2012 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that a minute and a half later, while attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel became firm, and added effort was needed to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11684439

Incident

Aug 31, 2025

Mileage

170,000 mi

while driving the vehicle goes into what I have found is called sleep mode.. The check engine lite comes on and the left info panel shows that the all wheel drive is not working. The dealer tried to see what codes were set and found none. My solution is to pull off the road, put the vehicle in park and turn off the ignition. After about 30 seconds I can restart the vehicle and drive again. The restart lasts from 15 seconds to a month. I found a TSB ( 16-0139) that covered this problem. However it did not offer any cure. I am concerned that someone will hit me when this happens.

NHTSA ID

11671465

Incident

Jul 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, upon further inspection, the contact became aware of a water leak. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the water pump had leaked along the leaking hole near the engine block. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

NHTSA ID

11616712

Incident

Aug 26, 2024

Mileage

133,000 mi

Engine mounds wearing out and Ford says they are in backorder for almost a year now. If there's such a demand. Then why isn't there recall that so many people are requesting them but Ford can't supply them.

NHTSA ID

11513810

Incident

Mar 26, 2023

Water Pump on the vehicle (That is inside the engine) start leaking without driver notice it. If you're driving in a busy Highway the engine can lose presure and stop in the middle of the highway puting driver and passengers in a risky position. This is a design mistake from FORD that they should address.

NHTSA ID

11508014

Incident

Feb 16, 2023

The truck has been in shop 5 times or actually 5 different dealerships. The recall has yet to be fixed but I continually pay to have the problem INVESTIGATED. The dash flashes loss of fuel pressure, service advance track soon, Battery level and mechanic wrench . I have this on video as it is constant occurrence. Each time ford takes it in they can't make the issue happen or recreate it. As told several times happens sporadic and not under any certain conditions. Over and over paying diagnostic fee and what they say will repair the issue only it happens pulling off the lot at 5 star ford Dallas Texas took it in under default to Bob Tomas Mckinney where they scanned it and found 17 communication errors left it there nothing was done but more exploration of issues going down the list of com failures and paying for each 3 anyway and it did it again leaving me stranded 3 times to count eventually leaving at Don Davis Ford Arlington Texas where it was again said repaired and is currently at Planet Ford Dallas where historically I paid $2850 and NOTHING was done as it again left me stranded and towed there where it can sit until it's fixed meaning this loss of horsepower the electric flashes and the gears in transmission ACTUALLY FUNCTION AS PER REQUESTED EACH TIME IN SERVICE

NHTSA ID

11484467

Incident

Sep 14, 2022

Water coolant leaking out, engine over heating. Having to constantly add coolant and limiting driving of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11438509

Incident

Oct 7, 2021

the car unexpectedly loses power while driving on the highway causing several near crashed having to move to the brake down lane .The wrench symbol shows up on dash and the car is trying to stall at idle. I have to shut it off and restart to drive it. Check engine light does NOT go on. Car has 96k miles .It has happened 4x's in the last month. My research says its the Throttle body. I am trying to bring it to Ford to confirm.

NHTSA ID

11435588

Incident

Oct 5, 2021

PERSISTENT EXHAUST ODOR IN VEHICLE UPON START UP . WHEN THE VEHICLE CRANKS UP AND WITH A/C ON THERE IS A STRONG EXHAUST ODOR , IT ISN'T AS NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT STILL THERE . THIS ISSUE STARTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND HASN'T WENT AWAY

NHTSA ID

11407848

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURBO BOOST FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE ONCE THE TURBO WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HIXSON AUTO-PLEX (2506 S MACARTHUR DR, ALEXANDRIA, LA 71301) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURBO BOOSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11325149

Incident

May 11, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES 🔥 AND BURN TO THE GROUND WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324350

Incident

Apr 27, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BOTH A DEFECTIVE O2 SENSOR AND LOW OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ID

11316663

Incident

Feb 6, 2020

Mileage

143,000 mi

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING ME STRANDED ON A DESERTED HIGHWAY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A MECHANIC AND HAVING THEM COME TO THE VEHICLES LOCATION AND PERFORMING A VISUAL INSPECTION HE STATED ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND UPON COMPLETING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK THEY CONFIRMED THE 'INTERNAL' WATER PUMP HAD FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS CONTACTED 5 TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP AND EACH TIME THE NEWS GOT WORSE. THEN FINAL CALL THE ADVISOR TOLD ME TO FIX IT AND NOTHING WAS GOING TO BE GUARANTEED TO LAST IT WAS GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY $4,000 BEFORE TAXES. THEY'D ALSO HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL TWICE ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN AT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND TO FIX OUTSTANDING RECALLS AND AFTER CHECKING THE SERVICE MANUAL NOTHING IS 'SUGGESTED' 'RECOMMENDED' OR 'REQUIRED' TO SERVICE THE INTERNAL WATER PUMP.

