2012 Ford Explorer Fuel system Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) and linked the failure to the recall; however, the VIN nor the year, make, or model was included. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11675010

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

Mileage

180,000 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

When filling up the fuel starts dripping in the bottom behind the rear wheel even though the tanks is not full yet.

NHTSA ID

11422418

Incident

Jun 26, 2021

THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF CARBON MONOXIDE WHEN THE ENGINE IS REVED OVER 3000 -3500 RPM THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT SEEMS TO BE ON PAR WITH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I NOTICED THIS ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE USED CAR LOT.

NHTSA ID

11385367

Incident

Jun 27, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2019 WHEN I STARTEDMY CAR I STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ORDER OF A NATURAL GAS SMELL COMING FROM MY CAR. IT GETS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AT TIMES. I CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THIS HOWEVER THEY SAID THATT SINCE ME CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY IT WILL BE BE COVERED AND THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. IT'S A CONSTANT GAS SMELL WHETHER I'M DRIVING, IDLING, OR PARKED. THIS IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ID

11185860

Incident

Feb 18, 2019

Mileage

195,000 mi

THERE IS A SMELL OF GASOLINE IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS REAPPEARING EVEN AFTER CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION.

NHTSA ID

11041639

Incident

Sep 30, 2017

Mileage

65,000 mi

(RE)STARTING AUGUST 1, 2017, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DECELERATE, WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. FORD CALLS THIS THEIR "LIMP HOME MODE." THE WRENCH ICON WARNING WOULD DISPLAY AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER UNTIL IT WAS PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. USUALLY, IT WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS AFTER BEING RESTARTED, HOWEVER, ON ONE OCCASION, IT TOOK THREE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. AFTER TWO SUCH INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN LESS THAN A MILE, I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (OR, REALLY, ANY OTHER PLACE) AS THERE IS NO INDICATION TO OTHER DRIVERS AND THE VEHICLE ACTIVELY DECELERATES, RATHER THAN COASTING. DURING ONE SUCH INCIDENT, THE DECELERATION WAS SO PRONOUNCED THAT PASSENGERS JERKED FORWARD IN THEIR SEATS AND A CANINE PASSENGER LOST ITS FOOTING, FALLING INTO THE BACK OF THE SEATS. WE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE IN 2015, LEAVING ME AND A SMALL CHILD STRANDED WHEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART AT ALL. AS PART OF A "GOODWILL" REPAIR DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, THE ETB (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY) AND PURGE VALVE WERE REPLACED BY FORD. I FILED COMPLAINT 10787972 WITH THE NHTSA ON 10/25/2015. IN 5 YEARS, THIS WILL BE THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OF A PART THAT'S EXPECTED TO LAST WELL OVER 6 YEARS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, IS AND HAS BEEN SUED, AND IS BEING INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ID

11020395

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

72,000 mi

MY FORD EXPLORER 2012 HAS BEEN GETTING EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE CAR EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ALL I GET IS A RUN AROUND. THUS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOME ONE DIES FROM THE FUMES.

NHTSA ID

11013130

Incident

Nov 8, 2012

Mileage

500 mi

TURBO GONE BAD - CAR BEGAN MAKING LOUD RATTLE NOISE WHEN STARTED. NOISE WOULD SUBSIDE SOME AFTER A FEW MINUTES. CAR HAS BEEN VERY SLOW TO ACCELERATE, WHENEVER IT'S BEING DRIVEN, OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. HAVE TO REALLY PRESS DOWN ALL THE WAY ON THE GAS IN ORDER TO KEEP IT GOING. THE MPG HAVE BEEN STEADILY DECLINING AS WELL OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. DEALER TOLD ME IT'S A "TURBO PROBLEM". WAS TOLD THAT 180 OTHER 2012 EXPLORERS ARE ALSO AFFECTED, PARTS ON BACK-ORDER FOR SIX WEEKS. CAN'T DRIVE CAR. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $3500. FORD OFFERING NO RELIEF AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ID

11005480

Incident

Jul 14, 2017

Mileage

88,000 mi

I ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED AROUND A CAR THAT MANEUVERED INFRONT OF ME AND MY INTERIOR CABIN WAS FILLED WITH AN NAUSEATING EXHAUST SMELL. I GOT A HEADACHE, LIGHT HEADED, AND PULLED OVER, BECAUSE I WAS STARTING TO GET DIZZY AND DEVELOP HEADACHES. THIS OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY, AND NEARLY KILLED ME. I AM FURIOUS.

NHTSA ID

10994567

Incident

Jun 12, 2017

Mileage

59,000 mi

FUEL AND EXHAUST FUMES OR SMELL OF BURNING OIL. PROBLEMS WITH TURBO.

