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.
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.
- Every owner quote, 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 them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Ford Explorer?
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 17, 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.
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.
Should I buy a 2012 Ford Explorer?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2012 Ford Explorer shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
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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.