2012 Ford Explorer reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Ford Explorer — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,024
- 342 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 345 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 15 reported crashes · 15 injuries · 12 fires
What owners report fails — 2012 Ford Explorer
- STEERING 345
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 103
- ENGINE 79
- STRUCTURE 77
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 60
5 recalls on record for the 2012 Ford Explorer
- NHTSA 24V031000 · 2024 · STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 21V746000 · 2022 · SUSPENSION:REAR A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 19V435000 · 2019 · SUSPENSION:REAR A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 15V171000 · 2015 · STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increas
- NHTSA 14V286000 · 2014 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increa
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Ford Explorer
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.
Open TCO calculatorThese 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 Explorer 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 Explorer reliable?
NHTSA has 1,024 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Ford Explorer and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (345 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Ford Explorer units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Explorer?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (345), unknown or other (103), engine (79), structure (77). 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 Explorer?
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.