2012 Ford Explorer Other / unspecified 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

Rear Hub assembly’s making loud grinding noise. This should be a Warranty Recall similar to NHTSA 17E048000. Please advise.

NHTSA ID

11468868

Incident

Dec 28, 2019

purchased my ford from duval ford jax fl. heard a grinding noise. probably brakes. but cannot remove tires to check brake pads. swollen lug nuts. nothing will fit the nuts to remove the tire.

NHTSA ID

11429052

Incident

Aug 11, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HERTRICH FORD OF EASTON LOCATED AT 9617 OCEAN GATEWAY, EASTON, MD 21601, (410) 822-2900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,977. *LN *JS *JS

NHTSA ID

11351439

Incident

Aug 16, 2020

Mileage

151,977 mi

WHEN IT RAINS I HAVE WATER COMING INTO MY VEHICHLE AND IT EVEN COMES THROUGH THE SEATBELTS. I HAVE WATER IN MY FLOOR NOW.

NHTSA ID

11307882

Incident

Jul 8, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi

07/25- HAD RECALL ORDERED- TOE LINK ON BOTH SIDES, REAR. PERFORMED AT HARRISONBURG FORD, VA. ; 09/04 DRIVING ON ROUTE 33 IN VA, MOUNTAIN ROAD. HEARD GRINDING NOISE COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN, NOISE STEADILY INCREASED AND BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE A LOSS OF CONTROL. SLOWED DOWN AND A MILE FROM SHOP THE NOISE STOPPED. WENT TO RICE TIRE IN VA AND HAD IT CHECKED. THE BOLT HOLDING TOE LINK ON RIGHT SIDE HAD DISLODGED NEARLY COMPLETELY. HAD IT REPLACED AND TOLD TO GO TO FORD TO RE TORQUE BOTH SIDES.; 09/05 WENT TO FORD. WAS INFORMED THAT MECHANIC HAD HAND TORQUED THE BOLTS, ESSENTIALLY MISREAD INSTRUCTIONS. MANAGER ACTUALLY STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CALL MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS TO RE TORQUE THEIR TOE LINKS CORRECTLY AS WELL. I ASKED FOR ALIGNMENT AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WOULD SURELY AFFECT BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT, THIS WAS PERFORMED AS WELL. THEY BILLED IT TO RECALL WARRANTY DEPT.; 11/6 DRIVING ON 25 IN COLORADO SPRINGS 65 MPH, TRAFFIC STOPS AND AS I BREAK HEAVILY I LOSE CONTROL AND VEHICLE HOPS A LANE. NO ACCIDENT.; 11/07 TAKE VEHICLE TO FORD TO CHECK TOE LINKS, WAS TOLD BOTH NUTS WERE LOOSE, LEFT AND RIGHT, THE KNUCKLE ON ONE SIDE HAS SNAPPED THE BRAKES ARE BAD, ROTORS AND BACK 2 TIRES ARE BAD..I SPECIFICALLY ASKED , SAYS THAT THIS IS ALL RELATED. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WORN AS WELL, CLEARLY FROM COMPENSATION OF DRIVING WITH BAD TOE LINKS. I WAS TOLD SPECIFICALLY YES THIS IS ALL RELATED. FORD RECALL MANUFACTURER REFUSING TO COVER TOE LINKS AS WELL AS ALL ASSOCIATED DAMAGE, TOTALING OVER $3K. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND PERFORM REGULAR MAINT ON TIRES BRAKES AND ROTARS, ETC. AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF RECALL I HAVE HAD 2 LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS AND COMPLETE RUINATION OF MY VEHICLE SAFETY, AND ALOT OF DAMAGE INCURRED. RECEIPT OF RECALL ON 11/25 STATING EVERYTHING RELATED IS GREEN. NO WAY THIS DAMAGE IS NOT ASSOCIATED TO "NEW, SAFER" TOE LINKS.

NHTSA ID

11279611

Incident

Jul 25, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

WE HAVE 74000 MILES ON OUR 2012 FORD EXPLORER. I WAS DOING THE 6000 MILE SERVICE, CHANGE OIL AND FILTER, ROTATE TIRES, CHECK FLUIDS, BRAKE INSPECTION, AND DO INSPECT OTHER AREAS. I WAS IN THE PROCESS TORQUEING THE LUG NUTS AFTER THE TIRE ROTATION. I USE A CRAFTSMAN TORQUE 1/2" DRIVE RATCHET FOR THIS. ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL 1 OUT OF THE 5 WHEEL STUDS WOULD NOT TORQUE TOO THE 100 FT. POUNDS. THE STUDS ON EACH WHEEL STRETCH AND ARE READY TO BREAK. WHY WOULD FORD USE INFERIOR MEDAL IN SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT. WE RECENTLY OWNED A 2001 DODGE DURANGO AND BOUGHT IT NEW. WE HAD OVER 200,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. AND TO REPLACE THESE FORD DIDN'T ALLOW ENOUGH ROOM. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL HUB AND BEARING. WHICH I TRIED AFTER REMOVING THE 4 BOLTS AND AXLE NUT. IT WOULD NOT COME OUT. I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE 2 DIFFERENT MEDALS. THE ALUMINUM HOUSING AND THE STEEL BEARING HUB WAS FIND WHEN IT'S NEW BUT GIVE TIME IN THE ELEMENTS AND CORROSION SETS IN. I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TAKE IT BACK TO FORD DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. I DON'T TRUST THE OTHER WHEEL STUDS AND WANT ALL REPLACE FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. PLEASE HELP ON THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE MEDAL IS TO SOFT FOR WHEEL STUDS. THANK YOU. *JS

