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2012 Ford Expedition reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Ford Expedition — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source
NHTSA complaints
163
50 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
POWER TRAIN
62 complaints
Recalls on record
3
see below
Reported harm
14 reported crashes · 38 injuries · 5 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#3,016

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Ford median

-174

median 338 across 514 Ford records

Vs 2010-2014

-129

median 292 complaints in 613 records

Top component share

38%

Power Train: 62 complaints

What owners report fails — 2012 Ford Expedition

  • POWER TRAIN 62
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20
  • VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16
  • STRUCTURE:BODY 15
  • ENGINE 12

3 recalls on record for the 2012 Ford Expedition

  • NHTSA 16V248000 · 2016 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires m
  • NHTSA 12V034000 · 2012 · SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT MAY NOT PROVIDE THE REQUIRED STRENGTH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
  • NHTSA 12V190000 · 2012 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVE
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Ford Expedition

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford Expedition units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Ford Expedition reliable?

NHTSA has 163 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Ford Expedition and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is power train (62 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford Expedition units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Expedition?

Owners most often report problems with: power train (62), electrical system (20), vehicle speed control (16), structure:body (15). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2012 Ford Expedition?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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