2012 Ford Explorer reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 827 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer over 15 years — 46 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Explorer years here — under the median of the other years, which is 64. NHTSA has 7 recalls on file, including Roof and pillars, Rear, and Hub.

Ford Explorer, 2012–2015 body — Photo by Mr.choppers, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

Complaints

827

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Steering (358 of 827), then Structure (144) and Engine (79). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 70,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 125,000 miles. Those filings include 10 that report a crash, 6 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Explorer has 2,234 complaints, 77 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Ford Explorer. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (7)

Recall structure, body, roof and pillars 2024-01-19 · NHTSA campaign 24V031000

Summary 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 were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

Vehicles affected 1,889,110

Recall suspension, rear 2021-09-22 · NHTSA campaign 21V746000

Summary 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.

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 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.

Vehicles affected 150,723

Recall suspension, rear 2019-06-10 · NHTSA campaign 19V435000

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

Vehicles affected 1,194,173

Recall wheels, hub 2017-08-28 · NHTSA campaign 17E048000

Summary 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.

Remedy Ford 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.

Vehicles affected 630

Recall structure, body, door 2015-03-24 · NHTSA campaign 15V171000

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

Vehicles affected 194,484

Recall Electric power steering 2014-05-29 · NHTSA campaign 14V286000

Summary 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.

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 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.

Vehicles affected 179,027

Recall Steering 2014-01-06 · NHTSA campaign 14E001000

Summary 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.

Remedy Ford 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.

Vehicles affected 300

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (827 total)

Steering

358

Structure

144

Engine

Electrical system

Powertrain

Air bags

Fuel and propulsion system

Suspension

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Service brakes

Speed control

Visibility

Engine and engine cooling

Seat belts

Back-over prevention

Visibility and wipers

Fuel system, gasoline

Exterior lighting

Equipment

Wheels

Traction control

Adaptive and mobility equipment

Seats

Hydraulic brakes

Show 16 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Of the 569 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 70,000 miles. The middle half fall between 40,000 and 125,000 miles.

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the driver's side and passenger's side exterior A-pillar trim detached. The contact used tape on the driver's side to secure the…"
Structure · filed 2026-09-09
"The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to a local…"
Structure · filed 2026-09-02
"The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making turns, the steering wheel made loud grinding sounds and was loose. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…"
Steering · filed 2026-08-31
"Right after I bought this car used, it rides down the road like it's going to fall apart! It's horrible, the slightest little bump in the road you can feel every single one heaven forbid if it's a big bump in the road…"
Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-26
"It is actually the rearview camera on the vehicle has been going in and out sporadically for at least a year or so. Now more often than not it does not even work"
Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-26

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Explorer all-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	17	23	19 MPG	$3400
Explorer front-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	20	27	23 MPG	$2800
Explorer front-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	18	25	20 MPG	$3250

Specs and fitment

5th generation, 2011–2019

Body styles SUV

Oil 5W-30 synthetic (EcoBoost engines); 5W-20 synthetic (3.5L Ti-VCT V6) , 6 qt capacity

Tire size 245/65R17 (XLT) to 255/50R20 (Limited/Sport)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA complaints filed on 2011-2019 Explorers most often name the structure and the steering. Recall 19V-435 covers certain 2011-2017 Explorers: the rear suspension toe links may fracture from stress on the rear suspension, which can cause a sudden change in handling. Dealers replace the toe links and inspect the rear toe-link ball joints, replacing the wheel knuckle if needed. Recall 21V-537 expands that campaign for certain 2013-2017 Explorers originally sold or ever registered in salt-belt states, where road salt can corrode and seize the cross-axis ball joint and fracture the outboard section of the toe link. Recall 24V-031 covers certain 2011-2019 Explorers whose A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, so the trim can detach. Recall 21V-316 covers certain 2016-2019 Explorers whose roof-rail cover retention pins can loosen and let the cover detach.

Compare

Next year 2013 Ford Explorer See every Ford Explorer model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Ford Explorer reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Ford Explorer?

Is the 2012 Ford Explorer more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Explorer has 2,234 complaints, 77 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Ford Explorer been recalled?

The 2012 Ford Explorer has 7 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Ford Explorer?

Owners have filed 827 complaints about the 2012 Ford Explorer with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Ford Explorer get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Ford Explorer is 20.7 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is my Ford Explorer?

2011-2019 is the 5th generation, built on a unibody platform, and 2020-onward is the 6th generation, which switched to a rear-wheel-drive-based platform shared with the Police Interceptor Utility.

Are there rear axle problems on the 6th-generation Explorer?

Yes. 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles were covered by recalls 22V-255, 23V-199, and 23V-675 for a rear axle horizontal mounting bolt that may fracture and disconnect the driveshaft, risking a loss of drive power or a rollaway.