What 821 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

STARTED MY 2022 FORD EXPLORA , AND AS I STARTED TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE I NOTICED I COULD NOT STEER WITH THE STEERING WHEEL , THE STEERING FROZE ON ME . I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE ONCE MORE AND I FOUND MY SELF IN THE SAME SITUATION WITH MY STEERING FROZEN . I TRAVELED OVER 78 MILES WITH NO STEERING CAPABILITY.

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PASSENGER SIDE STRUT MOUNT BROKE CAUSING NOISES WHEN TURNING EITHER DIRECTION. MAKING STEERING HARD. WHEN LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PART, IT WAS HARD TO LOCATE BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND PARTS CAN'T BE KEPT IN STOCK

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BOTH A DEFECTIVE O2 SENSOR AND LOW OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER, THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCCOMBS FORD WEST LOCATED AT 7111 NORTHWEST LOOP 410, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78238, WHERE A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON HER. NOW IT IS STIFF AND CANNOT DRIVE IT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SINCE IT WAS OVER 160,000 MILES THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE RECALL.

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THE FRONT STRUT TOWER MOUNTS ARE BAD. THIS IS ON EVERY 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORER I HAVE SEEN. IT MAKES A BAD CLUNK SOUND EVERYTIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR (A) COLUMN WINDOW TRIM FRACTURED AND WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER CHAMPAGNE FORD CITY (701 WEST MARKET VIEW CHAMPAGNE IL.) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT PART TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE (B) COLUMN TRIM. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE FAILURE WAS ALSO PRESENT ON THE REAR HATCH TRIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, FIRST APPEARED JANUARY 9TH 2020 - PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH AROUND 146,000 MILES ON 4/2019 - WE ARE THE SECOND OWNERS, FIRST OWNER BOUGHT NEW AND HAD DETAILED MAINTENANCE RECORDS - NEVER HAD RECALL WORK DONE FROM 2014 REGARDING THIS ISSUE. TOOK TO PAUL MILLER FORD, LEXINGTON, KY - STATED FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX - BUT THEY WON'T BECAUSE IT IS OVER 150,000 MILES. POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME BACK ON FEB 7, 2020 - AND STILL REMAINS ON AND UN-DRIVEABLE. FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE ARE SEVERAL OF US ON FORUMS BEING TOLD THE SAME THING. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PREVIOUS RECALL FIXED THEM ALL - THEY ONLY CONTACTED ONES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED OUT OF CHICAGO - WITH THIS MANY STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, THERE HAS TO BE PROBLEMS WITH ALL MODELS DURING THIS TIME-FRAME, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE - I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.

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WHEN IT RAINS I HAVE WATER COMING INTO MY VEHICHLE AND IT EVEN COMES THROUGH THE SEATBELTS. I HAVE WATER IN MY FLOOR NOW.

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VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING ME STRANDED ON A DESERTED HIGHWAY. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A MECHANIC AND HAVING THEM COME TO THE VEHICLES LOCATION AND PERFORMING A VISUAL INSPECTION HE STATED ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND UPON COMPLETING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK THEY CONFIRMED THE 'INTERNAL' WATER PUMP HAD FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS CONTACTED 5 TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP AND EACH TIME THE NEWS GOT WORSE. THEN FINAL CALL THE ADVISOR TOLD ME TO FIX IT AND NOTHING WAS GOING TO BE GUARANTEED TO LAST IT WAS GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY $4,000 BEFORE TAXES. THEY'D ALSO HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL TWICE ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN AT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND TO FIX OUTSTANDING RECALLS AND AFTER CHECKING THE SERVICE MANUAL NOTHING IS 'SUGGESTED' 'RECOMMENDED' OR 'REQUIRED' TO SERVICE THE INTERNAL WATER PUMP.

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I HAVE COOLANT LEAKING, I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO BE DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $2,000 SINCE THE WATER PUMP IS IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE, THERE IS ONLY 132,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS ISSUE!!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A LEAK AND FOUR INCHES OF RAIN WATER ENTERED THE REAR WHEEL WELL OF THE SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT MOLD WOULD GROW UNDER THE CARPET OF THE REAR WELL. THE CONTACT CALLED MOORESVILLE FORD DEALER, (151 E PLAZA DR, MOORESVILLE, NC 28115, (704) 664-1300) AND WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FEE OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

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WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHTS GO OFF BUT COME BACK ON AND STAYS ON. THIS STARTED A MONTH AGO AND THE WARNING LIGHT STILL SWITCHES ON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING REQUIRED EXTRA EFFORT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ON AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TROPICAL FORD (LOCATED AT 9900 S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL, ORLANDO, FL 32837, (407) 851-3800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPS SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

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AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WEEK NOW. TOOK IT IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE WIRING IS MALFUNCTIONING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2012 MODELS. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. NOW I AM HAVING TO PAY UPWARD OF $400 TO REPAIR.

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AFTER A RECALL FREE FIXED, THE CAR ITS SHOWING THE SAMETHING PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALERSHI SAY NOW I SHOULD TO PAY BECAUSE 4 YEARS AGO WAS FIX IT....

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OUR SUV LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE. WARNINGS THAT CAME ON DASH INCLUDE: SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW, ADVANCETRAC WARNING, AND ALL TERRAIN WARNING. THE TURN SIGNALS ALSO WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

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VEHICLE IN MOTION. STEERING BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. NO SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER TO STOP AND SENSOR SAID POWER STEERING AND INTELLIGENT 4 WHEEL DRIVE NEED SERVICE. CALLED MECHANIC . TRIED TO DRIVE AND STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED .

