2012 FORD EXPLORER Service Brakes Problems
19 NHTSA complaints on file
Service Brakes Issues in the 2012 FORD EXPLORER
19 service brakes complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 FORD EXPLORER. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
19
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Service Brakes Complaints
FAILED STATE INSPECTION (EMERGENCY BRAKE), FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED CALIPERS NOT WORKING FOR REAR DISC BRAKES, SIMILAR TO THE RECALL OF 2015/16 FORD EXPLORER'S BRAKE ISSUES- A DETAILED PICTURE OF REPORT/DIAGNOSTICS INCLUDED
07/25- HAD RECALL ORDERED- TOE LINK ON BOTH SIDES, REAR. PERFORMED AT HARRISONBURG FORD, VA. ; 09/04 DRIVING ON ROUTE 33 IN VA, MOUNTAIN ROAD. HEARD GRINDING NOISE COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN, NOISE STEADILY INCREASED AND BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE A LOSS OF CONTROL. SLOWED DOWN AND A MILE FROM SHOP THE NOISE STOPPED. WENT TO RICE TIRE IN VA AND HAD IT CHECKED. THE BOLT HOLDING TOE LINK ON RIGHT SIDE HAD DISLODGED NEARLY COMPLETELY. HAD IT REPLACED AND TOLD TO GO TO FORD TO RE TORQUE BOTH SIDES.; 09/05 WENT TO FORD. WAS INFORMED THAT MECHANIC HAD HAND TORQUED THE BOLTS, ESSENTIALLY MISREAD INSTRUCTIONS. MANAGER ACTUALLY STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CALL MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS TO RE TORQUE THEIR TOE LINKS CORRECTLY AS WELL. I ASKED FOR ALIGNMENT AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WOULD SURELY AFFECT BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT, THIS WAS PERFORMED AS WELL. THEY BILLED...
TAKATA RECALL
PURCHASE VEHICLE 2 21 2019 AND THE TWO ENGINE LIGHTS WARNING LIGHTS BREAKING DECELERATES WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAYS. SERVICE LIGHT TRACKING LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE VEHICLE DOES ALL THIS ON IT'S ON. I HAVE CONTACTED BY CHAT THE FORD CORPORATION ABOUT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I WAS TOLD THEIR WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN SO THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE DANGEROUS MATTER THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS VERY DANGEROUSAND THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. ALSO WITH THE ENGINE LIGHTS STAYING ON ALL THE TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.
MULTIPLE TIMES MY BRAKES HAVE HAD TO HAVE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM. TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE E-BRAKE LOCK UP, GET STUCK, OR FAIL IN A WAY THAT REQUIRED FULL REPLACEMENT OF MY ROTORS, PADS, BRAKE LINES, AND FLUID RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE IN THIS, I STOPPED USING THE E-BRAKE, HOWEVER HAD THE PROBLEM REPEAT ITSELF ONLY A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE TIME EARLIER THIS YEAR WAS NOTICED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING WHILE DRIVING, AND THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THIS YEAR WAS NOTICED WHEN THE FLUID WAS DRAINED AND A "LOW BRAKE FLUID" LIGHT CAME ON, AND WAS FURTHER EXAMINED AFTER FLUID DID NOT STAY IN THE SYSTEM FOR VERY LONG (MATTER OF AN HOUR OR TWO).
BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND FORD DEALERSHIP HAS THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS AND UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO BAD PRODUCTION PARTS
THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE NOT RELEASING PROPERLY AFTER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THIS LED TO ACCELERATED WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS, OVERHEATING OF THE PADS AND ROTORS, AND ULTIMATELY, NON-REPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE, OR OVERHEATING TO THE POINT OF CREATING A FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD.
WHILE DRIVING ON TRIP, THE CALIPERS SEIZED, THE BRAKES ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE. THE CALIPER AND ROTOR BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 51,000 MILES. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED AT 27,500 MILES.
WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, I COULD FEEL AND HEAR A DRAG. CAR HAS 17,400 MILES, RIGHT REAR PADS WERE METAL TO METAL AND CUT INTO THE ROTOR. RR BRAKE PADS WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, INDICATING THE PADS WERE SEIZED INTO THE BRACKET. THIS WORDING IS TAKEN FROM THE FORD SERVICE REPAIR INVOICE. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AT A LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.
2012 FORD EXPLORER REAR BRAKES - VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. PART OF CERTIFYING THE VEHICLE WAS TO REPLACE THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS AT 20K MILES. AT 32K I FOUND MYSELF HAVING TO REPLACE PADS AND ROTORS AGAIN. THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORERS WHERE PADS ARE SEIZING IN THE CALIPERS AND DRAGGING ON THE ROTORS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. FORD DEALERS AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS PROBLEM, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.
2012 FORD EXPLORER REAR BRAKES - VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A CPO. PART OF CERTIFYING THE VEHICLE WAS TO REPLACE THE REAR PADS AND CUT ROTORS AT 20K MILES. NOW AT 32K I HAD TO REPLACE REAR PADS AND ROTORS AGAIN DUE TO SEIZED CALIPERS THAT CAUSED THE PADS TO DRAG AND PREMATURELY WEAR THE PADS. THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORERS WHERE PADS ARE SEIZING IN THE CALIPERS AND DRAGGING ON THE ROTORS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. FORD DENIES THAT THERE IS ANY ISSUE, YET THE INTERNET IS FULL OF STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THE NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS AS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND BE DRIVING AROUND WITH BRAKES THAT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL THEM POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND (BREAK PADS) AND WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE WAS RADIATING OFF OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE STUCK AGAINST THE ROTOR. THE BRAKE PADS ARE FAIRLY NEW (REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2015). THE CALIPER WAS REMOVED AND A RETAINING BOLT WAS BROKEN OFF/STUCK INSIDE OF THE CALIPER MOUNT. THE PISTON WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY INSIDE OF THE CALIPER AND WOULD NOT EXTEND OUT. THE CALIPER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE CALIPER COULD NOT BE SET BACK IN PLACE DUE TO THE FAULTY RETAINING BOLT.
HAD TO HAVE REAR BOTH REAR CALIPERS, ROTORS, AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED BECAUSE CALIPERS WERE HANGING UP CAUSING THE BRAKES TO DRAG. I ALSO NOTICED SMOKE, COULD FEEL HEAT, AND SMELL HOT METAL COMING FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL ON OR AROUND 6/14/15. I ALSO NOTICED THE SAME ON 6/26/15. DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED SAID THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKES PADS WERE WORN OUT, THE RIGHT REAR PADS WERE 2MM FROM BEING WORN OUT. ALSO BOTH ROTORS WERE WARPED AND DISCOLORED. VEHICLE HAS ADVANCETRAC SYSTEM AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT, BECAUSE OF HEAT AND DRAGGING BRAKES, THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE ABOVE SITUATION OCCURED. COST OF REPLACEMENT CALIPERS FROM FORD WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED AT TIME OF VEHICLE PURCHASE. THE ROTORS, PADS, AND INSTALLATION COSTS TOTALED $412.93.
SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S06/NHTSA RECALL 14V-286 WE RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM FMC. KNOWING WE HAD A TRIP COMING UP, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO KEN GARFF FORD IN UTAH FOR SERVICING AND TO HAVE THE RECALL CORRECTED. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE ISSUE SO I WENT ON MY WAY. I DROVE A SINGLE GAS TANKS WORTH (APPX 400 MILES) AND THEN EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL. POWER STEERING FAILED, TRACTION CONTROL FAILED, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAILED. THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR WHICH FORD ISSUED THE RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS NOW TELLING ME THAT THEY COMPLETELY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IT IS MY FAULT THAT THESE SYSTEMS FAILED. THEY WANT ME TO BELIEVE AN ELABORATE TALE ABOUT HOW I HAVE DRIVEN MY EXPLORER 72000 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND SUDDENLY, AFTER THE RECALL GETS FIXED, I THEN HAVE THAT EXACT PROBLEM? THAT...
