2012 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 830 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Steering (360), Structure (144), Unknown Or Other (105).
Key takeaways
- 830 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 10 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 13 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 360 | 43% |
| Structure | 144 | 17% |
| Unknown Or Other | 105 | 13% |
| Engine | 79 | 10% |
| Electrical System | 64 | 8% |
| Power Train | 55 | 7% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 27 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 27 | 3% |
| Suspension | 22 | 3% |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 3% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 19 | 2% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2012 Ford Explorer
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System - filed 2026-10-25
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 so...
Steering,service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2026-09-30
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....
Steering - filed 2026-09-29
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...
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More for the 2012 Ford Explorer
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.