Is the 2012 Ford Explorer a bad year?
830 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Explorer years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Ford Explorer are in line with other Explorer years. Steering and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 Explorer owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 98,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 360 (43%) | 37k–140k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 144 (17%) | 60k–146k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 22 (3%) | 75k–153k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Backup camera | 12 (1%) | 88k–150k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (1%) | 22k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 85 (10%) | 40k–88k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 64 (8%) | 20k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 55 (7%) | 34k–84k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 34 (4%) | 40k–73k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 27 (3%) | 42k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 24 (3%) | 43k–93k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 21 (3%) | 21k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 19 (2%) | 30k–93k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 17 (2%) | 26k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 98,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 830 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 37 say the car was towed.
30 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I have an exhaust smell coming from my vents. This odor is present in the front and back seats of the car. It is present when the vehicle is in motion, as well as when it is stationary.
Power cut off. (Golden wrench of I dont know what's wrong came on) on 4 lane had to pull over to shoulder of road.
While I was driving my 2012 Ford explorer xlt, it lost all power for the 4th time. When I pressed the throttle there was no response.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 98,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Ford Explorer: 7
The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach. A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
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. A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension. A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end. A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
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. 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.
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. 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.
The affected gears may lock, preventing the driver from being able to steer the vehicle. The inability to steer the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 77
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Ford Explorer. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket
On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A…
To help differentiate engine oil leaks from other possible sources, a new white-colored fluorescent engine oil dye is available
2.0 GTDI/2.3L Front wheel drive Bibration and/or grinding/banging/clicking noise
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Windshield trim molding Item detachment
Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab
Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor
Electric power steering failure
Neighbouring years
2011 Explorer: 1,198 complaints, keep it · 2013 Explorer: 2,238 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Explorer year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Explorer years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Ford Explorer a bad year?
830 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Explorer years. At 98,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Explorer?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (360), body structure (144), suspension (22), backup camera (12), exterior lighting (6).
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Explorer have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 24V-031), Suspension (NHTSA 21V-746), Suspension (NHTSA 19V-435), Wheels (NHTSA 17E048000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.