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2012 Ford Explorer Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 7 NHTSA recalls and 817 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
20/100

Avoid This Year — 2012 Ford Explorer

The 2012 Ford Explorer is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

7
NHTSA Recalls
7 recalls on record
817
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
10
Crashes + Injuries
6 fire reports

Own or buying a 2012 Ford Explorer?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Ford Explorer (7)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #19V435000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #17E048000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #15V171000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14E001000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V286000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V746000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #24V031000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Ford Explorer

Based on 817 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Steering
355
Structure
125
Unknown Or Other
83
Engine
46
Power Train
42
Electrical System
34
Air Bags
21
Suspension
14
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Ford Explorer — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 115 complaints 2011 1,186 complaints 2012 817 complaints 2013 2,213 complaints 2014 1,665 complaints 2015 1,728 complaints 2016 2,409 complaints

✅ Best model years: 2010 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Ford Explorer

Is the 2012 Ford Explorer reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Ford Explorer has 7 recalls and 817 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Explorer have?
The 2012 Ford Explorer has 7 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Explorer?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Ford Explorer are: Steering, Structure, Unknown Or Other, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Ford Explorer safe to buy?
The 2012 Ford Explorer has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 7 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Explorer should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Explorer are: 2010. These show the lowest complaint rates.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.