NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Explorer. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
SOMETIMES MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND I CAN NOT MOVE AND I AM DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN AND THAT SCARED ME I'VE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK TWICE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO FIND NOTHING. NOW MY VECHILE IS STARTING TO SHAKE WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I'M TIRED OF TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR NOTHING. I'VE TAKEN TO 2 DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THE SAME THING. IT'S ALWAYS WHEN I'M DRIVING. IT'S ALL I THE DEALERSHIP PAPERS. I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THIS . IT STARTED ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER I GOT IT. I WOULD NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND FAILED TO MANEUVER AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (LUGOFF FORD, 979 HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH, LUGOFF, SC 29078), BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH, A GRINDING METAL SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS PERSONAL AUTO MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE MOUNT FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE MOUNT. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING, INCLUDING THE WRENCH ICON, THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK INDICATOR, AND THE CROSS TRAFFIC SYSTEM FAULT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPROGRAMMED SO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WOULD DIM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HELFMAN FORD (12220 SOUTHWEST FWY, STAFFORD, TX 77477) TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THERE WERE NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
THE CONTROL PANEL THAT SHOWS THE REAR BACKING AND THEN SWITCHES TO CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE, RADIO, SEATS, ETC HAS FAILED. THERE IS NO BACKING ASSIST OR ANY CONTROLS FOR INTERIOR FUNCTIONS. THE FEATURE STOPPED WHEN IN MOTION AND HASN'T COME BACK ON SINCE.
SERVICE POWER STEERING. ADVANCE TRAC LIGHT CAME ON. UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE WHILE ON HIGHWAY DOING 55MPH. WE ARE UNABLE TO GET THIS CAR REPAIRED DUE TO HIGH COST TO SHIP CAR 572MILES OUT OF TOWN. TOLD US THAT WE NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND WILL GET REIMBURSED AT LATER DATE. HOWEVER AFTER EXPLAINING WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO SHIP IT THEY OFFER LITTLE TO NO HELP. THERE IS A LOCAL SHOP THAT DOES WARRANTY REPAIRS BUT WE HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET UP TO $1,600 NOT INCLUDING LABOR COSTS OF REPAIRS DONE TO VEHICLE. FORD THEN SAID 'REPAIRS AND SERVICES WOULD BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY' EXPLAINED IN PHOTO DOCUMENTATION
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. VERY DANGEROUS. DEALER MADE ME BUY A NEW BATTERY AND "REPROGRAMMED" VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK.. IT'S HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. MOST RECENTLY ON 1/10/18.
STRONG CARBON MONOXIDE ODOR COMING THROUGH THE HVAC VENTS WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW TO GET THE ODOR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ODOR IN THE PAST BUT I FIGURED THAT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FROM OTHER MOTORISTS. AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE THAT THIS IS A RECALL AND IS POTENTIALLY COMING FROM MY VEHICLE, I WILL GO AHEAD AND SCHEDULE AN APPT. TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE TO HAVE. MORE IMPORTANTLY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. IF THE FORD "FIX" DOESN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE MY QUESTION IS, WHAT AM I TO DO ABOUT THIS? THE FINAL PAYMENT FOR MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER IS DUE ON 01/15/2018. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE AFTER PAYING $698 FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS. IF THIS ISSUE CONTINUES I'D EXPECT FORD TO DO 1 OF 2 THINGS, 1. TAKE BACK THE FORD EXPLORER AND LET ME TRADE FOR ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE OF EQUAL COST TO WHAT I PAID FOR MY EXPLORER, LESS THE INTEREST. 2. REFUND MY $46K THAT I PAID FOR MY FORD EXPLORER AS YOU HAVE SOLD ME AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. I'VE ALREADY HAD THE ISSUE OF LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. LUCKILY I GOT THAT ISSUE RESOLVED FROM A PREVIOUS RECALL. PLEASE HELP US NHTSA AS WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TOLERATE UNSAFE VEHICLES AT OUR EXPENSE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT PAY FOR MANUFACTURER'S MISTAKES. LET'S START PUNISHING THESE BIG COMPANIES SO THAT THEY DO A BETTER JOB REGARDING PEOPLE'S SAFETY. THANK YOU!
MY VEHICLES IS EXPEDITING RECALL 14S06 AND HAS HAPPENED 2X AND FOR DINNER IS AS SAYING MY VIN NUMBER IS BORN UNSER THE RECALL. HELP
I SMELL EXHAUST WHEN IDLING OR WAITING AT STOP LIGHTS- EVEN WHEN DRIVING. AM I IN DANGER?? IT IS ONGOING AND HAPPENS OFTEN.
