2012 Ford Explorer Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
DROVE VEHICLE WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON AND RECIRCULATION CLOSED FROM TEXAS TO VIRGINIA AND BACK AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE WAS AN EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAR MOST TIMES. HAD TO BE TAKEN TO EMERGENCY CARE WITH RESPIRATORY DISTRESS A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER RETURNING. WAS ON TREATMENT FOR COPD FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED AN ODOR TO PENETRATE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HAVE NAUSEA SYMPTOMS AND HEADACHES. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP I SIGNALED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I SMELL FUMES IN THE CAR WHILE USING CLIMATE ON HEAT OR COLD. THEY TESTED AND SAID ALL IS OK. AFTER 1 YEAR IT STILL HAPPENS EVERY TIME I USE CLIMATE, SOMETIMES MORE OBVIOUS THAN OTHER TIMES. NO SMOKE ENTERS THE CABIN, JUST A HEAVY ODOR. I ALWAYS HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE CAR. WORRIED ABOUT LONG TERM EFFECTS ON MY FAMILY AND OUR FUTURE BABY. CALLED FORD EVEN TODAY TO ASK IF THEY HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION ON THIS PROBLEM..SAID NO.
EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN AFTER ACCELERATION, FOR EXAMPLE DURING ATTEMPTS TO PASS ON HIGHWAY, ETC. SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS "ROTTEN EGG SMELL". SMELL IS DEFINITELY GETTING IN TO CABIN. DISSIPATES AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW (RANDOM, CONSTANT MUSCLE FASCICULATIONS THROUGHOUT BODY, STRANGE HEADACHES AND HEAT-RELATED SENSATIONS, ETC), TRYING TO WORK WITH DOCTORS TO FIGURE OUT IF SYMPTOMS ARE RELATED TO VEHICLE AND THE SMELL. THE SMELL IS WELL-DOCUMENTED ON THE POPULAR FORD EXPLORER FORUMS ONLINE, AND HAPPENS USUALLY UNDER HARD ACCELERATION OR HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
WHEN WE ACCELERATE IN OUR 2012 FORD EXPLORER, THE CABIN IS FILLED WITH EXHAUST FUMES. MANY TIMES WE ARE REQUIRED TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO LET THE FUMES OUT AS THEY CAUSE HEADACHES AND SMELL BAD. THIS MAINLY OCCURS WHEN WE ACCELERATE ON TO A HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE FROM THE ON RAMP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE LOW ENGINE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,700. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY DANGEROUS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE EXHAUST WHILE FUMES CONSUMED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FOR YEARS. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY PROVIDED NO ODOR TESTING AS WELL AS NO SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION TO THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
EXHAUST GASES ENTER THE CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING - SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS - TO TEST THEORY PLACED HOUSE HOLD CO2 ALARM IN VEHICLE CABIN AND DROVE UP INTERSTATE - EXCEEDING 3500RPM FOR 2-3 SECONDS - CO2 ALARM WENT OFF TO INDICATE CO2 PRESENT INSIDE OF CABIN - CONDITIONS WERE - ALL WINDOWS CLOSED ALL DOORS CLOSED - AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING. DEALER STATES NO REPORTED OCCURRENCES OF THIS FROM OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS, SAID IT COULD BE A FAULTY CO2 ALARM - WENT TO HOME DEPOT - PURCHASED NEW CO2 ALARM - TESTED IN VEHICLE WITH WINDWOS AND DOORS CLOSED - NEW CO2 ALARM ALSO ALERTS TO CARBON MONOXIDE (HIGH LEVELS). - CO2 IS 100% ENTERING CLOSED CABIN.
