RecallMyCar

2012 Ford Expedition Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2012 Ford Expedition, and owners have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
118
owner complaints to NHTSA
6 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
15–16
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Expedition

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 16V248000 Reported 153,581 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…

  2. Back up lights (exterior lighting) and power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

    NHTSA 12V190000 Reported 10,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 “lamps,…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 11, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at…

  3. Mid/rear assembly (seats)

    NHTSA 12V034000 Reported 569 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator vehicles, manufactured from november 19, 2011, through december 2, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 202, "head restraints." these vehicles may have inadequate welds on the head restraint support…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on february 21, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at…

118 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2012 Ford Expedition have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 86,282 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 21 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“vehicle shifting erratically and shows fuel mileage low and loss of speedometer”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 12, 2026 · Vehicle speed control

“vehicle shifting erratically and shows fuel mileage low and loss of speedometer”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 12, 2026 · Vehicle speed control

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2012 Ford Expedition (Expedition 2WD FFV, Expedition 4WD FFV). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–16 mpg
City / Highway13–14 / 18–20
FuelGasoline or E85
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine8 cyl, 5.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Compare Ford Expedition model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Expedition model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1991 Ford Expedition01
1993 Ford Expedition01
1994 Ford Expedition04
1995 Ford Expedition01
1996 Ford Expedition03
1997 Ford Expedition7853
1998 Ford Expedition5836
1999 Ford Expedition5946
2000 Ford Expedition7890
2001 Ford Expedition6578
2002 Ford Expedition2340
2003 Ford Expedition1615
2004 Ford Expedition0296
2005 Ford Expedition0315
2006 Ford Expedition2299
2007 Ford Expedition2215
2008 Ford Expedition3146
2009 Ford Expedition128
2010 Ford Expedition058
2011 Ford Expedition071
2012 Ford Expedition3118
2013 Ford Expedition092
2014 Ford Expedition072
2015 Ford Expedition3164
2016 Ford Expedition3217
2017 Ford Expedition4357
2018 Ford Expedition14377
2019 Ford Expedition11509
2020 Ford Expedition18420
2021 Ford Expedition12236
2022 Ford Expedition12113
2023 Ford Expedition865
2024 Ford Expedition777
2025 Ford Expedition636
2026 Ford Expedition210
2027 Ford Expedition20

Checking a specific 2012 Ford Expedition

How do I know if my 2012 Ford Expedition has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Ford Expedition; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 12V034000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.