2012 Ford Explorer Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2012 Ford Explorer, and owners have filed 829 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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5 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Explorer
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Roof and pillars (structure)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
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…
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Suspension: rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,…
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…
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Suspension: rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
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,…
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Door (structure)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
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…
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Electric power assist system (steering)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the…
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…
829 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Ford Explorer have filed 829 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 80,761 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 83 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, the vehicle was restarted; however, the”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 30, 2026 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway, the power steering became inoperable, with the power steering fault message displayed. The contact sta”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 29, 2026 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Ford Explorer (Explorer AWD, Explorer FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–20 / 23–27 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Automatic 6-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2012 Ford Explorer
How do I know if my 2012 Ford Explorer 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 2012 Ford Explorer; 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 14V286000).
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
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
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.