I WAS ON VACATION AND I STARTED TO GET A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR BRAKES EVERY TIME I STARTED I HAD TO PUT THE BRAKES ON. I DECIDED TO END THE VACATION EARLY AND HEADED HOME. BEFORE I GOT HOME I HAD TO STOP AT A FORD DEALER ABOUT 300 MILES FROM HOME. THE GUY AT THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AND THEN INSPECTED THE BRAKES. HE TOLD ME THE REAR BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN TO METAL ON METAL. I HAD THEM FIX THE REAR BRAKES FOR $324.13. HE LUBED THE CALIPERS AND SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM. I THINK THE BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 30,550 MILE ON A $46,000 VEHICLE. *TR
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING MAKING PULLING OVER AND STOPPING VERY DIFFICULT FOR A MATURE MALE DRIVER. I FIND IT DIFFICULT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE FOR MY WIFE OR ANY SMALLER OR LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING REGULAR DRIVING ON FAIRLY SMOOTH SURFACE NORMAL CONDITIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH A UNIQUE BRAKING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A SECOND VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM ENGAGED DESPITE THERE NOT BEING A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT?S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000. ...UPDATED 12-24-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED FINE WHEN HE WAS FOLLOWING A VEHICLE IN HIS LANE. HOWEVER, WHEN HE WAS IN A SEPARATE LANE, PASSING A LARGE SEMI WITH LARGE BRIGHT ALUMINUM OR LIGHT COLORED SIDES, ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ABS BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED ALL THE SENSORS AND THE WIRING IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500. *TR
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 "POWER STEERING FAULT." I ATTEMPTED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO SUCCESS AND THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SAFEST PARKING LOT (APPROX. 1 MILE). I SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RESTARTED BUT I STILL DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING HOWEVER I REGAINED BRAKES. I DROVE THE DEALERSHIP (3MILES AWAY). THEY SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN THEN RESTARTED AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY. LATER AFTER SEVERAL TEST DRIVES THE FORD MECHANIC HAD MY VEHICLE RE-INACT MY SAME EVENTS FOR HIM. *TR
Other 2012 FORD EXPLORER Problem Areas
Steering
341 complaints
Unknown Or Other
102 complaints
Engine
79 complaints
Structure
75 complaints
Electrical System
60 complaints
Structurebody
59 complaints
Power Train
55 complaints
Air Bags
27 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
27 complaints
Suspension
22 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
19 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
17 complaints
Seat Belts
14 complaints
Visibilitywiper
8 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System
7 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
7 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
5 complaints
Visibility
5 complaints
Visibilitywindshieldcritical Fasteners
5 complaints
Wheels
5 complaints
Back Over Prevention
4 complaints
Back Over Prevention Sensing System Camera
4 complaints
Steeringelectric Power Assist System
4 complaints
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
3 complaints
Exterior Lighting
3 complaints
Traction Control System
3 complaints
Visibilitywindshield
3 complaints
Back Over Prevention Warnings
2 complaints
Equipment
2 complaints
Equipment Adaptivemobility
2 complaints
Seats
2 complaints
Steeringrack And Pinion
2 complaints
Visibilityglass Siderear
2 complaints
Back Over Prevention Rearview System Braking
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systempump
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolineturbosupercharger
1 complaint
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
1 complaint
Equipmentelectrical
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalnavigational Systemglobal Positioning System
1 complaint
Exterior Lightinghazard Flashing Warning Lights
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingturn Signal
1 complaint
Power Traintransfer Case 4 Wheel Drive
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulic
1 complaint
Steering Steering Wheelhandle Bar
1 complaint
Steeringgear Box Other Than Rack And Pinion
1 complaint
Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System
1 complaint
Steeringhydraulic Power Assistpower Steering Fluid
1 complaint
Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly
1 complaint
Structurebodydoor
1 complaint
Structurebodyhood
1 complaint
Structurebodyroof And Pillars
1 complaint
Structureframe And Members
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core
1 complaint