2012 Ford Explorer Reliability
The 2012 Ford Explorer has 830 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and body structure. Compared with other Explorer model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Explorer's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
830
NHTSA owner complaints
7
Recall campaigns
10
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Ford Explorer complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 360 | 43% |
| Body structure | 144 | 17% |
| Unknown or other | 105 | 13% |
| Engine | 79 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 64 | 8% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 55 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 27 | 3% |
| Air bags | 27 | 3% |
2012 Ford Explorer recalls
7 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14E001000 | Jan 6, 2014 | Steering | 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. |
| 14V286000 | May 29, 2014 | 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… |
| 15V171000 | Mar 24, 2015 | Body 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… |
| 17E048000 | Aug 28, 2017 | Wheels — hub | 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… |
| 19V435000 | Jun 10, 2019 | 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. |
| 21V746000 | Sep 22, 2021 | 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,… |
| 24V031000 | Jan 19, 2024 | Body 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. |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Explorer years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Explorer analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 115 | 2 | Powertrain / transmission | Better year |
| 2011 | 1,197 | 8 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2012 (this page) | 830 | 7 | Steering | Caution |
| 2013 | 2,237 | 12 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2014 | 1,684 | 7 | Steering | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Ford Explorer
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 7 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Ford Explorer can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Ford Explorer reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2012 Ford Explorer has 830 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and body structure. Compared with other Explorer model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Explorer's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Ford Explorer problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Explorer are steering (360), body structure (144), unknown or other (105), engine (79). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Ford Explorer have recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Explorer, including 14E001000 (steering) and 14V286000 (steering — electric power assist system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Ford Explorer compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 1,197 complaints and 8 recalls (avoid); the 2013 has 2,237 complaints and 12 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 830 complaints and 7 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Ford Explorer?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Explorer research
Other Ford Explorer model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Explorer, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.