NHTSA ID

10967501

Incident

Feb 3, 2017

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL ODOR COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN AIR FILTER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10954436

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN MAKING THE PASSENGERS NAUSEOUS AND RESULTING IN HEADACHES. WE NOTICED THAT ONLY WHEN WE ARE IN MY HUSBAND'S CAR THAT MY CHILDREN AND I BECOME SICK WITH HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. MY HUSBAND DRIVES TO WORK IN THIS VEHICLE AND USUALLY ARRIVES TO WORK WITH A HEADACHE. HE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS MAKING HIM SICK. HE TRUSTED THE SERVICE PEOPLE WHEN THEY TOLD HIM THE CAR WAS FINE. HE TYPICALLY DIVES ON HIGHWAYS. THE FUMES ARE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS.

NHTSA ID

10930124

Incident

Nov 20, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALVE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,128.

NHTSA ID

10924249

Incident

Oct 24, 2016

Mileage

55,128 mi

MY 2012 FORD EXPLORE LTD. STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. A WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON IN LOWER LEFT DASH, AND THE CAR LOSES POWER. I CAN NO LONGER ONCE THIS HAPPENS. I MUST TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS, ON REGULAR CITY, SUBURBAN OR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, NOT TO MENTION IT IS NOW HAPPENING 2-3 TIMES A DAY WHILE WITH NO WARNING. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ONLY, SOMETIMES AFTER TURNING, SOMETIMES NOT, BUT THE CAR IS ALWAYS IN MOTION AT THE TIME, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN VARIOUS TEMPERATURES, WITH CLIMATE CONTROL EITHER OFF OR ON, SEEMS TO HAVE NO BEARING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH. APPARENTLY THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT ADDRESS THIS. I AM HAVING THAT WORKED ON RIGHT NOW AS I TYPE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE LAST YEAR ON THE HIGHWAY, AND ONCE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT. HADN'T HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE UNTIL THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IN THE 80 DEGREE WEATHER OF PLANO TX, WHETHER CAR WAS ALREADY WARMED-UP OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10919359

Incident

Oct 27, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR, I WOULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAY. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL, EVEN AFTER REPEATEDLY STOPPING TO SNIFF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND AROUND THE TIRES AND EXHAUST. I COULD NOT DETECT THE SMELL OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, NOR DID I FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING BURNING (NO SMOKE, CHARRED AREAS, STUCK BRAKES, MELTED RUBBER, ETC). THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY PATTERN, AS I WOULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN MY COMMUTE, WITH THE ONLY TIME I CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCED IT BEING MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY. ON JUNE 20, 2016 AT 1:38 PM CENTRAL TIME, I SENT MY HUSBAND THE FOLLOWING TEXT: "IS THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER STILL IN THE CAR?" DUE TO THE OVERPOWERING SMELL OF SMOKE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SHORTLY AFTER GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS AND EXITED THE FREEWAY, STOPPING AT THE FAR END OF A PARKING LOT. THERE WAS NO SMOKE NOR ODOR EMANATING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE HEAT, WE DRIVE WITH THE AIR RECIRCULATING MOST OF THE YEAR. MUCH OF OUR DRIVING IS IN THE CITY, WITH LIGHT ACCELERATION. TYPICALLY, THE ONLY TIME WE RAPIDLY ACCELERATE IS WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAY. ON THIS OCCASION, I ACCELERATED MORE THAN NORMAL DUE TO A SEMI'S POSITION IN THE RIGHT LANE. AT TIMES, MY 7 YEAR OLD HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO BREATHE WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP.

NHTSA ID

10906152

Incident

Jun 20, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

AWD OFF ERROR AND WRENCH SYMBOL - ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS. WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE LOSES ACCELERATION AND THE WRENCH ICON AND AWD ERRORS DISPLAY. THE THROTTLE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE, BUT ALL OTHER SYSTEMS REMAIN FUNCTIONING. IF YOU LEAVE IT IN GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKES ENGAGED, IT WILL MOVE AT IDLE SPEED ON FLAT GROUND, BUT IS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE INCLINES. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP, THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUDDERS. STOPPING AND RESTARTING NORMALLY RETURNS THE VEHICLE TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS ACCURED OVER A DOZEN TIMES. DEALER HAS SAID THAT THERE ARE NO CODES REPORTING THE PROBLEM. RECOMMENDED WE REPLACE TIRES. REPLACED TIRES AND ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT. HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD TO BRING IN OTHER RESOURCES TO TRIAGE/DIAGNOSE ISSUE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AS WHEN TO ISSUE PRESENTS ITSELF, THE CAR STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY AND MUST BE SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM. ON ROADS WITHOUT SHOULDERS OR MULTIPLE LANES, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR IS SOMETIMES NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND MUST BE PUT INTO PARK WHERE IT STOPS. THE CAR IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THERE ARE NO KNOW FIXES RIGHT NOW.

