2012 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THE 2012 FORD EXPLORER WE NOTICED A VERY FOUL EXHAUST SMELL FROM INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE EXPLORER. WE WOULD SMELL THE ODOR UNDER ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN RPMS REACHED 3,000 PLUS. THIS PARTICULAR ODOR SMELL UNDER THE ABOVE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED EVER SINCE. WE DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF THE SMELL UNTIL WE BEGAN RESEARCHING IT RECENTLY AND CAME ACROSS SEVERAL SOURCES INDICATING THIS COULD BE HARMFUL TO OUR HEALTH. *TR

WHILE I WAS PUMPING GAS THE GAS WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN EXHAUST ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS THE RESULT OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUE IN THE NEWS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,613. ... .UPDATED 11/16/17 *BF THE FAILURE AFFECTED THE CONSUMER'S ASTHMATIC CONDITION. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MY SYNC FUNCTION THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO FAIL LY INCLUDING THE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATING SYSTEM, RADIO AND DEFROSTER SYSTEM. ALL SYSTEMS REMAINED AT A CONSTANT RATE IF ACTIVATED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE THE FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS FAULTY BUT HE DID NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

FIRST INSTANCE (2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT XLT MODEL - BOUGHT LATE SEPTEMBER 2011), IN DECEMBER 2011, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY CAUSING MY TOUCH TO GO OUT, MY ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF, ETC. NOW, SECOND INSTANCE (MARCH 31, 2012), DRIVING AN HOUR TO A DESTINATION, TURNED OFF THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES, GOT BACK IN THE CAR, THE CAR STALLED AND LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER TALKING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY TOLD ME IF I GOT THE CAR RUNNING, THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. FINALLY GOT THE CAR TURNED ON FOR THE DRIVE BACK, HALF WAY BACK, THE RPMS WERE REVVING AND THEN THE CAR WAS SUCKING BACK, ALMOST HOME AND THE CARS POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT AND IT WAS STALLING AT EVERY LIGHT. TOOK INTO FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THINK IT IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN'T FIND IT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR RIGHT NOW. *TR

I BOUGHT A NEW 2012 FORD EXPLORER ON 11/26/11. THE "MY TOUCH" COMPUTER DIDN'T WORK FROM THE BEGINING. THE RESPONSE IS SLOW OR NON-EXISTENT. THE SCREENS CHANGE ON THEIR OWN. THE SYSTEM FREEZES UP AT TIMES LEAVING NO CONTROL OVER NAV, STEREO, CLIMATE, PHONE, OR EITHER OF 2 DASHBOARD SCREENS. IT WILL SWITCH TO RADIO AND PLAY REALLY LOUD AND THEN SWITCH BACK ON IT'S OWN. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND CAN'T FIX IT. THEY'VE HAD MY CAR 3 TIMES AND NOW REFUSE TO SEE ME MORE ABOUT THIS. THEY SAY A FIX WILL COME IN THE FUTURE. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS SELLING BROKEN CARS, CHARGING NEW CAR PRICES, AND CAN'T FIX THEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TOUCHSCREEN OF THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO BUT THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,450.