NHTSA ID

11307838

Incident

Feb 2, 2020

Mileage

1,180,000 mi

I HAVE COOLANT LEAKING, I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO BE DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $2,000 SINCE THE WATER PUMP IS IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE, THERE IS ONLY 132,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS ISSUE!!

NHTSA ID

11301304

Incident

Jan 2, 2020

Mileage

132,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL EXHAUST ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ODOR WAS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HASTINGS FORD INC (3013 E 10TH ST, GREENVILLE, NC 27858, (252) 758-0114) WHERE IT WAS TEST DRIVEN AND DETERMINED THAT THE EXHAUST WAS LEAKING AT THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 25071531. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

NHTSA ID

11288014

Incident

Sep 11, 2019

Mileage

111,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER IN JUNE 2019. AFTER PURCHASING I NOTICED THE SMELL OF THE EXHAUST INSIDE THE VEHICLE .THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS I DROVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN DUE TO THE A.C. NOT WORKING PROPERLY . I CONTINUED SMELLING THE EXHAUST BUT FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO SEEK REPAIRS. WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES THE WINDOWS NOW CLOSED THE SMELL OF THE EXHAUST WAS MORE APPARENT AND I BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE HEADACHES, FREQUENT NAUSEA, FATIGUE AND SOME DIZZINESS AND CONFUSION. I WAS TOLD OF REPORTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE AND SPOKE TO FORD ABOUT REPAIRS AS WELL AS OTHER RECALLS NEEDED FOR MY EXPLORER. I TOOK MY CAR FOR THE REPAIRS TODAY AND AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUE STILL. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOMORROW AS THIS WASN'T REPAIRED. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY HEALTH AND HAVING THIS ISSUE NOT FIXED .

NHTSA ID

11279444

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED RIVERSIDE FORD LINCOLN (2089 RIVERSIDE DR, MACON, GA 31204, (478) 464-2900) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF A POSSIBLE DEFECT AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT BRING IN THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11244154

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

CAR WON'T GO INTO PARK

NHTSA ID

11241162

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST FUMES WERE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CONSTANTLY COMPLAINED OF SEVERE HEADACHES WITHIN FIFTEEN MINUTES OF BEING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN NORTH FORD (3002 US-50, EMPORIA, KS 66801) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,467.

NHTSA ID

11209759

Incident

May 24, 2019

Mileage

61,467 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11180108

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

I HAVE AN EXHAUST SMELL COMING FROM MY VENTS. THIS ODOR IS PRESENT IN THE FRONT AND BACK SEATS OF THE CAR. IT IS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AS WELL AS WHEN IT IS STATIONARY. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOWER RATE, AND WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL.

NHTSA ID

11173547

Incident

Jan 9, 2019

Mileage

88,500 mi

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

WHEN TRYING TO MAKE AN UNPROTECTED LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN, I PRESSED THE GAS AND MY CAR DIDN'T MOVE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS ONCE IT DOD MOVE IT TOOK A FEW MORE SECONDS FOR IT TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY TO SAFELY MAKE MY TURN. THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THE LANE I WAS CROSSING OVER FOR THE TURN HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY BECAUSE MY CAR DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION FAST ENOUGH. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TURBO BOOST WAS BAD. I HAVE A 2012 ECO BOOST MODEL AND IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS 'UNDER BOOST' WHICH WASN'T ALLOWING MY CAR TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND WOULD EVENTUALLY GIVE OUT COMPLETELY NOT ALLOWING ME TO ACCELERATE AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11132214

Incident

Sep 17, 2018

Mileage

73,000 mi

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

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, LOST POWER AND SPEED DROPPED. IT WAS LIKE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD, IT WAS SO SCARY ON HIGHWAY TO LOOSE POWER NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS!!! CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TAKING TO FORD DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT THAT ECOBOOST TURBO HAD BLOWN AND SEIZED UP.

NHTSA ID

11089077

Incident

Apr 18, 2018

Mileage

102,000 mi