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

2012 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4W. THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WENT IMMEDIATELY INTO LIMP MODE ON A MAJOR ROAD.THERE WAS NO WARNING AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. TOOK TO DEALER OCT.1 AND THEY KEPT IT TWO DAYS. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A CODE. DEALER SAID IT IS FIXED BY UPDATING AND CALIBRATING THE ABS SYSTEM. IT WAS NOT FIXED. . OCT 13 SAME LIGHT WENT ON AND CAR IMMEDIATELY INTO LIMP MODE ON EXPRESSWAY. NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT BECAUSE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 5MPH IN LIMP MODE. YOU LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE. THERE ARE 53+ CASES WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET JUST THIS YEAR. HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2016/ENGINE/WRENCH_LIGHT_ON.SHTML THIS HAPPENS SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO SHUTTER AND VIBRATE AND IMMEDIATE BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN TO 5MPH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE SPEED OF THE CAR OR THE TRANSMISSION.. PLEASE GOOGLE (TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT LIGHT) AND SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE FORD CARS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM THERE ARE 3 YOUTUBES SHOWING THIS PROBLEM. THEY CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ANYONE WHO HAD A TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LIGHT THAT GOES ON WHILE DRIVING WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME DANGEROUS SITUATION

NHTSA ODI 11140260

WATER LEAKS FROM ROOF RACK AND CRACKS IN WELDING AROUND TAIL-GATE ROOF AND WELDING AROUND HINGES. WATER IS POOLING AND STANDING IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL. WATER IS RUNNING DOWN THE DRIVER SIDE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT, DOWN THE SOUND PROOFING/ INSULATOR PAD OVER THE FRAME, WICKING ONTO THE SPARE TIRE COVER AND FLOOR COVER. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ON THE INTERNET, FOUND MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND FORD DEALERS ARE NOT ADDRESSING IT.

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WHEN TRYING TO MAKE AN UNPROTECTED LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN, I PRESSED THE GAS AND MY CAR DIDN'T MOVE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS ONCE IT DOD MOVE IT TOOK A FEW MORE SECONDS FOR IT TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY TO SAFELY MAKE MY TURN. THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THE LANE I WAS CROSSING OVER FOR THE TURN HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY BECAUSE MY CAR DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION FAST ENOUGH. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TURBO BOOST WAS BAD. I HAVE A 2012 ECO BOOST MODEL AND IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS 'UNDER BOOST' WHICH WASN'T ALLOWING MY CAR TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND WOULD EVENTUALLY GIVE OUT COMPLETELY NOT ALLOWING ME TO ACCELERATE AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11132214

"POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" WARNING WHEN STARTING THE CAR CAN USUALLY BE RESOLVED BY RESTARTING THE CAR AND HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE POWER STEERING (WHICH IS COMPLETELY ELECTRONIC--NO PULLEY OR HYDRAULICS) IS NOW FAILING WHILE DRIVING MAKING THE CAR NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS BECAUSE YOU'RE FIGHTING THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR IN THE EPAS SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11123392

MY VEHICLE HAS FAILURE ON THE ELECTRONIC POWER ATEERING ASSIST, AS NOTED ON RECALL CAMPAIN 14V286000 BY NHTSA FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL LIST. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER ON ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MAKING ATEERING HARD. TODAY WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY PROBLEM HAPPENED FOR THE THIRD TIME, HAD SOME TROUBLE GETTING OUT OF HIGHWAY, I NEED TO MIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF VEHICLE FOR SOME TIME AND TURNED BACK ON TO RESTART THE ELECTRONICS.

NHTSA ODI 11121555

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, SHUT OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROSSROADS FORD OF SANFORD (3251 NC-87, SANFORD, NC 27332, (888) 352-5045) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,362. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11121216

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES SOON AFTER BEING FIXED AT DEALER. LITERALLY WENT ON PRIOR TO DRIVING HOME FROM DEALER ONLY TO TURN AROUND AND BRING IT BACK. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST YEAR. NO ONE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION: IS THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM DISMANTLED WHILE ON? IF YOU TURN CAR OFF AND ON IT WILL DISAPPEAR AND COME ON SOON AFTER. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. BEEN DEALING WITH THIS CONSTANTLY SINCE PRIOR TO AUGUST 2017

