RecallRepo

2012 Ford Explorer Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2012 Ford Explorer has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,607,517 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,027 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STRUCTURE 24V031000 2024-01-19 1,889,110 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed Feburary 16, 2024. Owner notification letters…

SUSPENSION 21V746000 2021-09-22 150,723 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

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

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…

SUSPENSION 19V435000 2019-06-10 1,194,173 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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…

STRUCTURE 15V171000 2015-03-24 194,484 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

If 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.

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.

STEERING 14V286000 2014-05-29 179,027 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

If 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.

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…

Complaints by component

STEERING
346
6crashes1fires5injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
103
3crashes2fires6injuries
ENGINE
79
1crashes3fires1injuries
STRUCTURE
77
1fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
61
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
60
1crashes3fires1injuries
POWER TRAIN
55
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS
27
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
27
SUSPENSION
22
1crashes
Total complaints1,027

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the "service power steering" message was displayed. The contact pulled into a parking lot, turned off and then restarted the vehicle. The failure persisted, and the power steering feature failed to…”

STEERING · reported 2026-06-25

“The contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the "service power steering" message was displayed. The contact pulled into a parking lot, turned off and then restarted the vehicle. The failure persisted, and the power steering feature failed to…”

BACK OVER PREVENTION · reported 2026-06-25

“The contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The failed power steering warning light illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent…”

STEERING · reported 2026-05-10

“Hi! I brought my car in to the ford dealership in lexington, sc to get a recalled a frame pillar repaired. They took the part off and didn’t repair it because they didn’t have the parts in. When I called corporate to check on the status of that part, I found out they had marked the recall as…”

STEERING · reported 2026-04-21

“Hi! I brought my car in to the ford dealership in lexington, sc to get a recalled a frame pillar repaired. They took the part off and didn’t repair it because they didn’t have the parts in. When I called corporate to check on the status of that part, I found out they had marked the recall as…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2026-04-21

“The contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that the hazard lights and other surrounding indicator systems were inoperable. Additionally, the rearview camera displayed a blank image while reversing. The dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS · reported 2026-04-21

“The contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that the hazard lights and other surrounding indicator systems were inoperable. Additionally, the rearview camera displayed a blank image while reversing. The dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…”

BACK OVER PREVENTION · reported 2026-04-21

“The contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the highway, the driver's side a-pillar trim clip became partially detached on the side of the windshield. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not repaired. The…”

STRUCTURE · reported 2026-04-16

Defect investigations

Investigation EA17002 Opened 2017-07-27 · closed 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

During the EA17-002 investigation, the agency reviewed and analyzed reports of exhaust odors in the passenger cabins of Model Year 2011 to 2017 Ford Explorers. This investigation required an approach that incorporated knowledge and expertise from the automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety…

Investigation EA17002 Opened 2017-07-27 · closed 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

During the EA17-002 investigation, the agency reviewed and analyzed reports of exhaust odors in the passenger cabins of Model Year 2011 to 2017 Ford Explorers. This investigation required an approach that incorporated knowledge and expertise from the automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety…

Investigation PE12017 Opened 2012-06-19 · closed 2014-06-12

Electric power steering failure

On May 27, 2014 and amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist in approximately 179,027 model year (MY) 2011 through 2013 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with electric power…

Investigation PE16008 Opened 2016-07-01 · closed 2017-09-12

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

During the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration?s (NHTSA?s) investigation into the Ford carbon monoxide allegations, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) identified additional Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports with similar exhaust odor claims.Presently, ODI has identified 791 VOQs for Model…

Investigation PE16008 Opened 2016-07-01 · closed 2017-09-12

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

During the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration?s (NHTSA?s) investigation into the Ford carbon monoxide allegations, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) identified additional Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports with similar exhaust odor claims.Presently, ODI has identified 791 VOQs for Model…

Investigation PE23001 Opened 2023-01-27 · closed 2024-02-08

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford Explorer as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.