Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

2012 Ford Explorer

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

7
Open recalls
816
NHTSA complaints
4
Defect investigations
88
Service bulletins

NCAP safety

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Consumer complaints

816 filed
10
Crashes
6
Fires
13
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Steering
    345
  • Unknown OR Other
    103
  • Engine
    79
  • Structure
    76
  • Electrical System
    60
  • STRUCTURE:BODY
    59
  • Power Train
    55
  • FUEL/PROPULSION System
    27

Recalls

8 campaigns
24V031000·STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS2024-01-19

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.

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

FixDealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

21V746000·SUSPENSION:REAR2021-09-22

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.

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

FixDealer 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 notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S43.

19V435000·SUSPENSION:REAR2019-06-10

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.

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

FixFord 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, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

17E048000·WHEELS:HUB2017-08-28

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

RiskA loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

FixFord will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

17E048000·SUSPENSION:REAR2017-08-28

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

RiskA loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

FixFord will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

15V171000·STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR 2015-03-24

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.

RiskIf 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.

FixFord 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S11.

14V286000·STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM2014-05-29

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.

RiskIf 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.

FixFord 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 for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S06.

14E001000·STEERING2014-01-06

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain replacement steering gears installed on model year 2011-2012 Explorers as service parts in September 2013 and January 2014. The affected gears may lock, preventing the driver from being able to steer the vehicle.

RiskThe inability to steer the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

FixFord will notify owners and dealers will replace the suspect steering gears with new steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 13S14.

NHTSA investigations

6 actions
PE23001·STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS2023-01-27 → 2024-02-08

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

Led to recall24V031

EA17002·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2017-07-27 → 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

EA17002·STRUCTURE:BODY2017-07-27 → 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

PE16008·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM2016-07-01 → 2017-09-12

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

PE16008·STRUCTURE:BODY2016-07-01 → 2017-09-12

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

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