Representative model. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 Ford Explorer recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 7
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 829
Latest campaign: Jan 19, 2024

Recall summary by component7

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Structure	2	Jan 19, 2024	24V031000 15V171000
Suspension	2	Sep 22, 2021	21V746000 19V435000
Steering	2	May 29, 2014	14V286000 14E001000
Wheels	1	Aug 28, 2017	17E048000

Safety recalls7

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jan 19, 2024Latest campaign


Jan 19, 202424V031000	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. DetailsHide details for campaign 24V031000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02. Campaign NHTSA 24V031000 · Jan 19, 2024
Sep 22, 202121V746000	Suspension: rear A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V746000 What's wrong 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, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. These vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) replacement part that could seize, and result in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link. Risk 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 March 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S43. Campaign NHTSA 21V746000 · Sep 22, 2021
Jun 10, 201919V435000	Suspension: rear A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V435000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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 is 19S17. Campaign NHTSA 19V435000 · Jun 10, 2019
Aug 28, 201717E048000	Wheels: hub A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 17E048000 What's wrong 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 self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end. Risk A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash. Remedy Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Campaign NHTSA 17E048000 · Aug 28, 2017
Mar 24, 201515V171000	Structure: body door 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. DetailsHide details for campaign 15V171000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 15V171000 · Mar 24, 2015
May 29, 201414V286000	Steering: electric power assist system 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. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V286000 What's wrong 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 a shut down of the power steering assist. Risk 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 began on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S06. Campaign NHTSA 14V286000 · May 29, 2014

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component829

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

829Complaints filed

10Involving a crash

6Involving a fire

13Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Steering	360	43	6	1	5
Structure	144	17	1	1	1
Unknown or other	105	13	3	2	6
Engine	79	10	1	3	1
Electrical system	63	8	1	3	1
Power train	55	7	1	0	1
Fuel/propulsion system	27	3	0	0	0
Air bags	27	3	0	0	0
Suspension	22	3	1	0	0
Service brakes	21	3	1	1	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	19	2	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	17	2	0	0	0
Visibility	16	2	0	0	0
Seat belts	14	2	0	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	14	2	0	0	0

11 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Steering
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, the vehicle was restarted; however, the failure persisted.”
Filed 09/30/2026 · ODI 11768099
Steering
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway, the power steering became inoperable, with the power steering fault message displayed.”
Filed 09/29/2026 · ODI 11767698
Structure
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the driver's side and passenger's side exterior A-pillar trim detached.”
Filed 09/09/2026 · ODI 11763200

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2012 Ford Explorer recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Explorer. The most recent, 24V031000 (reported January 19, 2024), concerns structure. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2012 Ford Explorer recalls for?

The largest group is structure, with 2 campaigns. Others: suspension (2), steering (2), wheels (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Ford Explorer?

Steering is the most-reported component, named in 360 complaints out of 829 filed with NHTSA (43%). Across all complaints, owners reported 10 crashs and 6 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 Ford Explorer?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Ford dealer.

Check a specific Ford by VIN

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