2012 FORD EXPLORER — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 821 complaints · 7 recalls
Most-reported system: STEERING (320 complaints · 39.0%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 10
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 13
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2011 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution STEERING appears in 320 of 821 owner complaints (39.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. STEERING: 320 complaints, 39.0% of reports STEERING 320 · 39.0% · 4 crash reports 1 fire reports STRUCTURE: 128 complaints, 15.6% of reports STRUCTURE 128 · 15.6% · 1 fire reports ENGINE: 58 complaints, 7.1% of reports ENGINE 58 · 7.1% · 1 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 37 complaints, 4.5% of reports POWER TRAIN 37 · 4.5% · 1 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 34 complaints, 4.1% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 34 · 4.1% · 1 fire reports FUEL SYSTEM: 22 complaints, 2.7% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 22 · 2.7% AIR BAGS: 19 complaints, 2.3% of reports AIR BAGS 19 · 2.3% VISIBILITY: 19 complaints, 2.3% of reports VISIBILITY 19 · 2.3% SUSPENSION: 18 complaints, 2.2% of reports SUSPENSION 18 · 2.2% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 204 complaints, 24.9% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 204 · 24.9% · 4 crash reports 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
STEERING 320 39.0% 4 crashes · 1 fires
STRUCTURE 128 15.6% 0 crashes · 1 fires
ENGINE 58 7.1% 0 crashes · 1 fires
POWER TRAIN 37 4.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 34 4.1% 0 crashes · 1 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 22 2.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 19 2.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 19 2.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 18 2.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 204 24.9% 4 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2011; the first recall shown was reported in Jan 2014. 2011-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2012-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2012-Q3: 34 owner reports 34 2012-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2013-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2013-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2014-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2014-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2014-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2014-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2015-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2015-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2015-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2016-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2016-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2016-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2017-Q1: 24 owner reports 24 2017-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2017-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2017-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2018-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2018-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2018-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2019-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2019-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2019-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2019-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2020-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2020-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2020-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2020-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2022-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2022-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2022-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2022-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2023-Q1: 28 owner reports 28 2023-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2023-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2023-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2024-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2024-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2024-Q3: 22 owner reports 22 2024-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2025-Q1: 20 owner reports 20 2025-Q2: 32 owner reports 32 2025-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2025-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2026-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2026-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2026-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Oct 2011 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 14E001000 ◆ Recall campaign 14E001000 Recall campaign 14V286000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V286000 Recall campaign 15V171000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V171000 Recall campaign 17E048000 ◆ Recall campaign 17E048000 Recall campaign 19V435000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V435000 Recall campaign 21V746000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V746000 Recall campaign 24V031000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V031000 Investigation PE12017 ● Investigation PE12017 Investigation PE16008 ● Investigation PE16008 Investigation EA17002 ● Investigation EA17002 Investigation PE23001 ● Investigation PE23001
  • Campaign 14V286000 was reported 786 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V171000 was reported 323 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17E048000 was reported 73 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V435000 was reported 724 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V746000 was reported 1,559 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V031000 was reported 3,546 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2011-Q4 Owner reports 7
2012-Q1 Owner reports 4
2012-Q2 Owner reports 8
2012-Q3 Owner reports 34
2012-Q4 Owner reports 2
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q2 Owner reports 13
2013-Q3 Owner reports 11
2013-Q4 Owner reports 7
2014-Q1 Owner reports 10
2014-Q2 Owner reports 13
2014-Q3 Owner reports 15
2014-Q4 Owner reports 12
2015-Q1 Owner reports 2
2015-Q2 Owner reports 19
2015-Q3 Owner reports 21
2015-Q4 Owner reports 10
2016-Q1 Owner reports 12
2016-Q2 Owner reports 15
2016-Q3 Owner reports 31
2016-Q4 Owner reports 14
2017-Q1 Owner reports 24
2017-Q2 Owner reports 13
2017-Q3 Owner reports 21
2017-Q4 Owner reports 16
2018-Q1 Owner reports 15
2018-Q2 Owner reports 12
2018-Q3 Owner reports 6
2018-Q4 Owner reports 17
2019-Q1 Owner reports 19
2019-Q2 Owner reports 12
2019-Q3 Owner reports 21
2019-Q4 Owner reports 18
2020-Q1 Owner reports 14
2020-Q2 Owner reports 9
2020-Q3 Owner reports 10
2020-Q4 Owner reports 4
2021-Q1 Owner reports 8
2021-Q2 Owner reports 8
2021-Q3 Owner reports 8
2021-Q4 Owner reports 13
2022-Q1 Owner reports 17
2022-Q2 Owner reports 8
2022-Q3 Owner reports 13
2022-Q4 Owner reports 15
2023-Q1 Owner reports 28
2023-Q2 Owner reports 10
2023-Q3 Owner reports 12
2023-Q4 Owner reports 16
2024-Q1 Owner reports 15
2024-Q2 Owner reports 17
2024-Q3 Owner reports 22
2024-Q4 Owner reports 17
2025-Q1 Owner reports 20
2025-Q2 Owner reports 32
2025-Q3 Owner reports 23
2025-Q4 Owner reports 7
2026-Q1 Owner reports 7
2026-Q2 Owner reports 10
2026-Q3 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 14E001000
Recall campaign 1 14V286000
Recall campaign 1 15V171000
Recall campaign 1 17E048000
Recall campaign 1 19V435000
Recall campaign 1 21V746000
Recall campaign 1 24V031000
Defect investigation 1 PE12017
Defect investigation 1 PE16008
Defect investigation 1 EA17002
Defect investigation 1 PE23001
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (7)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14E001000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    The inability to steer the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the suspect steering gears with new steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 13S14.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V286000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) software, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of motor position sensor signal when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S06.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V171000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S11.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17E048000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V435000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V746000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealer will inspect for the presence of a CABJ. If a CABJ of any design is found, the dealer will inspect the tightness of the CABJ, and replace the CABJ, knuckle, and/or toe link as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S43.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V031000

    Report date
    Component:
    STRUCTURE
    Consequence:
    A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 821 complaints · page 1 of 33

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources