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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,888 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Ford Explorer electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #51

Jun 062024

Explorer

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after receiving a map update on the main control panel, the display screen immediately blacked out. The contact stated that when updating the ATI system map, the main control panel screen completely blacked out. The contact was unable to use any of the electrical systems including the Back Over Prevention camera. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was diagnosed that the ATI system had failed due to the map update. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA

problem #50

Nov 202023

Explorer

  • miles
We were driving along when all of a sudden power steering completely went out and then warning lights came on for first time. There was no warning until already happened. We were in middle of traffic and almost impossible to get to side of road. Almost got slammed by other vehicle trying to get to side of road.Had to tow car to shop and found out electric power steering component failed and have to replace rack and pinion for thousands of dollars. There was a recall for this problem but we were never notified.

- Rancho Santa Margarita , CA, USA

problem #49

Jul 012023

Explorer

  • miles
The part that is needed for the suv to work called the body module chip is not made by Ford anymore and I am still paying on this vehicle

- Aiken, SC, USA

problem #48

Jan 012023

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While I was driving the service advance trac light came on as well I stopped the car turned the key off went to leave and another light popped up in red saying service power steering now. There was a csp called the epas efforts on my vehicle and Ford dealer said it had been fixed in 2014 but I didn-??t own the car so I-??m not sure if it was

- New Johnsonville , TN, USA

problem #47

Nov 282022

Explorer

  • miles
While driving down the middle of a busy interstate suddenly the power steering was lost and a power steering assist warning appeared. Vehicle was almost impossible to control with no steering. After making it off the roadway and into a local business and turning the car off, when I turned it back on the warning was gone and the steering worked normally. This is definitely a life threatening failure and it happens without warning.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #46

Sep 142022

Explorer 4-cyl

  • miles
The truck has been in shop 5 times or actually 5 different dealerships. The recall has yet to be fixed but I continually pay to have the problem INVESTIGATED. The dash flashes loss of fuel pressure, service advance track soon, Battery level and mechanic wrench. I have this on video as it is constant occurrence. Each time ford takes it in they can't make the issue happen or recreate it. As told several times happens sporadic and not under any certain conditions. Over and over paying diagnostic fee and what they say will repair the issue only it happens pulling off the lot at 5 star ford Dallas Texas took it in under default to Bob Tomas Mckinney where they scanned it and found 17 communication errors left it there nothing was done but more exploration of issues going down the list of com failures and paying for each 3 anyway and it did it again leaving me stranded 3 times to count eventually leaving at Don Davis Ford Arlington Texas where it was again said repaired and is currently at Planet Ford Dallas where historically I paid $2850 and NOTHING was done as it again left me stranded and towed there where it can sit until it's fixed meaning this loss of horsepower the electric flashes and the gears in transmission ACTUALLY FUNCTION AS PER REQUESTED EACH TIME IN SERVICE

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #45

Jun 042022

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Service AdvanceTrac Warning light illuminated, power steering fail...second time this happened around the same time last year. Also, right and left turn signals do not stay on while turning.

- North Charleston, SC, USA

problem #44

Jun 132021

Explorer

  • miles
ABS Trac light came on while driving Car was taken to the dealership twice to fix the problem but Ford wasn't able to find the problem. I know there is a problem with the Ford Focus ABS Module due to recalls and I think on the Ford Explore but Ford isn't saying anything about this problem with the ABS module.

- Hawthrone, CA, USA

problem #43

Aug 072019

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles
Water is leaking from the roof that causes electrical issues. Bad design by Ford in which seal seams not properly installed, which cause leaks inside vehicle.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #42

Apr 272020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
My truck burst into flames 🔥 and burn to the ground while parked in the drive way.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #41

Dec 032019

Explorer

  • 500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When engine is started, the airbag lights go off but come back on and stays on. This started a month ago and the warning light still switches on when the car is started

- Fulshear, TX, USA

problem #40

Oct 092019

Explorer

  • 126,499 miles
Power steering default activates which cause you to use extreme force to navigate the wheel and there is a popping noise in front of vehicle. All while driving and sitting still.

