Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2012 vs 2013 FORD EXPLORER

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 167 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 183.5% more reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table

Component	2012 share	2013 share	Share change
STEERING	39.0%	33.7%	▼ 5.3 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM	2.7%	4.9%	▲ 2.2 pts larger share
ENGINE	7.1%	9.0%	▲ 1.9 pts larger share
AIR BAGS	2.3%	0.5%	▼ 1.9 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES	2.0%	1.0%	▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE	15.6%	16.5%	▲ 0.9 pts larger share
SUSPENSION	2.2%	2.9%	▲ 0.7 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS	1.2%	0.5%	▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN	4.5%	3.9%	▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
LANE DEPARTURE	not reported	0.5%	▲ 0.5 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.6%	1.1%	▲ 0.5 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	4.1%	3.7%	▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	1.6%	1.2%	▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
BACK OVER PREVENTION	1.3%	1.5%	▲ 0.2 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	not reported	0.2%	▲ 0.2 pts larger share
VISIBILITY	2.3%	2.2%	▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE	not reported	0.1%	▲ 0.1 pts larger share
WHEELS	0.7%	0.7%	▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
TIRES	not reported	0.0%	▲ 0.0 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	24.9%	31.1%	▲ 6.3 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

2012 7

Campaign components: STEERING, STRUCTURE, and SUSPENSION

2013 12

Campaign components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING, STRUCTURE, and SUSPENSION

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21