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2012 Ford Explorer problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford Explorer. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 19% of relevant complaints.
Better than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2012 Ford Explorer have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 149 of 829 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (19%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 16% and the 2013 scores 22%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Ford Explorer years
Of the 14 Ford Explorer years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (19%). The worst is the 2020 (53%), the best the 2011 (16%). By volume, the 2012 drew 829 complaints (149 drivetrain), against 1,196 for the 2011 and 2,235 for the 2013.
Ford Explorer years to avoid and best years →
2010 Explorer problems · 2011 Explorer problems · 2012 · 2013 Explorer problems · 2014 Explorer problems · 2015 Explorer problems · 2016 Explorer problems · 2017 Explorer problems · 2018 Explorer problems · 2019 Explorer problems · 2020 Explorer problems · 2021 Explorer problems · 2022 Explorer problems · 2023 Explorer problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Ford Explorer
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Ford Explorer said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 149 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Ford Explorer engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns on the 2012 Ford Explorer, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
7 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Ford Explorer? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Ford Explorer have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 149 of 829 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (19%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Ford Explorer?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Ford Explorer is steering: 360 of 829 complaints (43%) name it, followed by structure (144) and engine (79). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 19% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Ford Explorer reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 19% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford Explorer years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Ford Explorer?
No. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns on the 2012 Ford Explorer, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Ford Explorer years are better?
Among the Ford Explorer years we track, the 2011 (16%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (19%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-explorer
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.