AS I WAS BREAKING TO TURN LEFT AT A STREET LIGHT MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. I TOOK IT TO JORDAN FORD IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ERROR MESSAGE AND NOTICED A CARBON BUILD UP AND RECOMMENDED CLEANING. ALMOST $500 TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AND I'M VERY WORRIED. I DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE AREN'T ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER THE INITIAL ATTEMPT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,920. *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, A WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DECELERATED TO 2 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A ROARING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE BUT WAS ABLE TO MERGE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
WHILE DRIVING MY FOR 2012 FORD EXPLORER ECOBOOST 2.0L, ACCELERATING AT APPROX 55MPH UP A HILL, I LOST POWER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS STARTING ON JULY 11TH. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND DRIVE 10MPH WITH HAZARDS ON. THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY. MY EXPLORER HAS BEEN AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP NOW FOR THREE DAYS AND THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, AND NOT ABLE TO FIX IT. I'M ALREADY GOING TO HAVE TO PAY 600 IN LABOR SO FAR AND OVER A 100 FOR A RENTAL AND OF COURSE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I BELEIVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE YOU LOOSE ALL POWER. YOU COULD END UP IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IF THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY.
ON DECEMBER 27TH 2014 I PURCHASED A USED 2012 FORD EXPLORER WITH 42,990 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOTICED UNDER ACCELERATING, YOU CAN SMELL THE EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN. ANY HARDER THAN 50% ACCELERATION AND WITH THE REAR AC ON, IT IS AN ALMOST INSTANT SMELL. AFTER A FEW ROADS TRIPS IT IS PREDICTABLE AND WE TRY TO AVOID REPEATING THE ISSUE. IT HAS NOT BEEN TO OUR LCAL DEALER BECAUSE THEY "HAVEN'T HEARD" OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE (CALLED 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS). I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT THE CAR, PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR, MY $100 EXTENDED WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE, AND GET THE, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE CAN BE FROM." I HAVE HEARD AND READ ALLOT OF SEMI FIXES, BUT WISH I COULD GET A STRAIT ANSWER BEFORE TAKING TO THE DEALER FIRST. *TR
INVESTIGATION OF INTERMITTENT "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT EVENTUALLY LED TO A DETERMINATION OF A FAULTY EVAP PURGE VALVE PULLING FUEL INTO THE EVAP CANISTER. TECHNICIAN SAID HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AS THIS IS A FUEL LEAK AND UNSAFE CONDITION. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED SAFETY ISSUE, CITES 1ST TIME THIS HAS BEEN SEEN, AND NOT COVERED BY ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. PAPERWORK PROVIDED CITES "A FAULTY EVAP PURGE VALVE CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE ENGINE VACUUM TO BE PLACED ON FUEL TANK, DRAWING FUEL/AIR FROM THE FUEL TANK THROUGH THE EVAP SYSTEM AND INTO ENGINE. THIS CAN CAUSE DRIVABILITY CONCERNS AS WELL AS RICH/LEAN CONCERN." *TR
MY CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND MY CAR JUST SUDDENLY STALLED. I SAW AN "AWD OFF" MESSAGE ON MY DASH. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO THE FOOT PEDDLE. I HIT THE BRAKES AND KILLED THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND CONTINUE ON TO WORK. I JUST ASSUMED THAT I HAD SOMEONE HIT THE GEAR INTO THAT MODE. BUT IT HAPPENED A 2ND AND THEN A 3RD TIME THAT SAME WEEK. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AROUND THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST. BEFORE I BROUGHT THE CAR, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR OTHER RELATED COMPLAINTS FROM FORD OWNERS. I FOUND A SITE AT WWW.CARGURUS.COM AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. ONE OWNER SAID THAT HIS DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE "THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY" AND HE HAS NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM AGAIN. I BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO MY DEALERSHIP AND I PAID THEM $99.00 FOR THIS SERVICE CALL. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, BUT THEY DID DO SOME SORT OF SERVICE NOTICE THAT I HAD NOT YET DONE ON MY CAR. THEY HOPED IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT DID FOR ABOUT A MONTH. BUT THIS WEEK, IT HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES. YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AND I AM HOPING THAT THEY WILL FIND THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY IS THE ISSUE. IF NOT, THEN I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT I MAY BE REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE I AM TRYING TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORD MUST KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE "AWD OFF" ERROR CODE. I DO NOT INTEND TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR!! MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD BE PAYING FOR ANY CAR/ENGINE REPAIRS ON SUCH A YOUNG VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPEATEDLY BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 09/15/2014 *JS
I HAVE BEEN SMELLING EXHAUST INTO VEHICLE CABIN, LOOKED AT FORUMS, & FOUND 62 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS BY EXPLORER OWNERS, ON WWW.EXPLORERFORUM.COM, CALLED DEALER, TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR 2 DAYS, UNDER TSB-128-12-12-4, SERVICE WORK, STILL HAVE SAME ISSUE MONTHS LATER, STILL WAITING FOR FORD TO CORRECT PROBLEM. AT PRESENT TIME A LAW SUIT HAS BEEN FILED IN FLORIDA, ARTICLE FOUND IN SUN SENNTIAL NEWSPAPER, AT WWW.SUN-SENNTIAL.COM VIDEO SHOWS CO AT 139 ACCEPTABLE LEVEL SHOULD BE 100. *TR
IN SEPTEMBER 2013, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH WHEN A WRENCH SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE SCREEN AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING TO A STOP. THE GAS WOULD NOT WORK DURING THIS TIME AND I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. IT DID RESTART WITHOUT PROBLEMS, BUT DID IT AGAIN A LITTLE LATER. I TOOK IT IN TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, WHERE I LEASED THE CAR FROM. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT COULD NOT GET CODES BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES IN OCTOBER. BOTH TIMES WERE AT NIGHT OVER A WEEKEND WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED. AGAIN, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT RESET THE "SYSTEM" AND I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THE NIGHT OF MAY 3, 2013. I WAS DRIVING OUTSIDE OF MCKINNEY, TX, WITH MY CRUISE SET AT 74 WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS REALLY SCARED ME BECAUSE I HAD JUST COME OFF OF I-75 WHERE THEY ARE DOING CONSTRUCTION AND THERE ARE CONCRETE WALLS ON EITHER SIDE OF TWO LANES WITH NO SHOULDER! SINCE YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE SPEED, AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE CAR WORK IS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN RESTART IT, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE (MYSELF AND 2 CHILDREN) WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS A VERY BUSY AREA WITH SPEEDS UP TO 75 MPH AND LOTS OF SEMI-TRUCKS. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND GM OF PARIS FORD WHO BOTH AGREED TO A LOANER CAR UNTIL MINE COULD BE FIXED, AND TOOK IT IN FOR THE THIRD TIME. APPARENTLY, THE ONLY LOANER CAR THEY HAD WAS UNAVAILABLE, SO I COULD TAKE MY CAR BACK AND DRIVE IT UNTIL THEY HAD A LOANER. WE DECIDED THAT WAS ENOUGH. I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND DID NOT WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE OF ANYTHING HAPPENING TO MYSELF OR OUR CHILDREN. WE TURNED IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER PAYING $251, IT IS NOW BACK WITH THEM. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
WHEN USING THE PASSING GEAR ,TO PASS A VEHICLE ,TOXIC EXHAUST FUMES GET SUCKED IN THE CABIN ,TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER ,AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO THE FORD EXPLORER,AND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS ,BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT ; THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN USING THE PASSING GEAR TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ,THE FUMES ARE SO BAD INSIDE THE CABIN THAT THE WINDOW HAS TO BE OPEN TO THE LET THE FUMES OUT . THIS A HAZARD AND HEALTH ISSUE . *TR
OVERHEATING LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID LEAKING UNDER CAR AND STEAM OR SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE? TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED CAR TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER. MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN SHOP 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR SAME THING: NO HEAT , NO AIR CONDITIONING, OVERHEATING, MY FORD SYNC RECALL??? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION, THE GILLS ALLOWED EXHAUST FUMES TO BE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,309.
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Quick Summary
The 2012 Ford Explorer has 50 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.