds and once while exiting a highway offramp at…
Body and structure
144 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 96,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
While driving on the expressway, down a straight stretch of road the molding on my driver's side window trim flew off. There were no cracks or damage to it prior to this happening. After I leaving my destination, the sticky rubber underneath came loose, flapping against my windshield and driver side window until it…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had excessive rust under each of the four doors as well as the rear hatch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rust occurred in areas that were painted thinly. The dealer stated that the vehicle could not be…
Other or unspecified
105 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles.
While driving to work, exhaust fumes in my car nearly put me to sleep. I took it to my Ford dealership to find the problem, and learned that Ford has a service bulletin to correct this issue, so they have been aware of this problem. This should have been a safety related recall, but instead I must pay $885.00 to…
Front strut bearings clunking/ failed. Needed replaced. 55,000 miles. Strong odor of carbon monoxide when accelerating or following large trucks.
Engine
92 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine, cooling system.
Power cut off. (golden wrench of I dont know what's wrong came on) on 4 lane had to pull over to shoulder of road. Cut off engine, restart, no light drove to Ford shop monday and left car. Shop to check out and get back with me. Friday had to call and see if any news of whats wrong. Told after 3 hr runaround, needs…
When accelerating to gain access to a highway or just speeding up on a local street, there is a gas or burnt oil smell that permeates the cabin of the vehicle. This happens every time I accelerate, every day.
Electrical
63 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
Transmission shifts out of gear, from drive into neutral or stalls out. Safety hazard while driving. 6f35 transmission. Dealer(s) refuse to acknowledge issue or repair despite customer complaint and transmission fault code. Vehicle stalls while at all speeds on highway, city streets, or while in intersections. Too…
My vehicles air turns on on it's own as you drive. This is not the AC nor heater. As you drive you can hear your air vents turn on and you smell a foul smell and the air pushing through the vents is muggy sticky air that makes your skin feel clammy. This has been reported to the dealership before and had been…
Transmission
55 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: transfer case (4-wheel drive).
I was driving on the highway with the speed of 60 miles per hour and suddenly the wrench icon shows on the left hand side of my steering wheel and my car speed is slowing down. I tried to push my accelerator harder but it will not pick up speed, so I pull off the road and turn off my engine. After a few minutes, I…
This is the continuation of my 2012 Ford Explorer follow up complaint about the power train malfunction and reduced power that happen on 5/12/2018. As I mentioned in my last complaint that I took it to coggins Ford in jacksonville on 5/14/18 and they checked my car and the service advisor said that they test droved…
Fuel system
34 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles.
I/we have had multiple occasions of the engine failure to accelerate while in a regular driving mode. The engine will not continue to respond to the accelerator. The vehicle was driven to the local Ford dealer and they were unable to duplicate the problem. Today I was able to pull a code p2111 and took that in. I was…
Awd off error and wrench symbol - issue has occurred multiple times, under different conditions. Without warning, the vehicle loses acceleration and the wrench icon and AWD errors display. The throttle becomes unresponsive, but all other systems remain functioning. If you leave it in gear without the brakes engaged…
Air bags
27 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
The airbag warning light is constantly illuminated. After researching the problem at http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php?threads/air-bag-light-seat-belt-warning.349429/ this appears to be a common problem among all of the fifth generation Ford explorers. Electrical connectors under the seats that run to the…
The wipers will randomly turn on even if the switch is off. I have found that I have to turn the wipers on to the highest setting then immediately turn them off you get the wipers to stay off. My second problem is the air bag warning light will turn on at random times while driving. I can go weeks or months with out…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Ford Explorer recalls
Body and structure: roof and pillars
Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the a-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between july 18, 2024 and december 16, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24s02.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 explorer vehicles. The a-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Suspension: rear
Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealer will inspect for the presence of a cabj. If a cabj of any design is found, the dealer will inspect the tightness of the cabj, and replace the cabj, knuckle, and/or toe link as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters were mailed november 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on march 17, 2022. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s43.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin. These vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (cabj) replacement part that could seize, and result in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
Suspension: rear
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began june 26, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s17.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Body and structure: door
Risk: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on july 23, 2015. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15s11.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 explorer vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the power steering control module (pscm) software, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of motor position sensor signal when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on july 23, 2014. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14s06.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 ford explorer vehicles manufactured may 17, 2010, through february 28, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Windshield trim molding item detachment
Summary
On january 27, 2023, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe23-001 to investigate allegations of a-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (my) 2011-2019 ford explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) reporting this failure. Odi has received 671 voqs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injuries. Some consumers have reported that the failure occurred while they were driving at highway speeds, with the detached trim panel entering the path of travel of the vehicle behind them, requiring the driver of the following vehicle to take evasive action. It is noteworthy that motorists who experi
Exhaust odor in passenger cab
Summary
During the ea17-002 investigation, the agency reviewed and analyzed reports of exhaust odors in the passenger cabins of model year 2011 to 2017 ford explorers. This investigation required an approach that incorporated knowledge and expertise from the automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety fields. The agency conducted an in-depth investigation that encompassed the review of over 6,500 consumer complaints, conducting field inspections, and testing the relevant vehicles, both independently and in coordination with ford and other entities. During the investigation, the evolution of ford service bulletins intended to reduce the level of exhaust odors and carbon monoxid
Ford explorer exhaust odor
Summary
During the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA?s) investigation into the ford carbon monoxide allegations, the office of defects investigation (odi) identified additional vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) reports with similar exhaust odor claims.presently, odi has identified 791 voqs for model year 2011-2017 ford explorers pertaining to exhaust odor claims.odi has identified three crashes and 41 injuries potentially linked this issue.the reported injuries range from unspecified to loss of consciousness, with the majority being nausea, headaches, or dizziness ? All of which can be symptomatic of carbon monoxide exposure.additionally, ford provided 2,400 reports including o
Electric power steering failure
Summary
On may 27, 2014 and amended june 2, 2014, ford motor company (ford) submitted a defect information report (dir) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist in approximately 179,027 model year (my) 2011 through 2013 ford explorer vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (epas), including 82,328 my 2011 explorersthat are the subject of pe12-017.ford has assigned the recall number 14s06.the NHTSA recall number is 14v-286.ford's dir indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.sudden loss of power steering as
Questions about the 2012 Ford Explorer
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Explorer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (360 complaints, typically around 96,500 miles); body and structure (144 complaints, typically around 96,500 miles); other or unspecified (105 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Explorer have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 19, 2024 (body and structure). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Ford Explorer?
- It is 12th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints, with 829 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.