- Vaiden, MS, USA

problem #39

Jul 102019

Explorer

  • 150,000 miles
Lost communication with the climate control system. The windows lock up, and the car blows constant heat through defrost. No hazards can be used as the entire control panel is out. Very unsafe without hazards, let alone full blown heat when its already. 105 outside with the heat index.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #38

Jan 132018

Explorer

  • 118,875 miles
The control panel that shows the rear backing and then switches to controlling temperature, radio, seats, etc has failed. There is no backing assist or any controls for interior functions. The feature stopped when in motion and hasn't come back on since.

- Polk, OH, USA

problem #37

Oct 012017

Explorer

  • miles
The car has water leaks, I started having problems with electrical function and fear of fire or contact in my car.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #36

Jul 142017

Explorer

  • 90,000 miles
This is a safety issue - air bags could malfunction at anytime due to miscommunication within the system. Air bags can deploy at anytime or can fail to deploy when necessary. Air bag light turns on and stays on. According to Ford dealer this is a known issue but has not yet been recalled. Seat belt buckle replaced, air bag diagnostic module replaced, program control module air bag reprogramed. Light continues to turn on. Has a wire harness issue L/F door module SRS - wiring loom needs to be replaced.

- Agoura Hills, CA, USA

problem #35

Dec 192018

Explorer

  • 1 miles
Power steering fault. The power steering just stopped work while I was driving with now warming until it was completely inoperable. I nearly crashed it to an on coming car in the parking lot of my gym. I notice there was a recall for this make and model but when I did a VIN search my truck was not registering a recall.

- Mountainside, NJ, USA

problem #34

May 112018

Explorer

  • 69,000 miles
Front passenger seat pretensioner has failed causing the airbag light to come on. A technical service bulletin has been created on Ford's end blaming the connect. See tsb 12-5-11. It tells the mechanic to inject dielectric grease as a fix.

- Syracuse, UT, USA

problem #33

Oct 012018

Explorer

  • 62,000 miles
2012 Ford Explorer XLT 4W. The terrain management system fault light came on and car went immediately into limp mode on a major road.there was no warning and was almost rear ended. Took to dealer Oct.1 and they kept it two days. The dealer said they could not find a code. Dealer said it is fixed by updating and calibrating the ABS system. It was not fixed.. Oct 13 same light went on and car immediately into limp mode on expressway. Nearly caused accident because car immediately slowed down and would not go more than 5mph in limp mode. You loose complete control of the transmission and throttle. There are 53+ cases with this problem on the internet just this year. Https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Explorer/2016/engine/wrench_light_on.shtml this happens suddenly while driving and without warning. The car immediately begins to shutter and vibrate and immediate begins to slow down to 5mph. This is a dangerous situation and should be investigated. You have no control over the speed of the car or the transmission.. please google (terrain management system fault light) and see that there are many more Ford cars are affected by this problem there are 3 youtubes showing this problem. They cars are not safe to drive. Anyone who had a terrain management system light that goes on while driving will experience the same dangerous situation

- West Bloomfield, MI, USA

problem #32

Jan 182018

Explorer

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. While driving 7 mph, a grinding metal sound was heard and the vehicle stopped. The contact shut off the vehicle and restarted it, but it would not engage into gear. The contact had the vehicle towed to his personal auto mechanic and was informed that the passenger side axle mount fractured. The technician replaced the passenger side axle mount. While test driving the vehicle after the repair, the contact noticed that the instrument panel lighting, including the wrench icon, the service advance track indicator, and the cross traffic system fault indicator illuminated. The mechanic stated that the vehicle would have to be taken to the dealer to be reprogrammed so the instrument panel lighting would dim. The contact took the vehicle to helfman Ford (12220 southwest fwy, stafford, tx 77477) to be reprogrammed. There were no recall for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

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