NHTSA ID

10661374

Incident

Nov 29, 2014

MAY 2013 (13490 MILES) WAS DRIVING 30 35 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON, I TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. ALL WAS OK. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING RACK DECEMBER 23,2013, (21173 MILES) WAS DRIVING 40 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON. WOULD NOT RESET BY TURNING ON AND OFF. DROVE TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING AND DEALER RESET COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. JANUARY 17,2014 (21808 MILES) WAS DRIVING 35 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, TRACTION LIGHT WENT ON WOULD NOT RESET BY TURNING ON AND OFF. DROVE TO DEALER WITH NO POWER STEERING. DEALER RESET COMPUTER AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561076

Incident

May 9, 2013

Mileage

13,490 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH A UNIQUE BRAKING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENGAGE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A SECOND VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM ENGAGED DESPITE THERE NOT BEING A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT?S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000. ...UPDATED 12-24-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED FINE WHEN HE WAS FOLLOWING A VEHICLE IN HIS LANE. HOWEVER, WHEN HE WAS IN A SEPARATE LANE, PASSING A LARGE SEMI WITH LARGE BRIGHT ALUMINUM OR LIGHT COLORED SIDES, ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY WITHOUT CURVES, THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AS IF HE WERE FOLLOWING IN THE SAME LANE AS THE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE RADAR SENSORS ON THE VEHICLE WERE REFLECTING FROM THE LARGE BRIGHT SIDES ON SOME TRUCKS.

NHTSA ID

10547072

Incident

Oct 7, 2012

Mileage

14,000 mi

I BOUGHT A NEW 2012 FORD EXPLORER ON 11/26/11. THE "MY TOUCH" COMPUTER DIDN'T WORK FROM THE BEGINING. THE RESPONSE IS SLOW OR NON-EXISTENT. THE SCREENS CHANGE ON THEIR OWN. THE SYSTEM FREEZES UP AT TIMES LEAVING NO CONTROL OVER NAV, STEREO, CLIMATE, PHONE, OR EITHER OF 2 DASHBOARD SCREENS. IT WILL SWITCH TO RADIO AND PLAY REALLY LOUD AND THEN SWITCH BACK ON IT'S OWN. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND CAN'T FIX IT. THEY'VE HAD MY CAR 3 TIMES AND NOW REFUSE TO SEE ME MORE ABOUT THIS. THEY SAY A FIX WILL COME IN THE FUTURE. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS SELLING BROKEN CARS, CHARGING NEW CAR PRICES, AND CAN'T FIX THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448596

Incident

Nov 26, 2011

THIS FORM DOES NOT ALLOW ENTRY OF MULTIPLE DATES. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MYFORDTOUCH WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT IS CONTINUAL. PUTTING IN ONE DATE IS POINTLESS. THE CLIMATE (DEFROSTER, ETC) SYSTEM AND THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM ARE PART OF THIS MODULE, ALONG WITH PHONE AND AUDIO FEATURES. THIS MODULE LOCKS CONTINUALLY AND IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE DEFROSTER OR NAVIGATION SYSTEM MANUALLY WHEN THIS OCCURS. REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS AND MY WIFE WAS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS SEVERAL TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CORRIDOR CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT FORD IS SELLING THESE VEHICLES FOR NEARLY $50,000 THAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW THEY ARE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

10437068

Incident

Aug 31, 2011

Mileage

420 mi

TWO EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES HAPPENED THIS DAY. (1) I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 AND THE EXPLORER BRAKED EXTREMELY HARD FROM A SPEED OF 65 MPH TO ZERO. THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND AND I COULD NOT DETERMINE ANY REASON FOR THIS. I PROCEEDED ON TO MY DESTINATION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INEXPLICABLY TO 95 MPH. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL MANUALLY AND BY TAPPING THE BRAKE (I WAS FEARFUL OF THE VEHICLE ROLLING). THANK GOD, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER AROUND TRAFFIC IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THEN THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED. IT WAS A VERY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND ONE THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME HE HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR. I HAVE HAD MANY, FAILURES OF THE MYFORDTOUCH SYSTEM WHICH I WILL DETAIL IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT REPORT.

NHTSA ID

10437069

Incident

Sep 15, 2011

Mileage

692 mi