2012 Ford Explorer — Known Issues & Recalls

Your steering wheel locked up while you were driving. This is a serious safety issue that requires immediate inspection to determine the cause and prevent it from happening again.

Your steering wheel stopped responding properly while driving, and warning lights for power steering and traction control came on, making the car very hard to steer. The dealer diagnosed a failed electronic power steering module that needs to be replaced. This is a serious safety concern because you lose control of steering direction while on the road.

Your power steering system failed while you were driving on the highway, causing the steering wheel to become stiff and hard to turn. This happened while you were switching lanes at highway speeds, creating a dangerous situation. The service advance trac light came on at the same time. Fixing this will likely require replacing or servicing the electronic power steering pump.

While driving, your steering wheel suddenly locked up and a "Service Power Steering Now" warning appeared, making your car impossible to steer safely. This is a known issue in 2011–2013 Explorers caused by a faulty electrical connection in the power steering motor sensor. Ford has a service program for this problem, but your dealership refused to help because your vehicle's coverage was listed as expired, even though your car was built during the affected time period and exhibits the exact same failure.

Your steering wheel suddenly became very hard to turn while you were making a turn, and it wouldn't return to center afterward. No warning light appeared before this happened. The vehicle had to be towed home, and even though you contacted the dealer, they didn't diagnose or repair the issue.

Your steering wheel became completely unresponsive while backing out of a parking spot, and a power steering failure warning light appeared on the dashboard. After turning off the engine and restarting the vehicle, the steering worked normally again. This intermittent power steering failure could be dangerous if it occurs while driving on the road.

Your power steering suddenly stopped working while you were backing up, causing your Explorer to hit a parked car. The problem started as an occasional failure but became constant. Your dealer determined that the electronic power steering system and steering gear assembly need to be replaced, but the repair wasn't covered under warranty since your vehicle is 10 years old. This repair will likely involve replacing the electronic power steering control module and the steering gear assembly.

Your steering wheel has become hard to turn, even though your Explorer has electric power steering that should assist you. This makes the car difficult to maneuver, especially at low speeds or when parking. The issue likely involves the electric power steering system and may require diagnosis and repair of the steering motor or control module.

Your 2012 Ford Explorer has a recall (Campaign 24V031000) related to the vehicle structure, but the required repair part is currently on backorder at your dealer. Because the recall is incomplete, you're unable to register your vehicle in California. You haven't experienced any actual failure yet, but the delay in getting the necessary part has prevented you from completing the repair.

Your 2012 Ford Explorer's windshield trim pieces (A-pillars) on both the driver and passenger sides have separated and flown off while driving. Ford has issued a recall for this issue, but the replacement parts weren't available when you contacted your dealer multiple times. Your vehicle still hasn't been repaired, and you feel Ford has taken too long to provide the fix.

Your backup camera is displaying an error message telling you to contact the dealership, and it's freezing up and stopping working. This means you won't be able to see behind your vehicle when backing up. The camera system will likely need to be diagnosed and either repaired or replaced at a Ford dealership.

Your backup camera is displaying a horizontally flipped image — everything that should appear on the left side shows up on the right and vice versa. Additionally, the safety guide lines that normally appear on the screen have disappeared entirely. This will likely require camera recalibration or replacement to restore normal operation.

Your steering wheel became very stiff and wouldn't turn on at least three separate occasions while driving, forcing you to stop and restart the vehicle each time. A power steering assist warning light appeared on the dashboard. The first dealer couldn't duplicate the problem, but a second dealer found that corrosion had built up around the grounding bolts in the electrical system, which was preventing power steering from working properly. The fix involved cleaning and reinstalling the corroded grounding bolts to restore electrical connection.

Your backup camera has been malfunctioning in the same way Ford described in a recent recall, but your 2012 Explorer doesn't appear to be included in that recall. You're concerned about why your vehicle wasn't covered given that it's experiencing the same issue. A fix would likely involve either replacing the backup camera assembly or updating the camera system's wiring and connections.

You experienced a complete loss of electric power steering assistance while driving on the interstate. This means the steering wheel suddenly became much harder to turn, requiring significantly more physical effort to control the vehicle.

The plastic trim pieces on both sides of your windshield are loose and are part of a known safety recall that Ford hasn't repaired yet. This loose trim is a hazard while driving because pieces could fall off or obstruct your vision. Ford should inspect and replace these trim pieces as part of the recall service.

Your rear view camera is not working properly and displays a message telling you to contact the dealership. This means you won't be able to see behind your vehicle when backing up, which could make it harder to spot obstacles or pedestrians. The camera system will likely need to be inspected and repaired or replaced by a technician.

Your steering wheel shakes noticeably when driving at speeds between 35-45 MPH, even though no warning lights appear on your dashboard. You became aware of a Ford recall (Campaign 19V435000) related to the suspension that may address this issue. The fix will likely involve having a dealer inspect and service the suspension components that are causing the steering vibration.

Your car is subject to Ford recall 24V031 for the A-pillar trim pieces (the plastic covers on the side pillars of your windshield). You received the recall notice in February 2024, but your Ford dealer has told you multiple times that the replacement parts aren't available. Your driver's side trim is completely missing, and your passenger's side trim is loose. After waiting nearly 2 years since the recall was issued, the parts still haven't arrived at your dealer. Getting this fixed will require your dealer to receive the A-pillar applique trim pieces from Ford and install them.

Your 2012 Ford Explorer has a loose trim piece on the lower windshield that detached when you purchased the vehicle. You're also hearing an abnormal sound coming from the steering wheel when turning left or right, and even when the engine is off. Ford issued a recall (24V031000) to fix the windshield trim issue, but the repair parts aren't available yet, and you haven't taken the vehicle to a dealer for diagnosis or repair.