NHTSA ODI 11115165

AFTER PARKING MY VEHICLE IN MY DRIVE WAY (VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED) I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING FORWARDS DOWN MY SLOPPED DRIVEWAY. I ATTEMPTED TO CHASE THE VEHICLE HOPING TO JUMP IN AND APPLY THE BRAKE BUT WAS UNABLE TO. VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING MY FENCE, BUSHES, AND A SMALL TREE. THERE WAS BODY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11112762

THE VEHICLE AT START UP HAS DISABLED POWER STEERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO BE STEERED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN A DRIVEWAY AND WAS ABOUT TO PLACE INTO DRIVE GEAR WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND COULD NO LONGER TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI 11103030

SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11100489

TOOK MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER IN TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED AND THE NEXT DAY THERE WAS AN "ODOR" COMING INTO THE CAB AS WELL AS OUTSIDE OF CABIN AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WHEN I STOPPED AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11100124

THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN TWICE ON 5/23/18 THE WRENCH ICON APPEARS AGAIN, LOST POWER, NO ACCELERATION, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART..MADE AN APPOINTMENT BACK TO COGGINS FORD AND THEY CHECKED AND STILL THERE IS NO CODE TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY SUGGEST THAT IT MIGHT BE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY IF I WANT TO REPLACE IT BUT NOT GUARANTEE. WITH MY APPROVAL I AM TAKING MY CHANCES TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE I AM SCARED I WILL BE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I WILL NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I HOPE THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM AND ALSO HOPING THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11098258

THE WIPERS WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON EVEN IF THE SWITCH IS OFF. I HAVE FOUND THAT I HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ON TO THE HIGHEST SETTING THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN THEM OFF YOU GET THE WIPERS TO STAY OFF. MY SECOND PROBLEM IS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL TURN ON AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I CAN GO WEEKS OR MONTHS WITH OUT IT TURNING ON BUT I CAN ALSO GO WEEKS WITH IT STAYING ON 24/7. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT AND THE ANSWER I GOT WAS 'WE ARE NOT SURE WHY IT'S DOING IT BUT JUST PUT A TOWEL ON THE DASH TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING HOT AND THAT SHOULD FIX IT MAYBE'. I HAVE FOUND THAT WHILE DRIVING IF MY WIFE TURNS AROUND TO GET/GIVE SOMETHING TO OUR CHILD THE LIGHT WILL TURN ON WHEN SHE FULLY SITS BACK DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11098067

SYNC SYSTEM DIED- NO SCREEN/NO USB POWER/NO NAVIGATION/NO HEAT/COOL CONTROL/NO RADIO/NO HAND-FREE PHONE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY- UNABLE TO RESTART OR REBOOT.

NHTSA ODI 11097285

THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER FOLLOW UP COMPLAINT ABOUT THE POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTION AND REDUCED POWER THAT HAPPEN ON 5/12/2018. AS I MENTIONED IN MY LAST COMPLAINT THAT I TOOK IT TO COGGINS FORD IN JACKSONVILLE ON 5/14/18 AND THEY CHECKED MY CAR AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT THEY TEST DROVED AND CHECKED BUT NO CODES SO THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING AND HE ADVISED TO KEEP ON DRIVING UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND TO BRING IT BACK. NOW, I AM NERVOUS DRIVING THIS CAR, IT MIGHT PUT ME AND MY PASSENGERS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF SUDDENLY THIS HAPPEN AGAIN LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND IT CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, INJURY OR DEATH. I HOPE FORD WILL INVESTIGATE AND HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SPEED OF 60 MILES PER HOUR AND SUDDENLY THE WRENCH ICON SHOWS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF MY STEERING WHEEL AND MY CAR SPEED IS SLOWING DOWN. I TRIED TO PUSH MY ACCELERATOR HARDER BUT IT WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED, SO I PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF MY ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I STARTED MY CAR AND IT STARTS AND DROVE HOME WITH A LOW SPEED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO COGGINS FORD IN JACKSONVILLE,FL.05/14/2018. I WILL FOLLOW UP ON THE RESULT.

