2012 FORD EXPLORER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
1,014
Owner Complaints
7
Recalls
9
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2012 FORD EXPLORER
The 2012 FORD EXPLORER has received a total of 1,014 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 10 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS, SUSPENSION:REAR. 9 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (341 complaints), Unknown Or Other (102 complaints), and Engine (79 complaints).
Recalls for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER
NHTSA has recorded 10 recalls for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER, potentially affecting up to 5,648,910 vehicles.
Recall 24V031000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
| 1,889,110 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
View full details →Recall 24V031000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
| 1,889,110 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
View full details →Recall 21V746000 — SUSPENSION:REAR
| 150,723 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 21V746000 — SUSPENSION:REAR
| 150,723 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 19V435000 — SUSPENSION:REAR
| 1,194,173 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 17E048000 — WHEELS:HUB
| 630 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 17E048000 — SUSPENSION:REAR
| 630 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 15V171000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
| 194,484 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 14V286000 — STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
| 179,027 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 14E001000 — STEERING
| 300 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: The inability to steer the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER
1,014 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Recall 24V031 has not been fixed. I got my recall notice from Ford with regards to the A-pillar applique trim. I received my recall in February, 24. I have visited my local Ford dealer several times and as recently as 1 month ago. They state the parts are not available. My driver side A-pillar applique is missing. My passenger side applique is loose. Why are parts not available? After 2 years of recall notice!!
Plastic trims on both sides of the windshield are recalled and ford has not fixed yet. Safety hazard driving and both pieces are loose on vehicle.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the part was on backorder. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be registered in the State of California due to the incomplete recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Started the Explorer in a parking lot. When backing out the steering wheel was impossible to turn. A Power Steering failure light came on. Pulled the Explorer back into the parking spot and turned off the vehicle. Restarted the vehicle and steering became functional again. This appears to be a common ford problem and the recall should be reopened. It would be dangerous if this happened on a the road while driving.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and struck another unoccupied parked vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the rear of the vehicle had sustained scratches. There was no injury sustained. No Police report was filed. The contact stated that the power steering failure was initially intermittent, but the failure had become a constant failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electronic power steering and steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered because the 10-year warranty period had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Safety Rating for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER
The 2012 FORD EXPLORER received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER
Ford Motor Company has issued 9 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
21R02 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year Explorer Vehicles with Rear Wheel Knuckles that have been Replaced Rear Toe Link Inspection/Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S43, some of the affected vehicles that have had one (or both) rear wheel knuckle(s) replaced and were sold or operated in certain traditional corrosion areas where...
21R02 — SUSPENSION
Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year Explorer Vehicles with Rear Wheel Knuckles that have been Replaced Rear Toe Link Inspection/Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S43, some of the affected vehicles that have had one (or both) rear wheel knuckle(s) replaced and were sold or operated in certain traditional corrosion areas where...
21R02 — SUSPENSION:FRONT
Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year Explorer Vehicles with Rear Wheel Knuckles that have been Replaced Rear Toe Link Inspection/Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S43, some of the affected vehicles that have had one (or both) rear wheel knuckle(s) replaced and were sold or operated in certain traditional corrosion areas where...
44985 — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
FORD EXPLORER 2011-2015: BULLETIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE FRONT GLASS WINDOW CHATTERING UP/DOWN WHILE TRAVELING. THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *LJ
TSB-14-0130 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
FORD: WHEN AUXILIARY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ON, AN EXHAUST ODOR, LIKE SULFUR, CAN BE SMELLED. MODEL 2011-15 EXPLORER. *PE
TSB-14-0115 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
FORD: IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) THERE IS A TERRAIN MANAGEMENT POP UP WARNING, WITHOUT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) ACCOMPANYING IT, IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE OR TERRAIN CONTROL MODULE. MODEL 2011-2014 EXPLORER. *PE
TSB-13-5-29 — ENGINE
FORD: DUE TO BLOCKED VAPOR PURGE LINE PORT IN AIR CLEANER OUTLET PIPE ASSEMBLY, THE MIL WOULD ILLUMINATE, WITH DTC P144C. MODEL 2012 EXPLORER. *PE
TSB-12-5-11 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
FORD: WARNING INDICATOR, FOR AIR BAGS, WITH DTC (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES) B1212 AND/OR B1213, IS INTERMITTENTLT EXHIBITED. *PE
22172 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
POWER LIFT GATE MAY NOT BE OPENING OR MAY CLOSE AFTER OPENING A VERY LITTLE. *KB
NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FORD EXPLORER
- 2007 FORD EXPLORER — 271 complaints
- 2008 FORD EXPLORER — 215 complaints
- 2009 FORD EXPLORER — 49 complaints
- 2010 FORD EXPLORER — 154 complaints
- 2011 FORD EXPLORER — 1,477 complaints
- 2012 FORD EXPLORER (current)
- 2013 FORD EXPLORER — 2,735 complaints
- 2014 FORD EXPLORER — 1,997 complaints
- 2015 FORD EXPLORER — 2,105 complaints
- 2016 FORD EXPLORER — 2,925 complaints
- 2017 FORD EXPLORER — 1,893 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints
- FORD MUSTANG — 11,551 total complaints