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: power train
55 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Nov 29, 2013
THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM REPORT ONE 8/10/13 19,000 MILES: POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE <15 MPH AND BACK CEILING LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO OUT. FORD: 8/13/2013 SAID CEILING LIGHT SHORTENED OUT BATTERY AND CAUSED POWER STEERING TO GO OUT - ORDERED LIGHT BULB CAME BACK IN 3 DAYS TO REPLACE LIGHT BULB - THEY SAID POWER STEERING WAS FIXED. REPORT TWO 9/23/13 23,891 MILES: POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE PARKED. FORD: DID DIAGNOSTIC SAID THE ISSUE WAS MOST LIKELY WIRING AND SAID ISSUE WAS FIXED AND I LEFT WITH CAR REPORT THREE 10/02/13 24,280 MILES: POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 65 MPH, PULLED OFF HWY. REPORTED INCIDENT TO FORD. FORD: RAN DIAGNOSTIC, SAID ISSUE WAS MOTHERBOARD. ORDERED PART AND I RETURNED IN A FEW DAYS TO REPLACE COMPUTER BOARD. TOLD ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AND LEFT WITH MY CAR. REPORT FOUR 10/31/2013 25,295 MILES: POWER STEERING YELLOW LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD AS I STARTED VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT. POWER STEERING HAD NOT GONE OUT ONLY HAD WARNING LIGHT SHOWING. I DROVE A FEW MINUTES HOME WITHOUT THE STEERING GOING OUT. I STARTED CAR ABOUT AN HOUR LATER IN GARAGE AND POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT. BRIGHT RED LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD. WARNING LIGHT SAID SOMETHING TO THE TUNE OF 'REPORT POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY". FORD: KEPT CAR FOR 4 FULL DAYS WHILE WE DROVE RENTAL AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION AND FORD REGIONAL'S ENGINEERS SUPPOSEDLY SAID 'THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THEY HAVE SEEN BEFORE' (EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE ALMOST 100 REPORTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE) AND TO REPORT IF HAPPENS AGAIN. REPORT FIVE 11/28/13 27,000 MILES: POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE STARTING VEHICLE IN GARAGE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP WITH RED WARNING SIGNS. HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER HOLIDAY TO REPORT TO SERVICE. *TR
Power train, Jul 25, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. ...UPDATED 08-08-13 *BF
Steering, Power train, Jun 21, 2013
I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING GARAGE AND THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING SYSTEMS BECAME DISABLED. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE ONCE THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR, SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING APPEARED TO BE BACK BUT THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONTINUED TO SHOW AN ERROR. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER TODAY. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LISTED HERE - I HOPE FORD IS ADDRESSING APPROPRIATELY. *TR
Steering, Power train, Aug 21, 2012
I WAS SLOWING DOWN AS I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND HEARD A WARNING CHIME. INITIALLY, VEHICLE DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF PROBLEM, BUT GOT A WARNING MESSAGE OF POWER STEERING FAILURE (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR) AND ANOTHER ONE INDICATING TO SERVICE THE ADVANCE TRACK SYSTEM. THE ADVANCE TRACK INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OUT ON THE DIAL, TOO. AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND I HAD TO USE SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO MY DRIVEWAY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ONLY 2 MILES FROM HOME WITH FEW TURNS TO GET THERE. ALMOST COULDN'T MAKE THE TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. STARTED & RESTARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND EVENTUALLY ALL PROBLEMS AND WARNING LIGHTS DISAPPEARED. DROVE THE VEHICLE A FEW MILES AND ALL SEEMS OK. WILL UPDATE WITH ANY ADDITIONAL ISSUES AFTER 8/21/12. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED ON 8/15/12 WITH 12,700 MILES. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID TO BRING IN IF PROBLEMS PERSIST. *TR
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Aug 20, 2012
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A MOVIE ON PACIFIC COAST HWY IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING CAME ON, I HADN'T LOST COMPLETE FUNCTION OF THE STEERING BUT IT WAS ABOUT A HALF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD THAT IT GOT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A SHORT TERM FIX BY TURNING OFF AND THEN TURNING BACK ON AGAIN TO MAKE THE WARNING LIGHT GO AWAY. TOMORROW TAKING IN MY CAR TO DEALER TO GET IT FIX.... NOW BEFORE IT ENDS IN CRASH OR SOMEONE KILLED.!!!!!! I HAVE THE ECOBOOST I4 CYLINDER ENGINE. *TR