2012 Ford Explorer UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
I SMELL EXHAUST WHEN IDLING OR WAITING AT STOP LIGHTS- EVEN WHEN DRIVING. AM I IN DANGER?? IT IS ONGOING AND HAPPENS OFTEN.
I HAVE A 2012 FORD EXPLORER AND I REALLY LIKE IT BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2016 EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR SNOWS I COME IN TO THE TRUCK TO FIND A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. LATELY WHEN IT RAINS IT'S LIKE IT IS LITERALLY RAINING INSIDE MY TRUCK. THE WATER LEAKS RIGHT THROUGH THE TOP WHERE MY LIGHT AND THE BUTTONS FOR MY SUNROOF IS. NOW MY BACK UP CAMERA DOESN'T WORK AND MY TRUCK IS STARTING TO SMELL LIKE MOLE. I'M ALSO AFRAID THAT THE WATER LEAKAGE IS GOING TO DESTROY ALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR CAUSE A AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WHILE I'M IN MY TRUCK WITH MY KIDS. I ALSO DON'T WANT MY FLOOR TO RUST. CAN YOU PLEAS HELP ME IN FINDING OUT WHERE IS THE PROBLEM COMING FROM? A COWORKER OF MINE IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER TRUCK AS WELL.
SINCE WE PURCHASED THE SUV WE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUMES IN THE VEHICLE CABIN. IT ALWAYS OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING, LIKE WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, AND THE SMELL STARTS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHERE MY 2 KIDS ARE. WE HAVE HAD ALL 3 REVISIONS DONE AND STILL THE ODOR PERSIST. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO LOWER THE WINDOWS EACH TIME TO NOT FEEL NAUSEOUS AND AVOID THE STRONG HEADACHES THAT USUALLY FOLLOW. MY 9 YEAR OLD SON HAS ASTHMA AND SUFFERS GREATLY FROM IT AND CONSTANTLY COMPLAINS OF DIZZINESS AS WE ARE DAILY HIGHWAY DRIVERS. MY 4 YEAR OLD HAS HAD MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OF SUDDEN VOMITING WHILE IN THE CAR, DIZZINESS AND HEADACHES. I TOO HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE FUMES AND FEELING FAINT. I CONTACTED THE FORD HOTLINE ON THIS ISSUE AND WAS ISSUED A CASE # YET FORD RESPONDED WITH NO SOLUTION. THEY STATE THE REPAIRS THEY HAVE AVAILABLE HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED AND THEY HAVE NO FURTHER SOLUTION. I ASKED FOR A BUY BACK AND APPARENTLY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THAT EITHER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MULTIPLE YEARLY VISITS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING HOW SINCE THE YEAR OF PURCHASE WE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE FUMES ODOR ISSUE AND THEY HAD EITHER NO REPAIR OR PRETENDED I WAS MAKING IT UP. I'M GLAD THIS ISSUE HAS SURFACED IN THE MEDIA AS I OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT MAKING IT UP, AND IT'S A REAL PROBLEM. I WORRY MORE THAN ANYTHING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF MY CHILDREN AND THEIR SAFETY. WE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE LONG BEFORE MOST OF THESE COMPLAINTS EVEN APPEARED, AND WE'VE HAD TO OUT OF POCKET PAY FOR MANY OF THE REPAIRS. PLEASE HELP.
UPON HEAVY ACCELERATION (MERGING, PASSING A VEHICLE,ETC.) EXHAUST FUMES ARE DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE. IRRELEVENT AS TO WHETHER HEAT, AC OR VENT IS OPEN.
EXHAUST LEAKING BACK INTO THE VEHICLE. AS I ACCELERATE, IT SMELLS LIKE GAS FUMES COMING FROM A/C VENTS. I NOTICED IT FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.
I HAVE SMELT THE EXHAUST FUMES COMING FROM THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. I CAN REALLY SMELL THE FUMES IF I AM GOING THROUGH A DRIVE-THRU AT A RESTAURANT AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW. I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT UNTIL I STARTED RESEARCHING THE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS.
