2012 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER DESIGN DOES NOT SHOW YOU THE LOWER RANGE WHILE DRIVING AND THAT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT. THE HIGHER NUMBERS WERE ON THE TOP OF THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH WERE SHAPED LIKE A "C" AND THE NUMBERS SHOULD BE AT THE BOTTOM TO AVOID SPEEDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, A CLAIM WAS FILED AND THEY INFORMED HER TO CONTACT NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78. UPDATED 12/28/11*LJ THE C…

Owner-reported narrative. 78 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432703 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TOUCHSCREEN OF THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO BUT THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,450.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436374 at NHTSA ↗

THIS FORM DOES NOT ALLOW ENTRY OF MULTIPLE DATES. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MYFORDTOUCH WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT IS CONTINUAL. PUTTING IN ONE DATE IS POINTLESS. THE CLIMATE (DEFROSTER, ETC) SYSTEM AND THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM ARE PART OF THIS MODULE, ALONG WITH PHONE AND AUDIO FEATURES. THIS MODULE LOCKS CONTINUALLY AND IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE DEFROSTER OR NAVIGATION SYSTEM MANUALLY WHEN THIS OCCURS. REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS AND MY WIFE WAS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS SEVERAL TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CORRIDO…

Owner-reported narrative. 420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437068 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

IN THE WORDS OF ONE OF THE SEVERAL FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER CARE CASE MANAGER I'VE SPOKEN TO SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO, FORD'S MYTOUCH SYSTEM IS "TOTALLY DYSFUCNTIONAL". THE SOFTWARE UPON WHICH THIS SYSTEM IS BASED WAS APPARENTLY CO-AUTHORED BY MICROSOFT AND FORD IS CURRENTLY TELLING CUSTOMERS THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT RELEASE, SUPPOSEDLY DUE TO BE RELEASED IN "THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR". HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD THIS KIND OF MESSAGE BEFORE...THINK MS VISTA! MY EXPLORER HAS AN APPROX. 8"X5" TOUCHSCREEN IN THE MIDDLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439743 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE I WAS PUMPING GAS THE GAS WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,190 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440202 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2014-05-29 (May 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.

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 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.

Reported: 2015-03-24 (March 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.

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 number for this recall is 15S11.

Reported: 2019-06-10 (June 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.

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 Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

Reported: 2021-09-22 (September 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.

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 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.

Reported: 2024-01-19 (January 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.

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. 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.