Model year guide

2012 Ford Explorer

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Ford Explorer is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 840 on record.

2012 Ford Explorer — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Ford Explorer at a glance

Safety recalls7
Owner complaints822
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined21 mpg
Typical price$22,313

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Ford Explorer recalls 7

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #19V435000 · 10/06/2019

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.

Fix: 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 numbe…

Wheels:hub NHTSA Campaign #17E048000 · 28/08/2017

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.

Fix: 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.

Structure:body:door NHTSA Campaign #15V171000 · 24/03/2015

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.

Fix: 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 NHTSA Campaign #14E001000 · 06/01/2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain replacement steering gears installed on model year 2011-2012 Explorers as service parts in September 2013 and January 2014. The affected gears may lock, preventing the driver from being able to steer the vehicle.

Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the suspect steering gears with new steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 13S14.

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #14V286000 · 29/05/2014

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.

Fix: 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 char…

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #21V746000 · 22/09/2021

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 …

Fix: 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…

Structure:body:roof And Pillars NHTSA Campaign #24V031000 · 19/01/2024

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.

Fix: 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 c…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Ford Explorer common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 822 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Back Over Prevention
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Visibility/wiper
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2012 Ford Explorer safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Ford Explorer MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City18 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,000

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Ford Explorer worth?

Low
$16,200
Typical price
$22,313
High
$27,200

From 838 comparable 2012 Ford Explorer listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Ford Explorer costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,000
Depreciation (5 yrs)$15,950
Total$30,950
Per mile$0.41

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($22,313) with the same model 5 model-years older ($6,352), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Ford Explorer trims & engines on record

Trims
XLT · Limited · Base
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 290 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 240 hp

2012 Ford Explorer vehicles on record

Other Ford Explorer model years

2012 Ford Explorer — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Explorer have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Explorer?

Based on 822 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, structure, back over prevention.

What is the 2012 Ford Explorer safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Ford Explorer an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Explorer get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Ford Explorer at about 21 mpg combined (18 city / 25 highway).

How much is a 2012 Ford Explorer worth?

Comparable 2012 Ford Explorer listings run roughly $16,200–$27,200, typically around $22,313 (from 838 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.