2012 Ford Explorer problems
The 2012 Ford Explorer has 1,037 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (35%) concerns steering. Next are body & structure (14%) and engine (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,037 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 35% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 15 and 12
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 65,000 miles 727 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 109 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 85 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 137 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 83 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 68 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 60 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 57 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 63 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 33 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 14 |
| 200k+ miles | 18 |
What the data shows
Of the 727 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 65,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 96,000 miles (263 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 15 complaints mention a crash; 12 complaints mention a fire; 15 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 88% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 21st most-complained-about out of 36 model years of the Ford Explorer with enough data (478 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at a unknown speeds around a curve, the steering wheel seized as a result, the driver hit a curve and crashed into a building metal pole. The driver did not sustained injury, the front and rear passengers sustained bump and bruises that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence.
I was driving and for no obvious medical reason passed out and my car traveled across a highway and off the highway and hit 2 trees. I have read a news report of this happening to other drivers with this make and model of my card.
While making a left hand turn, the power steering went out, causing my vehicle to veer into a brick mailbox and ditch. Resulting in major damage to my vehicle and mailbox. Also causing injury to my right arm and shoulder.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had trouble starting sporadically. The vehicle displayed a" key not recognized start car" message. The dealer diagnosed that the shifter malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
2012 ford explore limited. While driving on highway, the car suddenly with no warning decreased speed then a wrench warning light came on in the lower left dash panel, and the car was idling very rough. Even though I was pressing on the gas pedal to accelerate, there was no response. I was able to limp it home at literally 2 MPH in "limp mode". The car did not respond when I pressed the acceleration pedal although I still had power. I had to have it towed to dealership to be checked out.