OIL IS COLLECTING AT MY AIR INTAKE. I HAVE REPLACE THE PCV VALVE BUT IT IS STILL LEAKING OIL ONTO MY AIR FILTER. THIS IS ALSO CAUSING FUMES IN THE VEHICLE.
HEAVY FUMES ARE ENTERING MY CAR CAUSING HEADACHES. RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. IT DOES NOT FLASH IT'S JUST ON ALL THE TIME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IT OUT AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME AND WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS COVERED THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TODAY AND ASKED ABOUT BRINGING IT IN AND ERIC AGAIN SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AND HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL OR ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THERE ARE OVER 850,000 FORDS WHO HAVE A RECALL DUE TO THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONING. I AM ALSO TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE.
A FEW TIMES AT SLOW SPEEDS THE 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IF THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, IT WOULD CLEAR THE ISSUE. THIS LAST TIME IT HAPPENED THE 'SERVICE ADVANCETRAC' LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE CLEARED. THE CAR WAS TOO DIFFICULT TO STEER AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. ALL OF THESE HAPPENED AT SLOW SPEEDS.
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, LOSE OF STEERING AT LOW SPEED LOST CONTROL AND HIT CURB
GEAR STEERING ASSY PROBLEM. STIFFNESS IN STEERING
OUR POWER STEERING SYSTEM FINALLY WENT OUT ON OUR 2012 XLT. IN FACT, THE WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH OUR TWO TODDLERS AT 75MPH WHEN IT WENT OUT. SHE PULLED OVER AND I HAD TO MEET UP WITH HER AND DRIVE IT HOME (NOT EASY). WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL IF THIS HAPPENED 8K MILES AGO, BUT SINCE WE ARE OVER THE 150,000 LIMIT, I GET TO PAY $1940.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED(GETTING REPAIRED AS THIS IS TYPED). ITS SAD REALLY, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS AT 120K, I WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING AND WAS HOPING TO GET IT REPLACED AT THE DEALER, HOWEVER AT THE TIME, THEY WERE "UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE" SO NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. I AM DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE IT TAKES A COMPLETE FAILURE (AND ENDANGERMENT TO LIVES) FOR THE RECALL TO BE INITIATED. I WONDER IF GM'S IGNITION RECALL IS THE SAME WAY? I COULD REPAIR IT MYSELF AS ITS NOT TOO BAD OF A JOB, BUT DUE TO BEING BUSY, IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE A WEEK OR TWO FOR ME TO DO ALONE AND THIS IS OUR PRIMARY FAMILY VEHICLE. MY SERVICE ADVISER HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT HELPFUL BUT HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM DISAPPOINTED IN FORDS APPROACH TO THE FAILURE OF A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE.
AFTER STARTING THE CAR WHILE PARKED THE 'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" WARNING CAME ON. AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 100 FEET THE WARNING WENT AWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT HARDNESS IN THE STEERING AT THIS TIME. THAT WENT AWAY WHEN THE WARNING WENT AWAY. THIS OCCURRED ON NOV. 10, 2017. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NOV. 23, 2017. WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT AND ALL DAY IN OUR GARAGE I STARTED THE CAR AND THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT'' WARNING CAME ON. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WITHIN 10 TO 15 SECONDS I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. NO WARNING CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED O.K. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN THIS MORNING AND NO WARNING OR PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WEATHER STRIPPING BECAME LOOSE. ALSO, THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL MOLDING ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES SEPARATED FROM THE DOORS. FURTHERMORE, THE REAR HATCH WAS NOT WELDED TOGETHER, WHICH CAUSED WATER TO ENTER THE TRUNK AREA. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (RANDALL REED'S PLANET FORD 59, 19000 EASTEX FWY, HUMBLE, TX 77338). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION HAS AN EXHAUST LEAK THAT IS PUSHING FUMES INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOXIOUS FUMES ENTER THE CABIN AND INDUCE NAUSEA AND SEVERE HEADACHES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP WHO HAS CONFIRMED THAT THIS LEAK IS PART OF A LARGELY KNOWN ISSUE THAT OCCURS WITH THE EXPLORERS'. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT WHILE FORD RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVE YET TO PRODUCE THE PARTS REQUIRED TO FIX IT, AND I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT FOR FORD TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY ON THEIR PART, WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. IN THE MEANTIME I AM FORCED TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THESE FUMES ENTERING MY VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE OIL PRESSURE AND POWER TRAIN WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE FAILURE RECURRED OVER THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE AFTER SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. THE LOCAL DEALER (GULF COAST FORD, N, 3000 STATE HWY 288, ANGLETON,TX, 77515) WAS CONTACTED SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR TWO DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
2012 FORD EXPLORE LIMITED. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING DECREASED SPEED THEN A WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE LOWER LEFT DASH PANEL, AND THE CAR WAS IDLING VERY ROUGH. EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT HOME AT LITERALLY 2 MPH IN "LIMP MODE". THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATION PEDAL ALTHOUGH I STILL HAD POWER. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED OUT. AFTER RESEARCHING WHAT IT COULD BE, I LEARNED IT IS POSSIBLY THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (ETB) AND/OR PURGE VALVE. I AM PASSED EXTENDED WARRANTY NATURALLY AND PROBABLY GOING TO BE LEFT WITH A HUGE BILL. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL FORD????? IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURED ISSUE WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE.
POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING IN THE PARKING LOT. HAS NO POWER STEERING. HAS HAD A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX THE STEERING AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING NEEDED REPLACED BUT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEN WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY TO HAVE THE STEERING RACK REPLACED AND NOW IT HAS FAILED.
I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE CARBON MONOXIDE IN MY FORD EXPLORER. I WAS DRIVING A FRIEND OF MY TO LUNCH AND SHE GOT INSANELY RED AND BROKE OUT IN HIVES THE MINUTE I TURNED THE HEAT ON. I RIDE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR IN THE CABIN WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD WHO HAS ASTHMA. THERE IS ALWAYS A SMELL WHEN YOU TURN EITHER THE AIR OR THE HEAT ON.
THE CAR HAS WATER LEAKS, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL FUNCTION AND FEAR OF FIRE OR CONTACT IN MY CAR .
THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS REAPPEARING EVEN AFTER CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION.
THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY GO INTO LIMP MODE. IN LIMP MODE THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WOULD STAY AT A ROUGH IDLE. IT DID NOT MATTER WHETHER YOU WERE GOING 10 MPH OR 70 MPH. IT HAPPENED ONCE WHEN ON A NARROW BRIDGE DURING RUSH HOUR. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BUT DID NOT MATTER WHAT POSITION THE PEDAL WAS IN TO BEGIN WITH. SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND OPENING THE DOOR WOULD RESET IT AND IT WOULD WORK AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. IT TOOK TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THEY COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND COST $500 TO FIX. THE FACT THAT IT WAS RANDOM AND YOU LOST ALL MEANS OF ACCELERATION COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING INTO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. MY WIFE REFUSED TO DRIVE IT.
BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING AND FORD DEALERSHIP HAS THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS AND UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO BAD PRODUCTION PARTS
DIZZINESS, NAUSEA FROM DRIVING VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2016. AUTO IN MOTION. WHEN DRIVING AUTO 1-30 MILES OR MORE, WHEN I GOT OUT OF CAR I WAS DIZZY AND AT TIMES HAD TO HOLD ONTO A POLE OR ANYTHING NEAR ME TO REGAIN BALANCE. I FELT TIRED ALL THE TIME. I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 FORD EXPEDITION IN JAN 02, 2017 AND I HAVE NOT BEEN DIZZY SINCE. I NOTICED CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARTICLE IN THE RIDES SECTION OF SUNDAY FEB. 4TH, 2018 ISSUE WRITTEN BY PHOEBE WALL HOWARD OF DETROIT PRESS AND IT HIT A NERVE WITH ME THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. HIGH CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL IN CAR CABIN.
AN EXHAUST ODOR REPEATEDLY OCCURRED IN THE CABIN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING.
EXHAUST LEAKING BACK INTO THE VEHICLE. AS I ACCELERATE, IT SMELLS LIKE GAS FUMES COMING FROM A/C VENTS. I NOTICED IT FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.
I HAVE SMELT THE EXHAUST FUMES COMING FROM THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. I CAN REALLY SMELL THE FUMES IF I AM GOING THROUGH A DRIVE-THRU AT A RESTAURANT AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW. I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT UNTIL I STARTED RESEARCHING THE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS.
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS THE AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS COME ON, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ON EACH OCCASION I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE SOLUTION WAS TO APPLY SOME DIELECTRIC GREASE TO THE ELECTRIC CONNECTORS UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS FIX WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FIRST 2 OCCASIONS ON THE 3RD THEY AGREED TO APPLY THE GREASE AT NO COST TO ME. MY SERVICE CENTER HAS TOLD ME THAT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. WONDERING WHY SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS AN AIRBAG HAS LOOSE CONNECTORS WHICH HANG DOWN UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT, SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW? WHY IS THERE NO RECALL TO PERMANENTLY FIX THIS ISSUE.
