repaired · 2026 Q2
Body: roof and pillars
Risk. A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
2012 Ford ExplorerProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 831 owner complaints about the 2012 Ford Explorer, most often about the steering. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-031 the manufacturer reports only 21% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Ford Explorer has problems
831 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
361Steering7 crash/fire/injury
144Structure3 crash/fire/injury
79Engine4 crash/fire/injury
65Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
55Power train
27Air bags
27Fuel/propulsion system
22Suspension
19Service brakes
13215 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 361 | 7 |
| Structure | 144 | 3 |
| Engine | 79 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 65 | 4 |
| Power train | 55 | 2 |
| Air bags | 27 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 27 | 0 |
| Suspension | 22 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 1 |
| 15 other systems | 132 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2012 Ford Explorer recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Suspension: rear
Risk. A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Suspension: rear
Risk. A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Body: door
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.
Show 1 more recall
repaired · 2015 Q4
Steering: electric power assist system
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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
96kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 262 steering complaints. 51% were reported before 100,000 miles.
61under 30k miles134under 100k miles128100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
19 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,830 – $2,300
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Explorer year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Explorer median. How we score
6096339391,2078431,4501,7311,9591,3489523753,2951,1311,304497630208148331151,1988312,2391,6841,8202,4671,7067363031,25345627611321111440
'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Ford Explorer safety ratings
2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Ford Explorer, and the recalls they led to.
- Exhaust Odor in Passenger CabNo recall
- Electric power steering failureLed to recall 14V-286
- Ford Explorer Exhaust OdorNo recall
- Windshield trim molding Item detachmentLed to recall 24V-031
In owners' words
What Explorer owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
When this vehicle is turned on the power steering assist fault light comes on and the steering wheel does not turn. This is a serious safety hazard as I drive with my small toddler in this vehicle everyday and I am pregnant with our second child. My vehicle is at the dealership and they are any to…
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 failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and an independent mechanic arrived to…
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 stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn while driving at slow speeds. The failure…
Own a 2012 Explorer?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.