2012 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 827 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 10 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, roof and pillarsJan 19, 2024
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.
A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 24V031000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearSep 22, 2021
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.
A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V746000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearJun 10, 2019
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.
A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 19V435000 on NHTSA.gov
Wheels, hubAug 28, 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Campaign 17E048000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, doorMar 24, 2015
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V171000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemMay 29, 2014
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 14V286000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringJan 6, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain replacement steering gears installed on model year 2011-2012 Explorers as service parts in September 2013 and January 2014. The affected gears may lock, preventing the driver from being able to steer the vehicle.
The inability to steer the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the suspect steering gears with new steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 13S14.
Campaign 14E001000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: fuel/propulsion system
27 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 7, 2014
THE THROTTLE BOX HAS GONE BAD. THE CAR STALLS RANDOMLY WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A START AND REQUIRES A NEW THROTTLE BODY AT ONLY 47K MILES. THIS IS PART OF THE POWERTRAIN, BUT NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. FORD HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE BODIES IN EARLIER MODELS AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVEN'T FIXED IT YET. *TR
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 29, 2014
WE HAVE A 2012 FORD EXPLORER WITH 46,000 MILES AT THIS TIME. ON AUGUST 30, 2014, WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, AND THE POWERTRAIN/WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DISPLAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CAR WAS SHAKING LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND IT STARTED UP FINE, AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF. WE DROVE ANOTHER 100 MILES WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 1 GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP WHO NOTICED THAT THE VOLTAGE WAS DROPPING FROM 14 VOLTS DOWN TO 12VOLTS AND SHUTTING DOWN THE COMPUTERS (SO THEY SAID). THEY CHANGED OUT THE ALTERNATOR- $560. EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 20 WHEN THE CAR DID THE SAME THING TWICE AGAIN, ABOUT 10 MINUTES APART, GOING 70 MPH (CAR LOST POWER, WRENCH LIGHT ON, HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART). I TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER WITHIN 2 DAYS; THEY DROVE THE CAR 55 MILES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT. THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES PRESENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THEY SAID TO COME GET THE CAR AND KEEP DRIVING IT. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS LIKELY A THROTTLE BODY (ETB) MALFUNCTION. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR (NOT WHERE IT WAS NOW) AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO A SERVICE MANAGER WITH 19 YEARS EXPERIENCE. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY THE THROTTLE BODY SINCE THE CAR WOULD RESTART. HE SAID ONLY 2 THINGS TRIGGER THE WRENCH LIGHT- THE TRANSMISSION AND THE THROTTLE BODY. SINCE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER RIDE IN THIS CAR, I DECIDED TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ON SEPTEMBER 24 - $470. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR AS FORD SUGGESTED, WITH AN INTERMITTENT CUT-OFF PROBLEM, WAS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME SO I DECIDED TO MAKE AN EDUCATED GUESS/DIAGNOSIS AND THROW PARTS AT IT AND SEE. *TR