UsedScore

2012 Ford Explorer: Solid

Owners filed 248 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer in its first five years on the road, about 158 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Explorer year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the steering (41% of complaints, median 21,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.9×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Explorer year
Rank
7th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
248
first five years; 158 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
5
campaigns
5th generation, 2011–2019 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2011 Ford Explorer Limited

Photo: 2011 Ford Explorer Limited · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Steering41% · 102 complaints · median 21,000 miles
  2. Engine18% · 44 complaints · median 45,000 miles
  3. Brakes9% · 22 complaints · median 31,000 miles
  4. Powertrain10% · 24 complaints · median 33,000 miles
  5. Electrical10% · 25 complaints · median 21,000 miles
  6. Fuel and propulsion8% · 19 complaints · median 46,000 miles
  7. Body and structure9% · 22 complaints · median 51,000 miles
  8. Speed control5% · 13 complaints · median 34,000 miles
  9. Visibility4% · 10 complaints · median 28,000 miles
  10. Air bags2% · 6 complaints · median 50,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Owners describe losing power steering assist unexpectedly, sometimes making the vehicle hard to turn, alongside rear brakes that wear out early from seized calipers. Repairs sometimes resolved the issue temporarily, but several say the problems recurred even after dealer service or recall repairs.

Warning signs:
Many report dash warnings like 'Service Power Steering Now' or 'AdvanceTrac,' a stiff or locked steering wheel, and grinding, squealing, or smoke from rear brakes before failures.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced the power steering rack, gear, or module, or resurfaced/replaced brake pads, rotors, and calipers, though some report the problem returned or could not be duplicated.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 105,000 miles, among 35 complaints that give it

“I felt the brake pedal pulsate and the steering wheel jerk a little. Immediately I had an alert on my dash "power steering fault.”

“I started to get a very loud grinding noise from the rear brakes every time I started I had to put the brakes on.”

Engine

Owners of this Explorer commonly describe sudden power loss or stalling accompanied by a wrench warning light, along with persistent exhaust or fuel odors inside the cabin. Repairs such as throttle body or purge valve replacement sometimes helped, but many say dealers couldn't find a lasting fix.

Warning signs:
Owners often notice a wrench warning icon, check engine or low oil pressure lights, rough idling, hesitation on acceleration, or a burning/exhaust smell inside the cabin before the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently replaced the throttle body, purge valve, or water pump, though many owners report technicians could not duplicate or diagnose the stalling or odor issues and some repairs did not resolve the problem.
Mileage:
most between 40,000 and 90,000 miles, among 71 complaints that give it

“The accelerator pedal / motor speed ceased responding and the engine started to run very roughly”

“I would lose all control of the accelerator & vehicle would idle very rough. The "wrench" light would appear on the dash display”

Steering

Owners describe their Explorer's power steering suddenly failing or locking up while driving, sometimes forcing them to fight the wheel to reach the shoulder. Many needed a steering rack or gear replacement, and some say a related recall's software fix didn't stop the problem from recurring.

Warning signs:
Many report a power steering or advance trac warning light and chime, sometimes with traction control or terrain management faults, right before steering became stiff or locked.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced the power steering rack, pinion, or gear assembly, though many owners describe long waits for backordered parts, inability to duplicate the fault, or a recall software update that some say did not resolve the issue.
Mileage:
most between 35,000 and 140,000 miles, among 262 complaints that give it

“Lost all power steering suddenly on the freeway, making it very difficult to steer.”

“There was a chime and an error message displayed on my left screen instrument panel telling me that there was a power steering assist fault”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (5)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 24V031000January 20241,889,110 vehicles

    Structure: body: roof and pillars

    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.

    Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 21V746000September 2021150,723 vehicles

    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, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. These vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) replacement part that could seize, and result in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

    Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealer will inspect for the presence of a CABJ.

  • NHTSA 19V435000June 20191,194,173 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

    Fix: 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.

  • NHTSA 15V171000March 2015194,484 vehicles

    Structure: body: door

    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.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 14V286000May 2014179,027 vehicles

    Steering: electric power assist system

    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 power steering assist.

    Risk: 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.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) software, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Ford sent NHTSA 88 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2012 Explorer. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • SSM 49210 · September 2020Some 2009-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbochargers may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket.
  • DOR-M3J3F-07 · June 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters.
  • DOR-M9J4S-07 · June 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters.
  • 19N05 · June 2019Customer Satisfaction Program 19N05: Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles - Carbon Monoxide Concern
  • SSM 47948 · April 2019SSM 47948 - 2010-2019 Various Vehicles - Turbocharged Engines - Oil Supply Filter Replacement When Replacing The Turbocharger Or The Turbocharger Oil Supply Tube For 2010-2019 vehicles equipped with…
  • SSM 47797 · February 2019Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit…
  • 17N03-S2 · January 2019Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles - Carbon Monoxide Concerns
  • SSM 47662 · November 2018For 2010-2019 vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines, when diagnosing and/or replacing turbo related concerns, all steps within the Workshop Manual (WSM) procedure must be followed including…

All 2012 Explorer bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2012 Ford Explorer reliable?
Owners filed 248 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer in its first five years on the road, about 158 for every 100,000 sold: 0.9× the rate of a typical Explorer year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Explorer years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2012 Explorer problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the steering (41%), the engine (18%) and the brakes (9%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2012 Ford Explorer been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Explorer, the most recent in January 2024 (structure). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. The 2012 Ford Explorer on NHTSA.gov · How we rate