Ford ยท 2012
2012 Ford Explorer FWD
Official EPA fuel economy and NHTSA recall record, best combined figure 23 MPG.
Safety rating (NHTSA 5-Star)
Official crash-test ratings for the 2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD.
Fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City | Highway | Combined | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Regular | 20 | 27 | 23 | 386 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Regular | 18 | 25 | 20 | 444 |
Safety recalls (NHTSA)
7 campaigns on record for this model year. Recall repairs are free at dealers; check your exact vehicle by VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain replacement steering gears installed on model year 2011-2012 Explorers as service parts in September 2013 and January 2014. The affected gears may lock, preventing the driver from being able to steer the vehicle.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. These vehicl
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Owner complaints (NHTSA)
1,037 complaints filed by owners for this model year (15 involving a crash, 12 a fire). Complaints are owner reports, not confirmed defects - browse them in full on nhtsa.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fuel economy of a 2012 Ford Explorer FWD?
EPA figures for the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD reach 23 MPG combined depending on configuration; the table on this page lists every tested engine and transmission combination.
Are there recalls on the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD?
NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD. Check your specific vehicle by VIN on the official NHTSA site, recalls are fixed free of charge by dealers.
What are common problems with the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD?
Owners have filed 1,037 complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD, most often about: Steering, Structure, Unknown Or Other. Complaint counts reflect what owners report, not confirmed defects.
What is the safety rating of the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD?
NHTSA gave the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD (2012 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD) an overall 4-star rating in the official 5-Star Safety Ratings program.
Sources: EPA fueleconomy.gov, the NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings databases (all US public data), refreshed monthly. Recall texts are quoted from the official record. Details on About & Data Sources.