(RE)STARTING AUGUST 1, 2017, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DECELERATE, WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. FORD CALLS THIS THEIR "LIMP HOME MODE." THE WRENCH ICON WARNING WOULD DISPLAY AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER UNTIL IT WAS PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. USUALLY, IT WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS AFTER BEING RESTARTED, HOWEVER, ON ONE OCCASION, IT TOOK THREE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. AFTER TWO SUCH INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN LESS THAN A MILE, I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (OR, REALLY, ANY OTHER PLACE) AS THERE IS NO INDICATION TO OTHER DRIVERS AND THE VEHICLE ACTIVELY DECELERATES, RATHER THAN COASTING. DURING ONE SUCH INCIDENT, THE DECELERATION WAS SO PRONOUNCED THAT PASSENGERS JERKED FORWARD IN THEIR SEATS AND A CANINE PASSENGER LOST ITS FOOTING, FALLING INTO THE BACK OF THE SEATS. WE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE IN 2015, LEAVING ME AND A SMALL CHILD STRANDED WHEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART AT ALL. AS PART OF A "GOODWILL" REPAIR DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, THE ETB (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY) AND PURGE VALVE WERE REPLACED BY FORD. I FILED COMPLAINT 10787972 WITH THE NHTSA ON 10/25/2015. IN 5 YEARS, THIS WILL BE THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OF A PART THAT'S EXPECTED TO LAST WELL OVER 6 YEARS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, IS AND HAS BEEN SUED, AND IS BEING INVESTIGATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LOMBARD FORD, INC LOCATED AT 385 NEW HARTFORD RD, BARKHAMSTED, CT 06063; (860) 379-3301) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-12821614. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,149.
I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSECTION THAT DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND THE CAR INDICATED CHECK MANUAL AND ORANGE WRENCH CAME OUT... AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN CAR STOP & I TRIED STARTING IT BUT IT WOULD IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE... I WAS ON 342 N. SAN FERNANDO RD., LOS ANGELES, CA 90031 AROUND 2:00 PM
TURBO GONE BAD - CAR BEGAN MAKING LOUD RATTLE NOISE WHEN STARTED. NOISE WOULD SUBSIDE SOME AFTER A FEW MINUTES. CAR HAS BEEN VERY SLOW TO ACCELERATE, WHENEVER IT'S BEING DRIVEN, OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. HAVE TO REALLY PRESS DOWN ALL THE WAY ON THE GAS IN ORDER TO KEEP IT GOING. THE MPG HAVE BEEN STEADILY DECLINING AS WELL OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. DEALER TOLD ME IT'S A "TURBO PROBLEM". WAS TOLD THAT 180 OTHER 2012 EXPLORERS ARE ALSO AFFECTED, PARTS ON BACK-ORDER FOR SIX WEEKS. CAN'T DRIVE CAR. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $3500. FORD OFFERING NO RELIEF AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - AIR BAGS COULD MALFUNCTION AT ANYTIME DUE TO MISCOMMUNICATION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AIR BAGS CAN DEPLOY AT ANYTIME OR CAN FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN NECESSARY. AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND STAYS ON. ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. SEAT BELT BUCKLE REPLACED, AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MODULE REPLACED, PROGRAM CONTROL MODULE AIR BAG REPROGRAMED. LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON. HAS A WIRE HARNESS ISSUE L/F DOOR MODULE SRS - WIRING LOOM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PLASTIC TRIM BETWEEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DETACHED AND BLEW AWAY. MULLINEX FORD IN MOBILE, ALABAMA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR REPORTS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,317. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ UPDATED 10/26/2017*JS
EXHAUST SMELL IN CAR
EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS, AN ODOR SIMILAR TO A ROTTEN EGG SMELL HAS ENTERED THE CABIN AREA WHILE DRIVING. NOT QUITE SURE AT THIS TIME IF I WAS ACCELERATING OR IF THE AC WAS ON THE RECIRCULATION/FRESH AIR MODE WHEN THE SMELL ENTERED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT CO2 EXPOSURE TO MY FAMILY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED AN ODOR TO PENETRATE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE NAUSEA SYMPTOMS AND HEADACHES. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD AT LEAST 10+ INCIDENTS OF MY CAR LOSING ALL POWER FOR ACCELERATION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65+, IT HAS HAPPENED ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGH WAY, IT HAS HAPPENED ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, IT HAS HAPPENED ON STATE HIGHWAYS, IT HAS HAPPENED IN PARKING LOTS. THE CAR SUDDENLY REVS SUPER HIGH BUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I HAVE TO LIMP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE CAR OFF AND USUALLY IT FIXES THE ISSUE. BUT SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE HAD TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I HAVE NORMAL CONTROL OF THE CAR AGAIN. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME UNLESS IT IS HAPPENING AT THAT MOMENT THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE KIDS IN MY CAR MOST OF THE TIME AND TO SUDDENLY LOSE POWER IS A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN. TODAY DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHECK, IT WAS DISCOVERED MY PTU IS LEAKING. IN A 5 YEAR OLD CAR I WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS TO BE THE CASE.
