Car · Ford problems

2012 Ford Explorer problems

830 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Explorer. The most reported area is steering (43% of them). NHTSA also lists 71 service bulletins and 5 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 13. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 830 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Steering360 · 43%
• Body and structure144 · 17%
• Other or unknown105 · 13%
• Engine and engine cooling92 · 11%
• Electrical system64 · 8%
• Power train (transmission and drive)55 · 7%
• Fuel system34 · 4%
• Air bags27 · 3%

13 smaller areas not shown (152 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 71 repair bulletins from Ford for the 2012 Ford Explorer. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. SSM 53040Received October 16, 2024

   While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

2. SSM 51536Received May 4, 2023

   Body and structure

   For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended.

3. 21R01Received December 2, 2022

   Suspension

   Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Toe Link Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S32, some of the affected vehicles exposed to a highly corrosive environment where road salt is used...

4. 21R02Received December 2, 2022

   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...

5. 22N01Received October 5, 2022

   Wheels

   Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Wheel Knuckle Replacement Ref 21S32 Submitting Owner Letter.

6. SSM 50379Received February 4, 2022

   Visibility and wipers

   Some 2011-2022 Explorer and 2020-2022 Aviator vehicles may experience an inoperative roof opening panel motor.

7. TSB150156Received December 20, 2021

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   2.0 GTDI/2.3L - Front wheel drive - Bibration and/or grinding/banging/clicking noise.

8. TSB160043Received December 20, 2021

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   6F35 Transmission - Fluid leak at left side halfshaft seal - built on or before 10/14/2013.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 14V286000May 29, 2014

   Steering

   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...

2. 24V031000January 19, 2024

   Structure

   The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

3. 15V171000March 24, 2015

   Structure

   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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2012 Ford Explorer, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Explorer will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Steering 360 complaints · 43%

• Tie rod end replacement (one side)$130 to $380
• Wheel alignment (four-wheel)$85 to $250

Body and structure 144 complaints · 17%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Engine and engine cooling 92 complaints · 11%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Electrical system 64 complaints · 8%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2012 Ford Explorer: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2012 Ford Explorer?

Of the 830 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Explorer, 360 (43%) name steering, and 144 (17%) name body and structure. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2012 Ford Explorer reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 10 of the 830 complaints as involving a crash and 6 as involving a fire. They also reported 13 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 71 repair bulletins for the 2012 Ford Explorer.

More

• 2022 Explorer problems
• 2021 Explorer problems
• 2020 Explorer problems
• 2019 Explorer problems
• 2018 Explorer problems
• 2017 Explorer problems
• 2016 Explorer problems
• 2015 Explorer problems
• 2014 Explorer problems
• 2013 Explorer problems
• 2011 Explorer problems
• 2012 recalls
• All Ford recalls
• Ford problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.