IN 2015, FORD CHARGED ME MORE THAN $700 TO MAKE THE REPAIRS NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CAR. THEY HAD A KNOWN FIX AT THAT TIME, BUT STILL CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR.
STRONG ODOR IN CABIN, MAKING OCCUPANTS ILL.
THE CO DETECTOR I INSTALLED (BATTERY OPERATED) SOUNDS IF I CLOSE MY WINDOWS FOR MORE THAN A FEW MOMENTS DURING A TRIP. MY 10 YEAR OLD SON CAN NOT RIDE IN MY TRUCK AS HE HAS VOMITED SEVERAL TIMES DURING TRIPS IN THE PAST. THE IDEA THAT THE VEHICLE I DRIVE IS POISONING MY SON INFURIATES ME. THE EXHAUST ODOR IS UNBEARABLE, COUPLED WITH THE NAUSEA AND HEADACHES THAT RESULT FROM THE CO LEAKS I FIND MYSELF MORE AND MORE ANGRY THAT WE SPENT $30K ON A DEATH TRAP
THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE AROUND THE REAR WINDOW/ DOOR OR TOP. EVERYTIME IT RAINS, WATER ENTERS THE CAR POURING DOWN THE 3RD ROW SEATBELT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.
2012 FORD EXPLORER RELEASES STRONG BURNT RUBBER SMELL WHEN I ACCELERATE OR REACH 3000 RPMS. IT IS GETTING WORSE THE MORE MILES I PUT ON MY CAR. CAUSES MYSELF AND MY 2 CHILDREN TO FEEL CAR SICK OR HAVE HEADACHES. THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET THE SMELL TO GO AWAY IS TO TURN OFF THE A/C OR HEAT AND ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP TWICE NOW AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING IT BUT I'VE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND THEY STILL ACT LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SMELL THE CAR WAS ALSO MAKING A NOISE WHEN THE A/C WAS ON SO I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR THEY DID WOULD FIX WHATEVER WAS CAUSING THE NOISE AND THE SMELL. I JUST TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ONCE AGAIN MENTIONED THE SMELL AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT A BURNING SMELL AND NOBODY HAS HAD THAT ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW OF. NOW THAT I KNOW IT IS LEGITIMATELY A CONCERN AND MY KIDS AND I AREN'T JUST ACTUALLY GETTING "CAR SICK" I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT I'M NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I AM SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY TO HAVE OTHER ISSUES FIXED AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY TELL ME NOW THAT I HAVE MADE THEM AWARE OF THE LEGITIMATE PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST ODOR.
WHEN THE SHIFTER IS MECHANICALLY AND SECURELY IN PARK, THE VEHICLE'S SENSOR SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. THIS LEADS TO STARTING ISSUES NBECASUE OF TWO FACTORS: 1. THE BATTERY WEARS DOWN SINCE THE CAR DOES NOT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND 2. STARTING THE VEHICLE REQUIRES IT TO BE IN PARK WHICH THE VEICHILE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS IN.
WHEN TAKIN OFF AT HIGHER SPEED LIKE TO PASS SOMEONE, A SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES FILLS THE CAR THROUGH THE AIR SYSTEM. IT'S SO BAD WE HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO GET IT TO GO AWAY. MY BABIES EVEN COMPLAIN OF THE HORRIBLE SMELL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS AND I'VE HEARD OF NOW AS A BIG PROBLEM.
SMELLS EXHAUST IN THE CABIN. I HAVE BEEN GETTING HEAD ACHES AND NAUSEA WHEN I DRIVE. VEHICLE IN MOTION AND AFTER BEING IN THE CAR I GET AN EXHAUST SMELL AND GET SICK.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM BLEW OFF THE CAR WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE CREATING A DANGEROUS PROJECTILE FOR VEHICLES BEHIND ME.
