2012 Ford Explorer problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (330) · Structure (75) · Structure:body (53)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Explorer model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
566 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (7)
Structure:body:roof And Pillars 2024-01-19 · campaign 24V031000 · 1,889,110 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:rear 2021-09-22 · campaign 21V746000 · 150,723 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:rear 2019-06-10 · campaign 19V435000 · 1,194,173 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Wheels:hub 2017-08-28 · campaign 17E048000 · 630 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
Risk: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Structure:body:door 2015-03-24 · campaign 15V171000 · 194,484 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2014-05-29 · campaign 14V286000 · 179,027 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Steering 2014-01-06 · campaign 14E001000 · 300 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain replacement steering gears installed on model year 2011-2012 Explorers as service parts in September 2013 and January 2014. The affected gears may lock, preventing the driver from being able to steer the vehicle.
Risk: The inability to steer the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the suspect steering gears with new steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 13S14.
Service bulletins (88)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Unknown Or Other 2024-10-10 · SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Structure 2023-04-04 · SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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. it is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (vin) from a different vehicle. most modules on these affe
Suspension 2023-02-07 · 22N01 S1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2011-2017 model year explorer vehicles rear wheel knuckle replacement reason for this supplement program terms: added 21r01 and 21r02 reason for providing a no-cost, one-time repair: added 21r01 and 21r02 owner notification mailing schedule: added mailing schedule for 21r01 and 21r02 oa
Unknown Or Other 2022-11-04 · 21R02 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 have had one (or both) rear wheel knuckle(s) replaced and were sold or operated in certain traditional
Showing the 6 most recent of 88 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-25 · Electrical System“had to pull over to chnage my tire and when attenpting to put my hazard lights on, or warning lights they did not work which resulted in several cars almost hitting me because i could not signal my lights. the way ford designed the 2012 ford explorer hazard light button is flawed. its not an actual button and relies solely on the touch screen which…”
2026-09-30 · Steering · 110,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the steering wheel seized. the contact pulled over to the side of the road, the vehicle was restarted; however, the failure persisted. the vehicle was towed to the residence, and an independent mechanic arrived to diagnose the vehicle. the contact was informed that…”
2026-09-29 · Steering · 138,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. the contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway, the power steering became inoperable, with the power steering fault message displayed. the contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn while driving at slow speeds. the failure mileage was approximately 138,000.…”
2026-09-09 · Structure · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the driver's side and passenger's side exterior a-pillar trim detached. the contact used tape on the driver's side to secure the molding to the windshield. the contact stated that the passenger's side a-pillar trim detached and fell off the vehicle. the dealer was …”
2026-09-02 · Structure · 159,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v031000 (structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and it was realized that both front a-pillar trims were loose. the vehicle was repaired using duct tape as a temporary fix…”
2026-08-31 · Steering · 197,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making turns, the steering wheel made loud grinding sounds and was loose. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. the failure mileage w…”
2026-08-26 · Unknown Or Other“right after i bought this car used, it rides down the road like it's going to fall apart! it's horrible, the slightest little bump in the road you can feel every single one heaven forbid if it's a big bump in the road or a pothole it's priced the car hasn't fallen apart yet…”
2026-08-26 · Unknown Or Other“it is actually the rearview camera on the vehicle has been going in and out sporadically for at least a year or so. now more often than not it does not even work…”
2026-07-21 · Steering“loss of power steering assist . yes it is available for inspection on request. i can't steer it . it has not been confirmed by anybody yet. it has not been inspected by anybody yet. there are no warning lights on dash .…”
2026-07-10 · Structure · 80,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. the contact received notification for nhtsa campaign number: 24v031000 (structure); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that while driving at 65 mph on a bypass, the a-pillar exterior trim detached. the owner applied duct tape to the front windshield out of conce…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.