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Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (5)
Structure: body, roof and pillars
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 and remedy
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.
Suspension: rear
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 and remedy
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.
Suspension: rear
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 and remedy
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.
Structure: body, door
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 and remedy
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.
Steering: electric power assist system
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 and remedy
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.
Canadian recalls (8)
Show 8 Canadian recalls
Structure
2024-01-22 · campaign 2024-026
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the exterior A-pillar trim on either side of the windshield may not be properly attached. As a result, the trim(s) could loosen and separate from the vehicle.
Safety Risk:
Trim that detaches from the vehicle could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the A-pillar trim.
Suspension
2021-09-24 · campaign 2021-587
Issue:
On certain vehicles that have had one (or both) of the rear wheel knuckle(s) replaced, the outer ball joint for the rear suspension toe link may seize. If this happens, the toe link could break while driving. This could cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability.
Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with a rear ball joint manufactured by ZF.
Safety Risk:
A loss of vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect if it has had ball joints installed to replace the original bushings in the rear suspension. If so, the ball joints will be inspected. If a ball joint requires replacement, the dealer will replace the rear suspension knuckle and toe link, as necessary.
Suspension
2019-06-11 · campaign 2019-280
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the rear suspension toe link(s) could break. This could cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability. Note: This problem is more likely to occur on vehicles that are driven on rough roads.
Safety Risk:
A loss of vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to install improved rear suspension toe links.
Suspension
2017-11-28 · campaign 2017-577
On certain vehicles operated in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, soil properties unique to these areas could cause an accumulation of soil to occur at the attachment point of the rear suspension toe link. This could impede the toe link's travel, causing bending stresses and potential fracture. A fractured toe link would affect vehicle handling and could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the toe links with revised parts. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2017-224.
Structure
2015-03-24 · campaign 2015-127
On certain vehicles, the return spring within the interior door handle assembly could become unseated, resulting in an interior handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation. This could allow a door to unlatch during a side impact crash, which could increase the risk of injury to a seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will inspect, and repair or replace the interior handles as necessary.
Steering
2014-05-28 · campaign 2014-194
On certain vehicles, a fault in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system could result in an immediate loss of power steering assist without warning to the driver. This would unexpectedly increase the steering effort force necessary to steer the vehicle at lower vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will affect repairs as necessary and will reprogram the EPS controller with updated software. In the event that an EPS fault occurs, this updated software would allow for continued EPS function while displaying visual and audible warnings to the driver until the end of the drive cycle.
Steering
2014-01-08 · campaign 2014-002 · 20 vehicles
A safety defect may exist in certain service parts installed after September 1st, 2013. Replacement steering gear assemblies could contain a defect potentially resulting in steering lockup and an inability to steer the vehicle. This would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Owners of affected vehicles will be notified based on warranty and dealer service records and affected parts will be replaced.
Accessories
2012-09-28 · campaign 2012-325
Certain vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Specifically, the compliance label identifies the vehicle type as "TRU/CAM" instead of "MPV/VTUM". Correction: Due to the inconsequential nature of this non-compliance, no action will be taken.
Owner complaints (830)
Owners filed 830 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer (10 crashes, 6 fires, 13 injuries reported). Among 44 model years of this model, it ranks #19 for the most complaints (median 630).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Steering | 360 | |
| Structure | 144 | |
| Unknown or other | 105 | |
| Engine | 79 | |
| Electrical system | 64 | |
| Power train | 55 | |
| Air bags | 27 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 27 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Ford Explorer.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD | 4★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ |
| 2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD | 4★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2012 Ford Explorer version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Explorer AWD 3.5 L Automatic (S6) | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Explorer FWD 2.0 L Automatic 6-spd | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Explorer FWD 3.5 L Automatic (S6) | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-29.