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.
Exhaust smell entering cabin during mild acceleration, many times, easily repeatable. Dealer instructed me to not to complete the most recent up to date tsb, as it was not guaranteed to work in 2015. So we wait to see if there is a better repair.
I own a 2012 Ford Explorer XLT ecoboost was functioning fine till one day driving my family back from the airport my check engine light came on and began to flash. Then all of a sudden the car SUV began to shake horribly and would not in acceleration. After having the Explorer towed to the Ford dealer it was determined that the ecoboost system failed.
While driving to work, exhaust fumes in my car nearly put me to sleep. I took it to my Ford dealership to find the problem, and learned that Ford has a service bulletin to correct this issue, so they have been aware of this problem. This should have been a safety related recall, but instead I must pay $885 to repair this known safety issue.
I was driving my 2012 Ford Explorer at a reduced speed, approaching an unprotected left turn on green when my car suddenly jerked and sputtered and lost speed triggering the wrench icon to light up on my panel. I was applying gas to complete the intersection with no acceleration. I crawled through the intersection as my car continued to lose power and idle loudly and sputter. I was barely able to get off the road and had this been a busier time of the morning could have been in a side impact crash. The service center cleaned the throttle body and the problem appeared to be solved until almost a year later 9/25/2015, as I had just shifted from reverse to drive and as I accelerated and began driving, my car suddenly sputtered and went into the same stall described above. I applied gas and tried to accelerate with no success. The wrench light came on again. I was told to turn it off and then back on which allowed me to drive it with caution, to the service center. After diagnosis at my local service center, it was determined that the electronic throttle body is worn out and needs replaced. My vehicle isn't even 5 years old. This is very perplexing. The incidents are unsettling and should it happen on a busy roadway or while accelerating to make turns or pass a person is at a great risk of being injured or killed.
Paint on hood is blistering - Ford knows about this issue and issued a tsb in 2004 to fix this issue in 2004 why are we still having this issue on a 2012 vehicle - dealer says Ford hq denied repair to hood paint since vehicle is out of 3 year 36,000 mile warranty - why is paint corroding on 3+ year old $34,000 vehicle? Ford should take care of this issue since it is known and devalues the vehicle by many $K.
We our purchased this vehicle from a local Ford dealer. Overall we loved the vehicle until we realized this SUV was not 4 wheel or all wheel it was just a regular vehicle. It has 20" inch wheels and we cannot find all season tires to fit this vehicle. It was the scariest winter of our lives!! we take small children to and from school(mennonite) and also have two mentally challenged folks who live with us and have to Transport them to dr's appt from time to time. Why on earth would a vehicle like this be ordered to be sold in this region equipped with the tires it had on it. Its extremely dangerous in winter conditions. We're in our late 60's. and had to literally push this vehicle out of our driveway in nothing but a dusting of snow!!! any tire dealer we tried to get tires from were in total disbelief that its an SUV type vehicle with no extra drive capabilities and they cannot find tires for the 20" rims.
Power cut off. (golden wrench of I dont know what's wrong came on) on 4 lane had to pull over to shoulder of road. Cut off engine, restart, no light drove to Ford shop Monday and left car. Shop to check out and get back with me. Friday had to call and see if any news of whats wrong. Told after 3 hr runaround, needs battery and throttle body $ $900 +- out of warranty consumer satisfaction program 13N03
We have a 2012 Ford Explorer with 46,000 miles at this time. On August 30, 2014, we were driving about 35 mph when the car lost all power, and the powertrain/wrench light came on in the display. The check engine light did not come on. I pulled to the side of the road where the car was shaking like it wanted to stall. I turned the car off and back on, and it started up fine, and the wrench light went off. We drove another 100 miles when it did the same thing again on September 1 going about 50 mph. I took it to the local shop who noticed that the voltage was dropping from 14 volts down to 12volts and shutting down the computers (so they said). They changed out the alternator- $560. Everything was fine until September 20 when the car did the same thing twice again, about 10 minutes apart, going 70 mph (car lost power, wrench light on, had to pull over and restart). I took it to the closest Ford dealer within 2 days; they drove the car 55 miles and could not duplicate the problem because it is intermittent. There were no error codes present. The check engine light never came on. They said to come get the car and keep driving it. Internet research indicates that this is likely a throttle body (etb) malfunction. I called the Ford dealer where we bought the car (not where it was now) and described the problem to a service manager with 19 years experience. He said it was likely the throttle body since the car would restart. He said only 2 things trigger the wrench light- the transmission and the throttle body. Since my wife and daughter ride in this car, I decided to have the throttle body replaced at my expense on September 24 - $470. Continuing to drive the car as Ford suggested, with an intermittent cut-off problem, was not an option for me so I decided to make an educated guess/diagnosis and throw parts at it and see.
I was driving on RT44 in MA when I noticed oncoming drivers yelling at me. I thought I was doing something wrong and when I came to a stop light, the driver in front of me got out of his car and yelled that my 2012 Ford explored had flames coming from the bottom of the vehicle. I immediately evacuated the car with my wife and children and my car was indeed on fire. I happened to have a fire extinguisher with me and was able to put out the fire. I was in front of a Ford dealer when this happened and they came out to inspect the car and I was told the heat shield was ignited from touching the exhaust. They removed the plate and you can see the burnt damage (I have pics). This situation could have turned fatal and they said they will put a new one on. This should not be able to catch fire and if it wasn't for other drivers I don't know how this could of ended. My wife and 3 year old son are now terrified to ride in the Explorer. This needs to be investigated immediately.
After numerous trips to the dealer to complain about the way this car was driving my car finally failed on and completely shift itself off in the middle of an intersection while making a left turn. I could not steer or accelerate. I coasted to the shoulder. Took the car to the dealer and they finally said it was the throttle body sticking and replaced it. Luckily it was under warranty. My prior visits I was told that the computer software needed to be updated and that maybe the gas I was putting into the car had to much ethanol.
Own 2012 Ford Explorer, bought new and a contributing factor was that it had tow pkg. On it. Had occasion to use the tow and checked local U-haul and they refused to rent a trailer to me. Was told co. Policy forbid rental to anyone driving an Explorer. I was totally speechless and even called two other rentals and was refused. Said too many accidents with sway and roll-over. After research on line I have found it is true..so now I own a vehicle with tow on it, and unless I am willing to spend several thousand to buy my own trailer, it is totally useless!wondering how Ford motors is allowed to sell these vehicles with this safety issue. I contacted them and got nowhere. So guess I'm stuck, however, come new vehicle time there will not be an Explorer in my drive. Shame on you Ford.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wellington, FL, USA