EXHAUST SMELL IN CAR
EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN, HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND THEY PERFORMED A FIX BUT DID NOT FIX
THERE'S BEEN A SMELL EACH TIME I WOULD GO IN MY TRUCK AND IT WOULD GIVE ME A HEADACHE. DURING THIS TIME I WAS PREGNANT. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT IT'S BEEN THE EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT BEEN USING MY TRUCK AND I CAN'T DRIVE MY 1 MONTH OLD BABY IN THIS CAR. THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK IT HAS BEEN SHAKING AND SHUTS OFF. I'VE ALREADY TAKEN IT TO GET REPAIRED BUT IT STILL SHAKES. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUMES COMING INTO THE CAR. IT DEFINITELY IDN'T SAFE FOR ME TO HAVE MY BABY RIDE IN. I CAN'T BELIEVE I USED THIS TRUCK DURING MY PREGNANCY THINKING IT WAS JUST ME BUT SEEING IT ON THE NEWS MADE ME REALIZE SOMETHING HAS BEEN WRONG WITH THE TRUCK THE WHOLE TIME.
I PLACED A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR IN MY VEHICLE AFTER READING ABOUT ISSUES. IT HAS BEEN GOING OFF DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF CO DETECTED INSIDE MY CAR. THE DETECTOR ONLY STOPS BEEPING WHEN I OPEN ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. I USE A KIDDE CO DETECTOR THAT WILL ALARM IF LEVELS ARE ABOVE 30PPM. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR MOST OF THE TIME, AND I WANT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE TO GET IT FIXED AND PREVENT ISSUES WITH THEIR HEALTH OR AN ACCIDENT THAT CAN ENDANGER BOTH MY FAMILY AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS FIX ALL EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE DETECTOR GOES OFF WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE CLOSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, AND WHEN I ACCELERATE.
I WAS DRIVING AND FOR NO OBVIOUS MEDICAL REASON PASSED OUT AND MY CAR TRAVELED ACROSS A HIGHWAY AND OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HIT 2 TREES. I HAVE READ A NEWS REPORT OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER DRIVERS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CARD.
THE SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE CABIN. SAW THIS INTHE RECENT NATIONAL NEWS. EXACTLY WHAT I EXPERIENCED AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY VECHICLE BUT KEEP JUST BEING DISREGARDED AS NOTHING. ALL MY ISSUES WERE NEVER RESOVED NO LETTER EVER ANSWERED. SENT A RECENT EMAIL TO FORD, UNANSWERED, CALL LOCAL DEALSHIP AND LADY IS SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID SHE DIDNT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECENT INVESTIGATIONS AND TO WAIT FOR A LETTER/RECALL. THIS RECORDS ARE FROM BACK WHEN I GOT MY CAR, I HAVE LEARNED TO ADAPT TO THE SMELL AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TILL IT HAS GONE.
SMELL WHAT SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. FEAR MY FAMILY AND I MAY BE IN RISK FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS GOING UP A HILL OR GOING ON TO THE FREEWAY I SMELL EXHAUST IN THE VEHICLE.
I HAVE THE SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY EXHAUST SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH, NO CHECK LIGHT IS ON, WHEN MY CAR IS IDLING OR EARLIER TODAY WHEN I WAS JUST DRIVING FOR AWHILE WITH THE HEAT ON, I SPELL A STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAR.
I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER IN OCTOBER 2011. I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING WITH BOUTS OF NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIZZINESS, WEAKNESS AND GENERAL INSTABILITY SINCE AUGUST 2013. I HAVE BEEN UNDER SEVERAL DOCTORS CARE WITH LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN MY CONDITION. MOST RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH VESTIBULAR PROXSYSMIA. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT THESE SYMPTOMS COULD WELL HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY PERSISTENT CARBON MONIXIDE EXPOSURE. I WILL BE PURSUING THIS POSSIBILITY WITH THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED WITH MY CASE. I JUST RECENTLY TRADED IN THIS VEHICLE FOR A FORD ESCAPE SO NO LONGER OWN IT.
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Quick Summary
The 2012 Ford Explorer has 66 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.