Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 2012 Ford Explorer: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
360 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 14V286000.
145 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 15V171000, 24V031000.
105 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
93 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
64 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
56 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
35 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
34 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
27 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
24 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
22 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 19V435000, 21V746000.
21 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
17 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
14 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Steering. Recall covering the steering system, reported to NHTSA on May 29, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 179,027 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on March 24, 2015. The campaign covers an estimated 194,484 vehicles across all affected models.
Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on June 10, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 1,194,173 vehicles across all affected models.
Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on September 22, 2021. The campaign covers an estimated 150,723 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on January 19, 2024. The campaign covers an estimated 1,889,110 vehicles across all affected models.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.
Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Electric power steering failure. Resulted in recall campaign 14V286000.
Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Windshield trim molding Item detachment. Resulted in recall campaign 24V031.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.