RoadVitals

2012 Ford Explorer Seat belts Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Seat belts reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jan 27, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 822 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming seat belt

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Jan 27, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, her grandson who was occupying the second-row driver's side seat informed the contact that the seat belt had failed to remain buckled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and moved her grandson to the second-row middle seat. The contact stated that the plastic on the second-row driver's side seat belt clip was fractured and had detached, which caused the seat belt to not buckle as needed. The contact also stated that the plastic on the second-row passenger's side seat belt clip was fractured, but the seat belt was able to be buckled. The local dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and assisted the contact in scheduling an appointment with another dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the passenger's side and driver's side windshield exterior A-pillar trims had fractured and had partially separated from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11638829
Incident
Jan 20, 2025
Mileage
97,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear second passenger’s side seat belt was faulty. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rear second passenger’s side seat belt to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The contact stated the issue has been resolved via local dealer opening up mechanism and finding twist in seatbelt, which wouldn’t allow use of the seatbelt but haven't received a new seatbelt which seems to be on backorder.

NHTSA ID
11539115
Incident
Jan 1, 2020
Mileage
70,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Nov 13, 2020

FOR ALL THREE REAR SEAT BELTS THE LATCH PLATE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE REAR SEATS ARE RARELY USED SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ID
11374570
Incident
Jun 18, 2020
Mileage
50,000 mi
Seat beltsSteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 14, 2020

THE FRONT STRUT TOWER MOUNTS ARE BAD. THIS IS ON EVERY 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORER I HAVE SEEN. IT MAKES A BAD CLUNK SOUND EVERYTIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED.

NHTSA ID
11309119
Incident
May 15, 2016
Mileage
60,800 mi
Other / unspecifiedSeat belts
Filed Feb 8, 2020

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
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Jul 25, 2019

MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER LEAKS FROM THE 3RD ROW SEATBELT. IT HAS RUINED THE CARPET IN THE BACK AND MOLDED IT. IT ALSO FILLED UP THE SPARE TIRE AREA WITH WATER AND RUSTED THE RIM OF THE SPARE TIRE AND THE INSIDE WHERE THE TIRE SITS. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS UNTIL MANY MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE I WASN'T USING THE 3RD ROW AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ID
11234793
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
37,000 mi
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed May 13, 2019

WATER LEAKS IN THROUGH THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT TENSIONER. WATER RUNS DOWN THE SEAT BELT AND POOLS ON THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. WATER IN THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IS A SAFETY RISK. I REPORTED IT TO FORD, THEY DECLINED TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ID
11207185
Incident
May 12, 2019
Mileage
66,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Dec 28, 2018

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - AIR BAGS COULD MALFUNCTION AT ANYTIME DUE TO MISCOMMUNICATION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AIR BAGS CAN DEPLOY AT ANYTIME OR CAN FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN NECESSARY. AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND STAYS ON. ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. SEAT BELT BUCKLE REPLACED, AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MODULE REPLACED, PROGRAM CONTROL MODULE AIR BAG REPROGRAMED. LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON. HAS A WIRE HARNESS ISSUE L/F DOOR MODULE SRS - WIRING LOOM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11163777
Incident
Jul 14, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Oct 24, 2018

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PRETENSIONER HAS FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN CREATED ON FORD'S END BLAMING THE CONNECT. SEE TSB 12-5-11. IT TELLS THE MECHANIC TO INJECT DIELECTRIC GREASE AS A FIX.

NHTSA ID
11142427
Incident
May 11, 2018
Mileage
69,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 8, 2018

SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
11100489
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Jul 23, 2016

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR, FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL OR STALLS OUT. SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. 6F35 TRANSMISSION. DEALER(S) REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE OR REPAIR DESPITE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND TRANSMISSION FAULT CODE. VEHICLE STALLS WHILE AT ALL SPEEDS ON HIGHWAY, CITY STREETS, OR WHILE IN INTERSECTIONS. TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID
10887931
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
38,000 mi
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Jan 7, 2016

WATER LEAKS INSIDE THE CABIN EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR CAR GETS WASHED. WATER DRIPS DOWN FROM TOP THROUGH REAR SEATBELT RETRACTORS NEAR REAR HATCH/DOOR AND STREAMS DOWN SEAT BELTS AND THEN PUDDLES UNDER THIRD ROW SEAT AND SPARE TIRE WELL. LEAKS ANYTIME NO MATTER IF PARKED OR IN MOTION. SEATBELTS AND SEAT BOLTS/HINGES ARE STARTING TO RUST. WIRES NEAR 12V CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND TAIL LIGHTS ALSO GET WET. 2012 FORD EXPLORER XLT (NO SUNROOF/MOONROOF).

NHTSA ID
10818818
Incident
Jan 3, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REFERENCED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 10044523. THE FAILURE ALSO PRODUCED AN AIR TENSIONER CODE, WHICH COULD PREVENT THE AIR BAG TENSIONER FROM TIGHTENING OR THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID
10745057
Incident
Nov 12, 2014
Mileage
36,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 8, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE BEING REDESIGNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING NEW PARTS FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,112 UPDATED 02/27/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED. UPDATED 02/28/12

NHTSA ID
10447103
Incident
Jan 21, 2012
Mileage
3,112 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .