Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Ford Explorer has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 830 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V031000 Exterior A-Pillar Trim May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V746000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V435000 Rear Suspension Toe Links May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17E048000 Hub Unit Bearing may Allow Wheel Detachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V171000 Interior Door Handle Return Spring may Unseat NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V286000 Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14E001000 Replacement Steering Gears may Lock Steering NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 360 complaints
- Structure 144 complaints
- Unknown or Other 105 complaints
- Engine 79 complaints
- Electrical System 64 complaints
- Power Train 55 complaints
Of the 830 complaints on file, 10 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 830 complaints, owners report 13 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Ford Explorer faces significant challenges with numerous owner complaints, particularly related to steering issues, paired with several recall campaigns. Steering complaints are notably high, supported by recalls addressing power steering failures. This suggests potential safety concerns and impacts on reliability, warranting a below-average rating. However, the data on other components is less substantial.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 50,000–100,000 miles | $1,000–$2,000 | very common |
| body structure | 60,000–120,000 miles | $300–$1,500 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Change oil and filter regularly
- Replace brake fluid every 30,000 miles
- Inspect suspension annually
- Check steering components annually
- Replace spark plugs every 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Unusual steering noises
- Doors not closing properly
- A-pillars detaching
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.