2012 Ford Explorer Driver assistance Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the "Service Power Steering" message was displayed. The contact pulled into a parking lot, turned off and then restarted the vehicle. The failure persisted, and the power steering feature failed to operate as needed. While in reverse, the back over prevention camera display the "Service Camera - Take to Dealer" message on the screen. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that there was a recall for the failure, NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 237,000.

NHTSA ID

11746616

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

Mileage

237,000 mi

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the hazard lights and other surrounding indicator systems were inoperable. Additionally, the rearview camera displayed a blank image while reversing. The dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 208,974.

NHTSA ID

11734667

Incident

Apr 21, 2026

Mileage

208,974 mi

The rear back up camera is now displaying a message to contact dealership. It freezes up and stops working.

NHTSA ID

11696791

Incident

Oct 10, 2025

My back-up camera has flipped images so the left appears on the right and the right appears on the left as well as the safety lines have disappeared. The two Ford dealerships want a diagnostic fee that doesn't even go toward the cost of the repairs.

NHTSA ID

11696547

Incident

Sep 4, 2025

Faulty rear view camera. Says contact the dealership on the message.

NHTSA ID

11694934

Incident

May 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera failed to display an image. The message "Camera Not Available - Contact Your Dealer" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

NHTSA ID

11671119

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

Mileage

107,000 mi

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing, the back over prevention image was showing on the opposite side of the screen, and the camera was flickering. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure could be linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V270000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN and the model vehicle were not included. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA ID

11665110

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

68,000 mi

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image was black or distorted, and the message "Camera Unavailable - Report to Dealer" was displayed on the infotainment screen on several occasions. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the rearview camera was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to schedule an appointment for the rearview camera replacement. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in an unknown recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11663990

Incident

May 30, 2014

Mileage

28,000 mi

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after receiving a map update on the main control panel, the display screen immediately blacked out. The contact stated that when updating the ATI system map, the main control panel screen completely blacked out. The contact was unable to use any of the electrical systems including the Back Over Prevention camera. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was diagnosed that the ATI system had failed due to the map update. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11597241

Incident

Jun 6, 2024

Mileage

90,000 mi

Display failure due to ACM and APIM module failure. Vehicle left without backup camera, no phone connectivity, no heat/ac control, no navigation.

NHTSA ID

11457626

Incident

Mar 2, 2022

Back up camera reversing rear images which is very dangerous. Also the camera often times just doesn't work at all.

NHTSA ID

11438511

Incident

May 1, 2021

The rear view camera shows the image as a mirror image. In example, items that are actually on the right side appear to be on the left side when viewing the camera. In addition, the camera often times just goes black and shows no image while in use.

NHTSA ID

11428072

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, MY STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT BUT NOW ITS COMPLETELY GONE. I CAN NOT STEER MY CAR. IT WAS STATIONARY , IT HAPPENED AS SOON AS I STARTED MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11343368

Incident

Aug 4, 2020

Mileage

95,657 mi

OUR SUV LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE. WARNINGS THAT CAME ON DASH INCLUDE: SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW, ADVANCETRAC WARNING, AND ALL TERRAIN WARNING. THE TURN SIGNALS ALSO WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11290727

Incident

Dec 20, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS A RECALL AND WAS REPLACED. REPLACEMENT PART HAS NOW GONE BAD ONCE AGAIN. FORD IS NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY IT PROVIDED FOR THIS PART. VEHICLE HAS NO STEERING POWER NOW. WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. UNABLE TO TURN LEFT CAUSING TO GO OFF THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO CORRECT AND TRAVELED TO DEALER TO FIND OUT THAT THE STEERING IS GONE.

NHTSA ID

11281262

Incident

Nov 6, 2019

Mileage

164,000 mi

I HAVE A 2012 FORD EXPLORER THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL 14S06. THE PSCM WAS REPROGRAMMED PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. ASSOCIATED TO RECALL 14S06 IS THE EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM 15N01, WHICH IS TO REMAIN OPEN ON THE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED IN THE EVENT THAT ANY LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST DTCS ARE PRESENT. MY EXPLORER HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE DEALER HAS NOTED THAT MY ENTIRE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE EXTENDED COVERAGE 15N01. THIS COVERAGE IS SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR 10 YEARS AND 150,000 MILES. I AM AT 144,000 MILES. FORD CONTINUES TO REPEAT THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SPECIAL COVERAGE. HOWEVER, PUBLICATIONS FROM FORD INDICATE OTHERWISE. REPLACEMENT OF MY STEERING GEAR IS $2,200. ALL OF WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD. MY POWER STEERING AND STABILITRAK WARNINGS GO OFF AND I LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED CORRECTLY BY FORD. FORD'S CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT IS SEVERELY INCAPABLE OF ANSWERING THE MOST BASIC QUESTIONS. THEY ARE ALSO INCAPABLE OF ACCURATELY DOCUMENTING WHAT YOU HAVE CALLED ABOUT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ANY RESOLUTION OR PROVIDE INFORMATION BEYOND WHAT YOU RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN. I REQUESTED ESCALATION AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DON'T HAVE BOSSES, WON'T ESCALATE MY REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR PROVIDE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR MY VIN. I WAS TOLD THE ONLY WAY TO PURSUE THE ISSUE FURTHER WAS TO WRITE A LETTER.

NHTSA ID

11254847

Incident

Aug 3, 2019

Mileage

144,000 mi

PURCHASE VEHICLE 2 21 2019 AND THE TWO ENGINE LIGHTS WARNING LIGHTS BREAKING DECELERATES WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAYS. SERVICE LIGHT TRACKING LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE VEHICLE DOES ALL THIS ON IT'S ON. I HAVE CONTACTED BY CHAT THE FORD CORPORATION ABOUT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I WAS TOLD THEIR WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN SO THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE DANGEROUS MATTER THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS VERY DANGEROUSAND THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON. ALSO WITH THE ENGINE LIGHTS STAYING ON ALL THE TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

11231174

Incident

Feb 21, 2019

Mileage

94,000 mi

I HAD A SYNC BLACK SCREEN THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT AND APIM WAS NO GOOD SO I HAD NO CONTROL OF ANYTHING LIKE THE HEAT DEFROST OR ANYTHING THAT CONTROLLED WITH THE TOUCH SCREEN INCLUDING THE REAR CAMERA AND SENSORS TO THE CAR AND FROM WHAT I READ THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR OF THAT YEAR.

NHTSA ID

11208145

Incident

Apr 18, 2019

Mileage

61,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN YOU START TRUCK AND HAVE TO TURN OFF AND RESTARTS TO GO AWAY

NHTSA ID

11195568

Incident

Apr 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND IT STARTED SHAKING. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. SAMES FORD (4721 AYERS ST, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78415, (361) 851-7600) DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS FAULTY AND PROVIDED THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SAVE THE RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,900. *TT CONSUMER STATED CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY ROAD. PROBLEM WAS FIXED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11165600

Incident

Dec 23, 2018

Mileage

58,900 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE WHEEL GOT TUFF.

NHTSA ID

11152055

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, SHUT OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROSSROADS FORD OF SANFORD (3251 NC-87, SANFORD, NC 27332, (888) 352-5045) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,362. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11121216

Incident

Jul 23, 2018

Mileage

87,362 mi

THE VEHICLE AT START UP HAS DISABLED POWER STEERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO BE STEERED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN A DRIVEWAY AND WAS ABOUT TO PLACE INTO DRIVE GEAR WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND COULD NO LONGER TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

11103030

Incident

Jun 21, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11051428

Incident

Sep 8, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY POWER WOULD BE LOST. WHEN APPLYING MORE PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR, NO USABLE POWER WAS PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT EXCEED 30 MPH. AFTER THIS OCCURRED ON THE 4TH TIME ON A SUBSEQUENT DAY, THE "ENGINE" SYMBOL WAS DISPLAYED. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM. ON TWO OCCASIONS THIS DISCREPANCY WITH ACCELERATION AND FUNCTIONALITY OF AVAILABLE POWER NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD CAUSE A MAJOR CONCERN TO OTHER OWNERS AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY AS A WHOLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH THAT COULD OCCUR DUE TO COMPLETELY LOSING ACCELERATION AND/OR POWER WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10923895

Incident

Nov 2, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi