2012 Ford Explorer Power Train Problems
- 48
- 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 48 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 14 records
- throttle body · 6 records
- wrench icon · 6 records
- light came · 5 records
- without warning · 5 records
- side road · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 24 |
| 1–30k mi | 10 |
| 60–100k mi | 7 |
| 100–150k mi | 4 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train
Repeated issue with malfunctioning tcm. Went into default mode while driving on state highway. Repairs made but have since taken vehicle in again for same service issue and is scheduled for a third repair. I know the 2012 focus, fiesta and expedition have class action suits due to tcm. Dealer has twice told me vehicle is safe to drive in it's current state since service and check engine lights are not flashing in…
ODI 10864017
Power Train
While on freeway, car suddenly decreased speed even though i was pressing on the pedal to excelerate. It has happened a few more times but luckily i was not on freeway. Took it in to mac haick and they said it was the throttle body. My car has less than 30,000 miles and i asked if this was common and was told no. He said that sometimes it happens with more that 60,000. I asked if there was a recall and was told no.…
ODI 10819558
Power Train
November 13, 2015 carolina, puerto rico i'm driving normally then a wrench light pops up on the dash & says "see service manual". I then immediately without warning loose all control to my gas pedal & the engine shakes at an idle. I am forced to pull over. We return home less 10 mile per hour, then turn the car off. Once i turn it back on it "warnings 0" in some way & runs normally.
ODI 10790132
Power Train
I'm driving normally then randomly a wrench light pops up on the dash & says "see service manual". I then immediately without warning loose all control to my gas pedal & the engine shakes at an idle. I am forced to pull over (mind you with my 2 kids in the car when this has happened 3 times in 1 month). Then turn the car off. Once i turn it back on it "resets" in some way & runs normally (until this happens again).…
ODI 10788746
Power Train
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.…
ODI 10787972
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
Engine · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
BURNING SMELL UNDER ACCELERATION.
ODI 10778941
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
While driving on a 2-lane highway about 50 mhp, my 2012 ford explorer suddenly lost all speed and the gas pedal had no effect. After drifting over to the shoulder out of harms way, the power remained on and the dashboard said "check manual" with a wrench lit up. What happened was that it just lost all speed and the gas pedal had no effect until i turned off the power and re-started. This was the first incident. This…
ODI 10750232
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
Driving to work at the normal speed limit 6:30 am in light traffic. Ambient temperature was 65 degrees in dry conditions. Suddenly felt like the transmission had been placed in neutral. Engine continued to run but no power to the transmission. Was able to let the car coast until i could turn on to a side street and stop. An error condition displayed "awd off" and then a wrench icon appeared. I placed the…
ODI 10730371
Power Train
I parked the vehicle to go into a store. When i returned and started the vehicle. I had the power assist fault and service track management errors show on the panel. I had to drive the car home without power steering. I took the car in for service yesterday and was told that it needed a steering gear. I was under the impression that this would be part of the power steering recall issued last year, however that is…
ODI 10720981
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
I was driving back from the mall on a single lane highway at 55 mph with the whole family. All of the sudden the vehicle just quit. I tried to restart the vehicle while it was gliding without power, but it would not start. I had to pull over to the side of the road until the car stopped by itself. While the car was gliding to a stop, there was no steering brakes or anything available, since the engine had cut off…
ODI 10713749
Engine · Power Train
While i was driving my 2012 ford explorer xlt, it lost all power for the 4th time. When i pressed the throttle there was no response. Indicator lights said awd off and displayed a wrench icon. I coasted to the side of the road. When this happened the first three times i turned the car off, restarted it and all was fine for a few minutes, before this happened again. This is quite a dangerous situation to be in. I…
ODI 10661311
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
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
I was driving approx. 35mph and all of a sudden the wrench light on the engine came on i lost all power to the accelerator. I had to coast to stop, turn off the vehicle, start it back up and proceed. It has happened 4 more times since the original date. One of those times was when i was crossing an intersection and was almost broadsided. This is very dangerous and is happening with no warning or pattern. I have…
ODI 10643084
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
The throttle box has gone bad. The car stalls randomly when taking off from a start and requires a new throttle body at only 47k miles. This is part of the powertrain, but not covered by the warranty. Ford had lots of problems with throttle bodies in earlier models and it seems they haven't fixed it yet. *tr
ODI 10643166
Engine · Power Train
On monday march 10, 2014 i started the my 2012 ford explorer and drove it to work approximately 2 miles and shut it off, after 25 minutes i returned to the vehicle and attempted to start it. The vehicle started and then immediately shut off and said low oil pressure, i proceeded to remove the key and open the hood. I checked the oil and all was within range, no issue immediately noted, i closed the hood and…
ODI 10568303
Power Train
On dec. 2, 2013 i was stopped on the side of the road with a slight decline at a school bus stop. I put the vehicle in park (while still on) and got out of the car to retrieve a forgotten item from the back for one of the children (as i have done numerous times before without incident). When i exited the vehicle, it started to roll forward (while still in park). It rolled off of the road, down an embankment, into a…
Crash reported
ODI 10559565
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
This is a continual problem report one 8/10/13 19,000 miles: power steering light came on and power steering went out while driving vehicle <15 mph and back ceiling light came on and wouldn't go out. Ford: 8/13/2013 said ceiling light shortened out battery and caused power steering to go out - ordered light bulb came back in 3 days to replace light bulb - they said power steering was fixed. Report two 9/23/13 23,891…
ODI 10554105
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the all-wheel drive warning light illuminated as the vehicle stalled. The contact did not take the vehicle for diagnostic testing or repairs. The failure mileage was 17,000. ...updated 08-08-13 *bf
ODI 10531808
Power Train · Steering
I was driving in a parking garage and the terrain management system and power steering systems became disabled. The car was very difficult to handle once the power steering was lost. When i parked the car, shut the car off and restarted, the power steering appeared to be back but the terrain management system continued to show an error. I will be contacting the dealer today. I have seen similar complaints listed…
ODI 10521005
Power Train · Steering
I was slowing down as i was approaching a traffic signal and heard a warning chime. Initially, vehicle did not show any signs of problem, but got a warning message of power steering failure (or something similar) and another one indicating to service the advance track system. The advance track indicator light went out on the dial, too. After a few hundred feet the power steering was completely gone and i had to use…
ODI 10471810
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
I was driving home from a movie on pacific coast hwy in huntington beach, ca and all of sudden the power steering assist fault warning came on, i hadn't lost complete function of the steering but it was about a half a mile down the road that it got almost impossible to steer. I called the dealership and they told me to tow it to the dealership as soon as possible. I didn't know that there was a short term fix by…
ODI 10471483
Power Train
Car hesitates after turns and then again when accelerating and acts like it doesn't have enough power. Car had to be towed on a separate incident in 2013 after losing all power during a turn; the throttle body - air intake had to be replaced at 24,457 miles. The problem is ongoing, something is wrong with the car. Every time i take it in to be checked, i get the same response: cannot not recreate the concern, ran…
ODI 10595838