2012 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems
- 39
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 39 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 22 records
- steering went · 6 records
- light came · 5 records
- failure mileage · 5 records
- miles power · 5 records
- failure failure · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 16 |
| 30–60k mi | 8 |
| 60–100k mi | 7 |
| 100–150k mi | 3 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
Lost communication with the climate control system. The windows lock up, and the car blows constant heat through defrost. No hazards can be used as the entire control panel is out. Very unsafe without hazards, let alone full blown heat when its already . 105 outside with the heat index.
ODI 11234210
Electrical System · Steering
Power steering fault. The power steering just stopped work while i was driving with now warming until it was completely inoperable. I nearly crashed it to an on coming car in the parking lot of my gym. I notice there was a recall for this make and model but when i did a vin search my truck was not registering a recall.
ODI 11162598
Electrical System · Power Train
2012 ford explorer xlt 4w. The terrain management system fault light came on and car went immediately into limp mode on a major road.there was no warning and was almost rear ended. Took to dealer oct.1 and they kept it two days. The dealer said they could not find a code. Dealer said it is fixed by updating and calibrating the abs system. It was not fixed. . Oct 13 same light went on and car immediately into limp…
ODI 11140260
Air Bags · Electrical System · Seat Belts
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.
ODI 11142427
Electrical System · Suspension · Unknown Or Other
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. While driving 7 mph, a grinding metal sound was heard and the vehicle stopped. The contact shut off the vehicle and restarted it, but it would not engage into gear. The contact had the vehicle towed to his personal auto mechanic and was informed that the passenger side axle mount fractured. The technician replaced the passenger side axle mount. While test driving the…
ODI 11064179
Electrical System
The control panel that shows the rear backing and then switches to controlling temperature, radio, seats, etc has failed. There is no backing assist or any controls for interior functions. The feature stopped when in motion and hasn't come back on since.
ODI 11228990
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
After starting the car while parked the 'service advance trac" warning came on. After driving approx. 100 feet the warning went away. There was a slight hardness in the steering at this time. That went away when the warning went away. This occurred on nov. 10, 2017. The second problem occurred on nov. 23, 2017. While parked overnight and all day in our garage i started the car and the "power steering assist fault''…
ODI 11048224
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. While driving various speeds with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle stalled and the oil pressure and power train wrench warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was unable to start on the first attempt. The failure recurred over three times. The contact noticed the failure after she depressed the accelerator pedal after a complete stop. The local dealer (gulf…
ODI 11041955
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
The car has water leaks, i started having problems with electrical function and fear of fire or contact in my car .
ODI 11172760
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Steering
I was driving on an intersection that dashboard lights started flickering and the car indicated check manual and orange wrench came out... And all of the sudden car stop & i tried starting it but it would it was in the middle of nowhere... I was on 342 n. San fernando rd., los angeles, ca 90031 around 2:00 pm
ODI 11011372
Air Bags · Electrical System · Seat Belts
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…
ODI 11163777
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
Drove about 2 miles in the morning while turning onto the interstate ramp the steering locked up would not go over 30mph, suv started to smoke while the temperature gauge never changed inside of the vehicle. Lucky to not have caused a major accident. After having vehicle towed, per the mechanic the computer system is fried, motor valves melted, and all spark plugs need to be replaced. This suv is only a 2012 and…
Fire reported
ODI 10925105
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Steering
Takata recall i purchased this vehicle in january 2016, on october 22, 2016 while driving in elberton georgia my car alerted me that the power steering needed to be serviced. About 2 miles down the road my turn signal wouldn't stay on when being used to turn. A few hours later when ready to head home i could not get my car to steer without major effort on my part. I am a mother of 3 and i refuse to put my kids in an…
ODI 10918768
Air Bags · Electrical System
My air bag light is on and won't turn. What i have read is once it on the airbags will not deploy i'm case of an accident. Ford know about this problem and is not trying to fix this is very unacceptable for such an expensive vehicle.
ODI 10917215
Air Conditioner · Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact smelled a strong fuel and burning odor in the vehicle. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the heat and air conditioner calibrations needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was concerned about the fumes in the vehicle affecting her children. The…
Fire reported
ODI 10820259
Air Bags · Electrical System
The airbag warning light is constantly illuminated. After researching the problem at http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php?threads/air-bag-light-seat-belt-warning.349429/ this appears to be a common problem among all of the fifth generation ford explorers. Electrical connectors under the seats that run to the seat weight sensors are having continuity issues and causing airbags to not deploy.
ODI 10881602
Electrical System · Power Train · Seat Belts
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
ODI 10887931
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the sender and pump assembly needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired since the parts were not available anywhere in the country. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.
ODI 10715124
Electrical System · Engine
My vehicles air turns on on it's own as you drive. This is not the ac nor heater. As you drive you can hear your air vents turn on and you smell a foul smell and the air pushing through the vents is muggy sticky air that makes your skin feel clammy. This has been reported to the dealership before and had been "repaired" however, the air continues to push through the vents whether you have the switch set to on or not.
ODI 10956053
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had trouble starting sporadically. The vehicle displayed a" key not recognized start car" message. The dealer diagnosed that the shifter malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
ODI 10821444
Electrical System
I went to unlock my vehicle and the system did not respond to unlock my doors. I unlocked my doors manually and there was no lighting indicator throughout the vehicle. I placed my key in the ignition and there was still no power. I have less than 20,000 miles on my vehicle and barely use it. How can a vehicle less than two years old just stop working altogether? This is my only source of transportation and now i…
ODI 10662697
Electrical System · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
Bad smell with heat or ac on at higher speeds headaches and lightheadedness felt at times. A seperate issue altogether windows and door locks have failed to work a couple times leaving me stuck inside car until it decides to work. Dealer has had suposed part on back order for 2 months.
ODI 10959200
Electrical System · Vehicle Speed Control
Electronic throttle body has failed and vehicle will stall. Throttle will not work. You are stranded until you turn the vehicle off and back on. *tr
ODI 10638186
Electrical System · Steering
My wife was driving our 2012 ford explorer down the highway when the steering went stiff (power steering went off), causing the vehicle to swerve into the other lane, after which the terrain management system fault light came on. I happened to be in our other car following directly behind her and was able to watch the incident happen. She immediately slowed down and steered the vehicle to the side of the road. I…
ODI 10583041
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact was driving 50 mph when the advance tracking warning lamp illuminated and the power steering failed. The vehicle was taken the dealer for inspection. The contact was informed that the electronic power assistance system failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the incident. The approximate failure mileage…
ODI 10555479