2012 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 829 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Steering (360), Structure (144), Unknown Or Other (105).
Key takeaways
- 829 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 | 63 | 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%.
| 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.
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...
Structure - filed 2026-09-09
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 of...
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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.