2012 Ford Explorer: recalls and complaints

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All updates to the register

• 24V03100019 Jan 2024Structure / Body / Roof and Pillars
• 21V74600022 Sep 2021Suspension / Rear
• 19V43500010 Jun 2019Suspension / Rear
• 15V17100024 Mar 2015Structure / Body / Door
• 14V28600029 May 2014Steering / Electric Power Assist System

1. 24V031000Received 19 Jan 2024. 1,889,110 units.

   Structure / Body / Roof and Pillars

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 24S02. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 18 Jul 2024.

2. 21V746000Received 22 Sep 2021. 150,723 units.

   Suspension / Rear

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 21S43. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Mar 2022.

3. 19V435000Received 10 Jun 2019. 1,194,173 units.

   Suspension / Rear

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 19S17. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 26 Jun 2019.

4. 15V171000Received 24 Mar 2015. 194,484 units.

   Structure / Body / Door

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 15S11. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 23 Jul 2015.

5. 14V286000Received 29 May 2014. 179,027 units.

   Steering / Electric Power Assist System

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 14S06. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 23 Jul 2014.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

The NHTSA complaint file has no complaint for this model year.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

1. 19770
2. 19840
3. 19850
4. 19860
5. 19870
6. 19880
7. 19890
8. 19900
9. 19918
10. 19924
11. 19936
12. 19944
13. 19955
14. 19966
15. 19977
16. 19989
17. 19999
18. 20009
19. 20016
20. 20024
21. 20032
22. 20040
23. 20050
24. 20061
25. 20071
26. 20081
27. 20090
28. 20101
29. 20116
30. 20125
31. 201311
32. 20146
33. 20158
34. 201614
35. 201713
36. 20187
37. 20196
38. 202033
39. 202126
40. 202224
41. 202315
42. 202410
43. 202520
44. 202614
45. 20271

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

• Ford Explorer: all model years
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• NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
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• NHTSA page of the 2012 Ford ExplorerThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Explorer?

3,607,517 units in 5 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.

How many recall campaigns does the Ford Explorer have for all model years?

NHTSA lists 142 recall campaigns for the Ford Explorer, model years 1977 to 2027. 5 of them name the 2012 model year.

Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2012 Ford Explorer open?

No. Each of the 4 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.