2012 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
826 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 566 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 348 of 826 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 362 | 43.8% |
| Braking behavior | 44 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 43 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 33 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 348 |
| Unknown Or Other | 105 |
| Engine | 79 |
| Structure | 79 |
| Structure:Body | 61 |
| Electrical System | 60 |
| Power Train | 55 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
Steering: 348; Unknown Or Other: 105; Engine: 79; Structure: 79; Structure:Body: 61; Electrical System: 60; Power Train: 55; Air Bags: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 97 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 99 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 100 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 65 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 117 |
| 150,000 and above | 88 |
Under 25,000: 97; 25,000 to 49,999: 99; 50,000 to 74,999: 100; 75,000 to 99,999: 65; 100,000 to 149,999: 117; 150,000 and above: 88
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (117). 260 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 48 |
| 2013 | 33 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 52 |
| 2016 | 72 |
| 2017 | 74 |
| 2018 | 50 |
| 2019 | 70 |
| 2020 | 37 |
| 2021 | 37 |
| 2022 | 53 |
| 2023 | 66 |
| 2024 | 71 |
| 2025 | 83 |
| 2026 | 23 |
2011: 7; 2012: 48; 2013: 33; 2014: 50; 2015: 52; 2016: 72; 2017: 74; 2018: 50; 2019: 70; 2020: 37; 2021: 37; 2022: 53; 2023: 66; 2024: 71; 2025: 83; 2026: 23
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 362 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 43 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10442868 · 2012-01-08 (January 8, 2012)
I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND TOOK A LEFT HAND TURN AS I PROCEEDED DOWN A HILL. MY STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN,LIKE THE WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE BRAKES WERE HARD TO PUSH, NOT SLOWING ME DOWN. THE EXPLORER WENT OFF OF THE ROAD STRIKING A CONCRETE POLE. IT DESTROYED THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT END, AND DESTROYED THE POLE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, AND THE BRAKES, BUT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE. THEY SAID THAT IT'S NOT FORD'S FAULT FOR THE DAMAGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,569 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453815 · 2012-04-02 (April 2, 2012)
FIRST INSTANCE (2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT XLT MODEL - BOUGHT LATE SEPTEMBER 2011), IN DECEMBER 2011, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY CAUSING MY TOUCH TO GO OUT, MY ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF, ETC. NOW, SECOND INSTANCE (MARCH 31, 2012), DRIVING AN HOUR TO A DESTINATION, TURNED OFF THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES, GOT BACK IN THE CAR, THE CAR STALLED AND LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER TALKING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY TOLD ME IF I GOT THE CAR RUNNING, THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. FINALLY GOT THE CAR TURNED ON FOR THE DRIVE BACK, HALF WAY BACK, …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428832 · 2011-10-05 (October 5, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF WITH THE ELECTRONIC START BUTTON WITHOUT PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ALL THE VEHICLES THAT HAD A PUSH TO START BUTTON BECAUSE IT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT PLACING THE GEAR IN PARK AND CREATING A RISK OF A ROLL AWAY. THE VIN WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437069 · 2011-11-19 (November 19, 2011)
TWO EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES HAPPENED THIS DAY. (1) I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 AND THE EXPLORER BRAKED EXTREMELY HARD FROM A SPEED OF 65 MPH TO ZERO. THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND AND I COULD NOT DETERMINE ANY REASON FOR THIS. I PROCEEDED ON TO MY DESTINATION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INEXPLICABLY TO 95 MPH. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MANUALLY AND BY TAPPING THE BRAKE (I WAS FEARFUL OF THE VEHICLE ROLLING). THANK GOD, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER AROUND TRAFFIC IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THEN THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED. IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 692 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455846 · 2012-04-20 (April 20, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING GRANDCHILD TO SCHOOL THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT REQUIRING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TORQUE TO TURN CAR. I RECEIVED SEVERAL FAULTS INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. I WAS ABLE TO MANHANDLE THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND AFTER A FEW MOMENTS RESTARTED AN ALL FAULTS CLEARED. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING AT THIS TIME WE WOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTING AN ACCIDENT FOR SHE COULD NOT HAVE POSSIBLY HAVE TURNED THIS CAR. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO RIGGINS MOTORS (SELLING …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454017 · 2012-04-03 (April 3, 2012)
WHILE CHANGING LANES ON THE 60 WEST FREEWAY I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND VEHICLE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LANE CHANGE AND WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY A TRAILING DIESEL TRUCK. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL ONE INCH TO THE RIGHT AND ONE INCH TO THE LEFT. I PULLED OFF HIGHWAY BASED ON MY ADVANCED DRIVING SKILLS AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. THIS VEHICLE IS MY ASSIGNED WORK VEHICLE. SEVERAL FAULTS TO INCLUDE HILL FAULT, TRACTION FAULT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AND THE POWER STEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559565 · 2014-01-13 (January 13, 2014)
ON DEC. 2, 2013 I WAS STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A SLIGHT DECLINE AT A SCHOOL BUS STOP. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK (WHILE STILL ON) AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO RETRIEVE A FORGOTTEN ITEM FROM THE BACK FOR ONE OF THE CHILDREN (AS I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE WITHOUT INCIDENT). WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD (WHILE STILL IN PARK). IT ROLLED OFF OF THE ROAD, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, INTO A DITCH/RAVINE, CRASHED INTO A TREE AND ROLLED ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE, COMING TO REST AT AN APPROXIMATE 45 DEGREE ANGLE. MY 20-MONTH-…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,330 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10639941 · 2014-09-29 (September 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 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568909 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
ON MONDAY 10MARCH2014, MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER STARTED AND IMMEDIATELY STALLED OUT, WHEN I LOOK AT THE DASH IT HAD SAID IT HAD LOW OIL PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAVALIER FORD IN CHESAPEAKE, VA WHERE IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DURING FURTHER TROUBLE SHOOTING IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT HENDERSON FORD IN BAY ST. LOUIS, MS HAD INSTALLED A FUEL INJECTOR INTO THE ENGINE WITHOUT PROPERLY ENSURING THE CLEANLINESS OF EITHER THE INJECTOR OR THE POINT OF INSERTION. IT HAS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10568909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10658792 · 2014-11-18 (November 18, 2014)
INVESTIGATION OF INTERMITTENT "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT EVENTUALLY LED TO A DETERMINATION OF A FAULTY EVAP PURGE VALVE PULLING FUEL INTO THE EVAP CANISTER. TECHNICIAN SAID HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AS THIS IS A FUEL LEAK AND UNSAFE CONDITION. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED SAFETY ISSUE, CITES 1ST TIME THIS HAS BEEN SEEN, AND NOT COVERED BY ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. PAPERWORK PROVIDED CITES "A FAULTY EVAP PURGE VALVE CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE ENGINE VACUUM TO BE PLACED ON FUEL TANK, DRAWING FUEL/AIR FROM THE FUEL TANK THROUGH THE EVAP SYSTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10658792 at NHTSA ↗