NHTSA ODI 11093488

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, LOST POWER AND SPEED DROPPED. IT WAS LIKE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD, IT WAS SO SCARY ON HIGHWAY TO LOOSE POWER NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS!!! CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TAKING TO FORD DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT THAT ECOBOOST TURBO HAD BLOWN AND SEIZED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11089077

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ODOR BEING EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST THAT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO FEEL NAUSEOUS AND DIZZY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARBER FORD (640 E 8TH ST. HOLLAND, MICHIGAN 49423) ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE VOLUNTARY FORD EXHAUST CAMPAIGN COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE HE WAS EXPERIENCING WAS NOT PART OF THE VOLUNTARY FORD EXHAUST CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 11084196

DRIVERS SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, SPRING SPRUNG, AND DOOR HANDLE IS ALMOST ALL THE WAY OPEN. JUST BY TOUCHING IT, THE DOOR OPENS. WITH THIS BEING A FRONT DOOR, THE LOCK WONT ALLOW IT NOT TO OPEN. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAY MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED. THEY SAID THE VIN NUMBER ISN'T PART OF THIS RECALL, YET IT IS THE SAME ISSUE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR. THE RECALL NUMBER IS15S11.

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SUDDEN GRINDING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SUSPECT IT IS RELATED TO A PREMATURELY FAILING STEERING GEAR BOX. OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI 11083650

SOMETIMES MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND I CAN NOT MOVE AND I AM DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN AND THAT SCARED ME I'VE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK TWICE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO FIND NOTHING. NOW MY VECHILE IS STARTING TO SHAKE WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I'M TIRED OF TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR NOTHING. I'VE TAKEN TO 2 DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THE SAME THING. IT'S ALWAYS WHEN I'M DRIVING. IT'S ALL I THE DEALERSHIP PAPERS. I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THIS . IT STARTED ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER I GOT IT. I WOULD NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND FAILED TO MANEUVER AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (LUGOFF FORD, 979 HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH, LUGOFF, SC 29078), BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11074049

I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE CARBON MONOXIDE IN MY FORD EXPLORER. I WAS DRIVING A FRIEND OF MY TO LUNCH AND SHE GOT INSANELY RED AND BROKE OUT IN HIVES THE MINUTE I TURNED THE HEAT ON. I RIDE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR IN THE CABIN WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD WHO HAS ASTHMA. THERE IS ALWAYS A SMELL WHEN YOU TURN EITHER THE AIR OR THE HEAT ON.

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YOU CAN SMELL EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CAB OF VEHICLE, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING I GET A HEADACHE AND DIZZY AND HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN FOR THE DIZZINESS TO GO AWAY. SOUNDS LIKE A SIMPLE FIX HOWEVER WHEN ITS 8 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND YOU HAVE CHILDREN YOU CANT REALLY BE ROLLING THE WINDOWS DOWN. SINCE HAVING THIS VEHICLE I HAVE GONE TO THE HOSPITAL/DOCTORS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR FATIGUE AND HEADACHES TO WHICH I HAVE HAD TO GET TREATMENT. I USED TO SPEND MY LUNCH HOUR AT WORK IN MY VEHICLE AND NOW I CANT DO THIS BECAUSE I WILL GET NAUSEOUS AND FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO FAINT. I AM SCARED TO BE TRANSPORTING MY CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE DUE TO THIS NOW. AFTER LOOKING INTO WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY CAR I FOUND MANY MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES AND I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY FORD HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS YET TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM HOPING THIS HELPS FORD REALIZE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. MOST PEOPLE WITH THESE SUVS ARE PARENTS WITH KIDS. NOT SURE HOW FORD CAN FEEL OKAY WITH THEMSELVES OVER PUTTING CHILDREN IN THE SITUATION OF INHALING CARBON MONOXIDE. IF IT WAS AN OPTION FOR US I WOULD PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT FINANCIALLY AN OPTION AT THIS MOMENT. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2016.

NHTSA ODI 11072160

DIZZINESS, NAUSEA FROM DRIVING VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2016. AUTO IN MOTION. WHEN DRIVING AUTO 1-30 MILES OR MORE, WHEN I GOT OUT OF CAR I WAS DIZZY AND AT TIMES HAD TO HOLD ONTO A POLE OR ANYTHING NEAR ME TO REGAIN BALANCE. I FELT TIRED ALL THE TIME. I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 FORD EXPEDITION IN JAN 02, 2017 AND I HAVE NOT BEEN DIZZY SINCE. I NOTICED CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARTICLE IN THE RIDES SECTION OF SUNDAY FEB. 4TH, 2018 ISSUE WRITTEN BY PHOEBE WALL HOWARD OF DETROIT PRESS AND IT HIT A NERVE WITH ME THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. HIGH CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL IN CAR CABIN.

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