NHTSA ID

10896657

Incident

Aug 9, 2016

Mileage

51,000 mi

I/WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OF THE ENGINE FAILURE TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN A REGULAR DRIVING MODE. THE ENGINE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TODAY I WAS ABLE TO PULL A CODE P2111 AND TOOK THAT IN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING THROTTLE BODY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING IN THIS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES. FORD HAS SAID THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A LOCAL ROAD AT THE TIME OF THE CONDITION OCCURRED. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO GET IT OFF THE STREET. AFTER PULLING THE CODE THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. UPON RESTART IT RAN CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID

10896460

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

Mileage

51,426 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY EXPLORER MADE A LOUD CLUNK SOUND AND THEN THE WRENCH SYMBOL APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. THEN THE GAS PEDAL QUIT WORKING, AND WE HAD TO ROLL OFF THE HIGHWAY AVOIDING BEING HIT BY OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAD TO STOP AND RESTART MY CAR 5-6 TIMES BEFORE THE GAS PEDAL WOULD WORK AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, AND WHEN I CALLED TO HAVE IT SERVICED THEY TOLD ME THE WRENCH LIGHT HAD TO BE ON FOR THEM TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. BUT I CANT GO ANYWHERE WHEN THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND A TOW TRUCK WILL NOT TOW A CAR WITH IT RUNNING FOR ME TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE TESTED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING. THE THROTTLE BODY IS GOING OUT ON MANY EXPLORERS AFTER 55,000 MILES. IS IT GOING TO TAKE DEATHS BEFORE THIS IS A RECALL?

NHTSA ID

10886107

Incident

Jul 20, 2016

Mileage

61,500 mi

SMELL OF EXHAUST GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION OR ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID

10883326

Incident

Apr 25, 2015

Mileage

28,000 mi

THROTTLE BODY ELECTRONICS, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP. I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 55MPH AND SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. DASHBOARD INDICATED A 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR ENGINE CHECK. I WAS SLOWED TO 2MPH LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE BEHIND ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC, NO WARNING. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT RECALLING VEHICLES WHY, THE PARTS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY MY SUV WAS IN THE GARAGE FOR 10 DAYS WAITING FOR PART, THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL. FORD REPAIRED MY EXPLORER BUT MANY DRIVERS ARE ON THE ROAD AND HAVE NO IDEA THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM. SAFETY FIRST PLEASE

NHTSA ID

10882309

Incident

Jun 19, 2016

Mileage

35,000 mi

THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES AT SPEEDS OF 40, 50 AND 60 MPH, ON HIGHWAY, VEH. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND VEH. COMES TO A STOP. THE ENGINE IS STILL IDLING BUT THE GAS PETAL DOES NOT WORK. THERE IS NO WARNING, THE VEH. JUST COMES TO A STOP.I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ON RURAL TWO LANE ROADS SO I COULD PULL OF ROAD. IF YOU WERE ON A MULTI LANE HIGHWAY YOU WOULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE, BECAUSE VEH. COMES TO A STOP AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE SPEED. THE FIRST PROBLEM, SWITCHED OFF VEH. RESTATED, NO ENGINE LIGHT AND EVERYTHING WORKED, TOOK VEH. TO FORD, THEY CHECK IT OUT, COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE VEH. WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 6000 MORE THOUSAND MILES, THEN AT 60 MPH IT CUT OFF AGAIN, I GOT OFF ROAD, RESTARTED VEH. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON BUT GAS PETAL WORKED. I DROVE ABOUT TWO MORE MILES AND VEH. CUT OF AGAIN, ENGINE IDLING GAS PETAL NOT WORKING. RESTARTED VEH. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON BUT GAS PETAL WAS WORKING. I DROVE VEH. TO FORD DEALER, THEY NOW SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE THROTTLE MODULE. FORD SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS MODULE, SO I PAID OVER $600 FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SOMETHING TO WARN FORD EXPLORER OWNERS THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM. I WOULD THINK, I AM NOT THE ONLY EXPLORER OWNERS TO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10783168

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD DELAY TO START AND STALLED WHEN THE METER MEASURED OVER A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED A FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2015. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID

10759714

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

69,000 mi

POWER CUT OFF. (GOLDEN WRENCH OF I DONT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG CAME ON) ON 4 LANE HAD TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. CUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART, NO LIGHT DROVE TO FORD SHOP MONDAY AND LEFT CAR. SHOP TO CHECK OUT AND GET BACK WITH ME. FRIDAY HAD TO CALL AND SEE IF ANY NEWS OF WHATS WRONG. TOLD AFTER 3 HR RUNAROUND, NEEDS BATTERY AND THROTTLE BODY $ 900.00 +- OUT OF WARRANTY CONSUMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 13N03

NHTSA ID

10743324

Incident

Jul 20, 2015

Mileage

53,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10716231

Incident

Apr 19, 2015

Mileage

77,000 mi