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL EXHAUST ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ODOR WAS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HASTINGS FORD INC (3013 E 10TH ST, GREENVILLE, NC 27858, (252) 758-0114) WHERE IT WAS TEST DRIVEN AND DETERMINED THAT THE EXHAUST WAS LEAKING AT THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 25071531. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

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STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE APPEARED IN MY CAR AND I COULD NO LONGER MOVE THE STEERING AS IT GOT TOO HARD FOR NO REASON, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY I THINK IT IS THE DEFECT OF THE FORD FOR WHICH FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOLVING THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT CRASHES

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ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS A RECALL AND WAS REPLACED. REPLACEMENT PART HAS NOW GONE BAD ONCE AGAIN. FORD IS NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY IT PROVIDED FOR THIS PART. VEHICLE HAS NO STEERING POWER NOW. WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. UNABLE TO TURN LEFT CAUSING TO GO OFF THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO CORRECT AND TRAVELED TO DEALER TO FIND OUT THAT THE STEERING IS GONE.

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07/25- HAD RECALL ORDERED- TOE LINK ON BOTH SIDES, REAR. PERFORMED AT HARRISONBURG FORD, VA. ; 09/04 DRIVING ON ROUTE 33 IN VA, MOUNTAIN ROAD. HEARD GRINDING NOISE COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN, NOISE STEADILY INCREASED AND BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE A LOSS OF CONTROL. SLOWED DOWN AND A MILE FROM SHOP THE NOISE STOPPED. WENT TO RICE TIRE IN VA AND HAD IT CHECKED. THE BOLT HOLDING TOE LINK ON RIGHT SIDE HAD DISLODGED NEARLY COMPLETELY. HAD IT REPLACED AND TOLD TO GO TO FORD TO RE TORQUE BOTH SIDES.; 09/05 WENT TO FORD. WAS INFORMED THAT MECHANIC HAD HAND TORQUED THE BOLTS, ESSENTIALLY MISREAD INSTRUCTIONS. MANAGER ACTUALLY STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CALL MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS TO RE TORQUE THEIR TOE LINKS CORRECTLY AS WELL. I ASKED FOR ALIGNMENT AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WOULD SURELY AFFECT BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT, THIS WAS PERFORMED AS WELL. THEY BILLED IT TO RECALL WARRANTY DEPT.; 11/6 DRIVING ON 25 IN COLORADO SPRINGS 65 MPH, TRAFFIC STOPS AND AS I BREAK HEAVILY I LOSE CONTROL AND VEHICLE HOPS A LANE. NO ACCIDENT.; 11/07 TAKE VEHICLE TO FORD TO CHECK TOE LINKS, WAS TOLD BOTH NUTS WERE LOOSE, LEFT AND RIGHT, THE KNUCKLE ON ONE SIDE HAS SNAPPED THE BRAKES ARE BAD, ROTORS AND BACK 2 TIRES ARE BAD..I SPECIFICALLY ASKED , SAYS THAT THIS IS ALL RELATED. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WORN AS WELL, CLEARLY FROM COMPENSATION OF DRIVING WITH BAD TOE LINKS. I WAS TOLD SPECIFICALLY YES THIS IS ALL RELATED. FORD RECALL MANUFACTURER REFUSING TO COVER TOE LINKS AS WELL AS ALL ASSOCIATED DAMAGE, TOTALING OVER $3K. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND PERFORM REGULAR MAINT ON TIRES BRAKES AND ROTARS, ETC. AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF RECALL I HAVE HAD 2 LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS AND COMPLETE RUINATION OF MY VEHICLE SAFETY, AND ALOT OF DAMAGE INCURRED. RECEIPT OF RECALL ON 11/25 STATING EVERYTHING RELATED IS GREEN. NO WAY THIS DAMAGE IS NOT ASSOCIATED TO "NEW, SAFER" TOE LINKS.

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RECALL: 14V286000 RECALL DATE: 05/29/2014 COMPONENT: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM HELLO, I OWN A 2012 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. WE RECEIVED THE RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO FROM FORD. WE THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED. HERE RECENTLY, THE STEERING HAS INTERMITTENTLY BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WHEN FIRST STARTED UP AND FIRST MOVING. SO FAR, WE CAN REGAIN OPERATION BY SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESTARTING. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT FORD'S "FIX" FOR THIS RECALL DID NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. WE ARE NOW NERVOUS THAT THIS WILL SHOW UP WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE ARE NOW FACING THE HIGH COST OF REPLACING THE RACK AND PINION.

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I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER IN JUNE 2019. AFTER PURCHASING I NOTICED THE SMELL OF THE EXHAUST INSIDE THE VEHICLE .THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS I DROVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN DUE TO THE A.C. NOT WORKING PROPERLY . I CONTINUED SMELLING THE EXHAUST BUT FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO SEEK REPAIRS. WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES THE WINDOWS NOW CLOSED THE SMELL OF THE EXHAUST WAS MORE APPARENT AND I BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE HEADACHES, FREQUENT NAUSEA, FATIGUE AND SOME DIZZINESS AND CONFUSION. I WAS TOLD OF REPORTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE AND SPOKE TO FORD ABOUT REPAIRS AS WELL AS OTHER RECALLS NEEDED FOR MY EXPLORER. I TOOK MY CAR FOR THE REPAIRS TODAY AND AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUE STILL. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOMORROW AS THIS WASN'T REPAIRED. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY HEALTH AND HAVING THIS ISSUE NOT FIXED .

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