IN THE WORDS OF ONE OF THE SEVERAL FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER CARE CASE MANAGER I'VE SPOKEN TO SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO, FORD'S MYTOUCH SYSTEM IS "TOTALLY DYSFUCNTIONAL". THE SOFTWARE UPON WHICH THIS SYSTEM IS BASED WAS APPARENTLY CO-AUTHORED BY MICROSOFT AND FORD IS CURRENTLY TELLING CUSTOMERS THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT RELEASE, SUPPOSEDLY DUE TO BE RELEASED IN "THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR". HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD THIS KIND OF MESSAGE BEFORE...THINK MS VISTA! MY EXPLORER HAS AN APPROX. 8"X5" TOUCHSCREEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH. IT IS SUPPOSED TO COME ON WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AND MANY FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE ARE CONTROLLED BY TOUCHING ICONS ON THE SCREEN. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE SCREEN FAILS TO COME ON, USUALLY FOR ABOUT THE INITIAL 20 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER CONTROLS ARE UNAVAILABLE. THIS INCLUDES FEATURES LIKE BEING ABLE TO VIEW THE REAR-VIEW CAMERA, TURNING ON THE HEATED SEATS, CLIMATE CONTROL FEATURES, DEALING WITH PHONE CALLS AND SELECTING MUSIC SOURCES AND RADIO CHANNELS, ETC.. MYTOUCH ALSO INCLUDES A FEATURE WHERE ITS SUPPOSED TO SYNC TO THE DRIVER'S MOBILE PHONE, BUT THIS ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AT BEST. THE WORST PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM, WHICH I BELIEVE MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR NIGHTTIME DRIVING, IS WHEN THE TOUCHSCREEN, WHICH CANNOT BE TURNED OFF OR DIMMED, STARTS FLICKERING (FORD'S TERM IS "STROBING") VERY RAPIDLY WHILE DRIVING AFTER DARK. THIS CAN CONTINUE FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES AT A TIME, AND IS INCREDIBLE DISTRACTING WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE. I'VE POSTED A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE UNDER THE HEADING "FORD MYTOUCH STOBING". THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN TO FORD SINCE THE 2011 MODEL YEAR AND THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THESE PROBLEMATIC VEHICLES WITHOUT TELLING CUSTOMERS UNTIL AFTER THEY TAKE POSSESSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER DESIGN DOES NOT SHOW YOU THE LOWER RANGE WHILE DRIVING AND THAT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT. THE HIGHER NUMBERS WERE ON THE TOP OF THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH WERE SHAPED LIKE A "C" AND THE NUMBERS SHOULD BE AT THE BOTTOM TO AVOID SPEEDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, A CLAIM WAS FILED AND THEY INFORMED HER TO CONTACT NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78. UPDATED 12/28/11*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW, AS THE WINDOW WAS TOO SMALL. UPDATED 12/28/11

EXHAUST LEAKING INTO PASSENGER CABIN ON ACCELERATION, NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED AND WHEN A/C IS ON. STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST DAILY. PURCHASED BATTERY POWERED CO DETECTOR AND IT HAS GONE OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER IN CUMMING , GA SEVERAL TIMES, BUT EACH TIME HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE NO ISSUES. IT IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERAL HEALTH PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR. MY HUSBAND SUFFERS HEADACHES WHEN HE DRIVES IT. WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM A FEW DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE 2012 MODEL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011. WE HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A RESOLUTION.

TWO EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES HAPPENED THIS DAY. (1) I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 AND THE EXPLORER BRAKED EXTREMELY HARD FROM A SPEED OF 65 MPH TO ZERO. THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND AND I COULD NOT DETERMINE ANY REASON FOR THIS. I PROCEEDED ON TO MY DESTINATION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INEXPLICABLY TO 95 MPH. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MANUALLY AND BY TAPPING THE BRAKE (I WAS FEARFUL OF THE VEHICLE ROLLING). THANK GOD, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER AROUND TRAFFIC IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THEN THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED. IT WAS A VERY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND ONE THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME HE HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR. I HAVE HAD MANY, FAILURES OF THE MYFORDTOUCH SYSTEM WHICH I WILL DETAIL IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT REPORT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF WITH THE ELECTRONIC START BUTTON WITHOUT PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ALL THE VEHICLES THAT HAD A PUSH TO START BUTTON BECAUSE IT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT PLACING THE GEAR IN PARK AND CREATING A RISK OF A ROLL AWAY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

THIS FORM DOES NOT ALLOW ENTRY OF MULTIPLE DATES. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MYFORDTOUCH WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT IS CONTINUAL. PUTTING IN ONE DATE IS POINTLESS. THE CLIMATE (DEFROSTER, ETC) SYSTEM AND THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM ARE PART OF THIS MODULE, ALONG WITH PHONE AND AUDIO FEATURES. THIS MODULE LOCKS CONTINUALLY AND IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE DEFROSTER OR NAVIGATION SYSTEM MANUALLY WHEN THIS OCCURS. REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS AND MY WIFE WAS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS SEVERAL TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CORRIDOR CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT FORD IS SELLING THESE VEHICLES FOR NEARLY $50,000 THAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW THEY ARE DEFECTIVE.

DROVE VEHICLE WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON AND RECIRCULATION CLOSED FROM TEXAS TO VIRGINIA AND BACK AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE WAS AN EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAR MOST TIMES. HAD TO BE TAKEN TO EMERGENCY CARE WITH RESPIRATORY DISTRESS A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER RETURNING. WAS ON TREATMENT FOR COPD FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ABS BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED ALL THE SENSORS AND THE WIRING IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500. *TR