2012 FORD EXPLORER RELEASES STRONG BURNT RUBBER SMELL WHEN I ACCELERATE OR REACH 3000 RPMS. IT IS GETTING WORSE THE MORE MILES I PUT ON MY CAR. CAUSES MYSELF AND MY 2 CHILDREN TO FEEL CAR SICK OR HAVE HEADACHES. THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET THE SMELL TO GO AWAY IS TO TURN OFF THE A/C OR HEAT AND ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP TWICE NOW AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING IT BUT I'VE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND THEY STILL ACT LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SMELL THE CAR WAS ALSO MAKING A NOISE WHEN THE A/C WAS ON SO I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR THEY DID WOULD FIX WHATEVER WAS CAUSING THE NOISE AND THE SMELL. I JUST TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ONCE AGAIN MENTIONED THE SMELL AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT A BURNING SMELL AND NOBODY HAS HAD THAT ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW OF. NOW THAT I KNOW IT IS LEGITIMATELY A CONCERN AND MY KIDS AND I AREN'T JUST ACTUALLY GETTING "CAR SICK" I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT I'M NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I AM SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY TO HAVE OTHER ISSUES FIXED AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY TELL ME NOW THAT I HAVE MADE THEM AWARE OF THE LEGITIMATE PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST ODOR.
I ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED AROUND A CAR THAT MANEUVERED INFRONT OF ME AND MY INTERIOR CABIN WAS FILLED WITH AN NAUSEATING EXHAUST SMELL. I GOT A HEADACHE, LIGHT HEADED, AND PULLED OVER, BECAUSE I WAS STARTING TO GET DIZZY AND DEVELOP HEADACHES. THIS OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY, AND NEARLY KILLED ME. I AM FURIOUS.
TURBO FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, LARGE LOSS OF POWER AND POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. TURBO CHARGER FAILED ON MY 2.0L ECOBOOST ENGINE AT 58,000 MILES. TURBO FAILED WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSED VERY POOR PERFORMANCE AND COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A WRECK. TURBO FAILURE DOES NOT CREATE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR GIVE ANY INDICATION THAT IS HAS FAILED OTHER THAN A LARGE LOSS OF POWER AND THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN. TURBO FAILURE IS SUDDEN AND THERE IS NO INDICATIONS PRIOR TO IT FAILING. THE TURBO WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY DUE TO VEHICLES AGE EVEN THOUGH UNDER 60K.
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT SHOW UP AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO MOVE. I START AND TURNED OFF A COUPLE TIMES NOTHING HAPPENS. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME THIS HAPPEN. THE FIRST TIME START WORKING AGAIN BUT NOW HAVE 2 WEEKS IN MAY GARAGE WITHOUT BE ABLE OF MOVE THE CAR.
THE STRUT MOUNTS ON THE EXPLORER ARE FAULTY. RESULTING IN A HORRIBLE NOISE WHEN TURNING OR ENCOUNTERING A BUMP; AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE STRUT MOUNT FROM THE VEHICLE BODY. I WAS ALERTED THAT IN MY SMALL COMMUNITY ALONE, I WAS ONE OF 5 VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH STRUT MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. FORD HAS BEEN ALERTED TO THE PROBLEM, BUT SEEM TO TAKE NO ACTION IN RESOLVING IT.
WHEN TAKIN OFF AT HIGHER SPEED LIKE TO PASS SOMEONE, A SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES FILLS THE CAR THROUGH THE AIR SYSTEM. IT'S SO BAD WE HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO GET IT TO GO AWAY. MY BABIES EVEN COMPLAIN OF THE HORRIBLE SMELL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS AND I'VE HEARD OF NOW AS A BIG PROBLEM.
EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTS WITH A THUD. HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN THEN WHEN I ACCELERAT THERE IS A DELAY THEN A THUD WHEN IT FINALLY SHODTS INTO GEAR. APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE INLY ONE FROM WHAT IVE HEARD. I WISH FORD WOULD FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO GARAGE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ISSUE.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED ON, POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON AND STEERING WHEEL CAN BARELY TURN. TURN OFF IGNITION AND BACK ON AGAIN AND IT IS GONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026