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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,104 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2012 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #93

Apr 292024

Explorer

  • miles

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

Driving vehicle with my 15 year old daughter, noticed a smell in cabin, we both started feeling strange, getting a headache, dizzy, fearful of co2 pulled over and had it towed to dealer

- Humboldt, IA, USA

problem #92

Oct 172023

Explorer

  • miles
The hazard lights have never worked in my vehicle and after spending months at the dealership they were not able to fix this. Also my window pillar flew off hitting another car while I was doing 75mph and the window cowl did the same thing. I've been working with a Ford dealership in Evansville, Indiana on Walnut Street and the window cowls need recalled and I was told that it will take 6 weeks to fix the pillars but the window cowl is so loose it's going to fly off in due time plus most of the vehicles the hazard lights do not work at all. Also I was able to turn the My Key feature on and I can't get it to turn off and my dealership can't figure it out. My electrical power steering unit, the steering gear box and steering knuckle also went out. And the rear end fractured on me while driving I lost steering 4 times while driving and almost hit a semi.

- Vincennes, IN, USA

problem #91

Jun 212023

Explorer

  • miles
When backing up the the dash board (camera) screen is crossed. Items that appear on the right shows on the left on the screen. And things that appear on the left show up on the right. Some how the camera is flipped

- Stone Mountain , GA, USA

problem #90

Mar 012023

Explorer

  • miles

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

My rear backup camera isn't working all the time. I feel this is a huge safety issue and needs to be recalled.

- Larksville , PA, USA

problem #89

Jan 142023

Explorer

  • miles
Front left windshield assembly came off while I was driving down the highway.

- Hopkinsville , KY, USA

problem #88

Jan 312023

Explorer

  • miles
Window trim pieces have fallen off 3x. We have had them replaced multiple times. Once, the trim piece came off on the highway and caused the vehicle behind to swerve. No accidents. Currently, the drivers side trim piece is loose again, and I'm considering having it replaced, again.

- Hopkinton, MA, USA

problem #87

Nov 282022

Explorer

  • miles

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

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 #86

Jul 302022

Explorer

  • miles
Power Steering stopped working. EPS Fault. Seems like it should be a safety recall issue, but it's only an extended warranty. Unfortunately we're outside the warranty. Power steering should definitely be considered a Safety Recall

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #85

Jul 232022

Explorer

  • miles
When I drive especially on roads with normal speed limits gas like smell or carbon monoxide smell comes into the car.

- Jamaica, NY, USA

problem #84

Apr 012020

Explorer

  • miles
Heavy rain causes water to leak inside vehicle. Repaired sunroof on which electrical parts was -??burned-?? out due to water leakage. Water continues to leak inside of vehicle through driver and 3rd row (driver side) seatbelts. Googled issue and looks like many people are having this problem. There is no way that dealership was not aware of this issue as it definitely rains in Indiana where car was purchased. Just would like this to be known and fixed as this can cause not only electrical issues (sunroof went out, radio dashboard has problems) but also health issue as mold can form in vehicle.

- Lebanon , TN, USA

problem #83

Oct 212021

Explorer

  • miles

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

While driving 2 hours from home, service power steering light came on, steering became impossible to turn by myself. My friend and I turned steering wheel together to get vehicle off main road. We walked to the closest auto parts store to buy power steering fluid assuming there must be a leak. Instructed that it was electrical and needed to be repaired by mechanic. Closest Ford dealer was 40 minutes away and was very honest that if I had vehicle towed to them that my car would not be looked at for close to 2 weeks. Got car to local dealership and was told that it would be $2,000 to repair. No recalls or problems were mentioned to me by dealership. Did research to find that many people are having the same problem and called dealership back. They said there was not an actual recall but that there was an extended warranty placed on the part up to 150,000 miles. Like everyone else on the complaints page, my car is over that. 165,000 miles for me. Sounds like Ford did some good negotiating and was able to keep this from going to a full recall even though so many problems. I realize I won't be spared the economic loss of $2,000 but am very glad that I did not end up in an accident to find out about the well hidden problem!!!

- Monrovia, IN, USA

problem #82

Jul 052021

Explorer

  • miles
Ford Sync screen goes black and stays black. You cannot control rear air such as heat and or a/c. With this in mind and someone having small children that ride in the back and live in an area that sees 90 to 104 degree temperature well I am sure you can guess how hot the car is inside for them. I have been told by dealerships this is a common problem with this year of ford so why is their not a recall for this yet as children and pets are suffering and risking heat stroke due to this issue.

- Morrill, Ne, NE, USA

problem #81

Apr 242021

Explorer

  • miles
Just purchased this car, decided to look up any recalls and found 1 pertaining to the toe links. Looking throughly at the vehicle there are a lot of major defects. This is going to be a daily driver for my daughter and I and I truly don't feel safe as I'm reading all the reviews and recalls. The only thing I can mention at this moment about this car would be the back washer fluid leaks into the cabin, the hood of the car does not shut correctly-handle for this area is loose. The state of this car is unknown.

- Hull, IA, USA

problem #80

Apr 052021

Explorer

  • 0 miles
Persistent exhaust odor in vehicle upon start up. When the vehicle cranks up and with A/C on there is a strong exhaust odor, it isn't as noticeable at highway speeds but still there. This issue started a couple weeks ago and hasn't went away

- Hubert, NC, USA

problem #79

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 #78

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 #77

Oct 012015

Explorer

  • 37,000 miles
My 2012 Ford Explorer leaks from the 3rd row seatbelt. It has ruined the carpet in the back and molded it. It also filled up the spare tire area with water and rusted the rim of the spare tire and the inside where the tire sits. I did not notice this until many months after I bought it because I wasn't using the 3rd row at the time.

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #76

Jul 232019

Explorer

  • 120,776 miles
When the vehicle is stationary and I turn on the vehicle it displays the following message "power steering assist fault" and the steering wheel locks and I am unable to move the vehicle until I turn it off and turn it back on at least 2 times. I am afraid if this fails while I am driving I could kill myself or someone else.

- Freeport, NY, USA

problem #75

Feb 232019

Explorer

  • miles
My Explorer smells very strongly of exhaust when accelerating. It makes me nauseous and passengers do not want to get in my car ' I don't want to get in my car. Ford's customer service program has not addressed the issue and they have not even acknowledged the issue. Plugging up two small plugs in the trunk and reprogramming the air conditioning/heat system does not address an apparent exhaust leak. I have spoken with employees of Ford, seen countless stories online ' this issue is not unknown or undiagnosable. I hope that the NHTSA may provoke Ford to do the right thing before someone get seriously hurt.

- Milford, CT, USA

problem #74

Feb 072019

Explorer

  • 63,000 miles
Could not fill my gas tank because it was blocked by some piece of metal. At a gas station. Went to an auto repair shop and the mechanic had to use 2 screwdrivers to push the metal obstacle away. I was then able to put gas in.

- Crossville, TN, USA

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