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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENDER AND PUMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED SINCE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 10715124

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE A WHILE AGO AND TOOK MY CAR IN RIGHT AWAY FOR THE SOFTWARE FIX. NOT LONG AFTER THAT, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING. 2 WEEKS AGO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED. THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. 7 DAYS LATER I GOT IN MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY GOT A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD AND COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT ONCE IT WAS THERE, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE. NOW, 5 DAYS LATER, MY CAR IS STILL THERE AND THE ONLY THING THEY KEEP TELLING ME IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I SENT THE SERVICE REP A LINK TO MULTIPLE WEBSITES WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WHICH CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY BUT THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WON'T FIX IT UNTIL THEY SEE IT HAPPEN FOR THEMSELVES EVEN THOUGH THEY RETRIEVED THE ERROR CODE FROM THE DIAGNOSTICS IN THE CAR. I CONTACTED A FORD REP DIRECTLY AND GOT AN EMAIL MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL REP WHO ALSO SAID THAT IF THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM THERE IS NO REPAIR. SO, UNLESS IT HAPPENS AGAIN WHILE THEY HAVE IT I'LL HAVE TO JUST DRIVE IT AND HOPE THAT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN AGAIN IT ISN'T IN A SITUATION THAT INJURES ME OR A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY. ALSO, IF IT DOES HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE I'M DRIVING BUT DOESN'T GO OUT PERMANENTLY IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THEY'LL ONLY FIX IT IF IT HAPPENS TO THEM NO MATTER WHAT CODES ARE PRESENT IN THE SYSTEM. SO IT APPEARS THAT INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS OK FOR FORD SINCE THEY'LL ONLY REPAIR IT IF THEY EXPERIENCE IT NO MATTER WHAT THE CAR DIAGNOSTICS SAY! HOW MANY FORD OWNERS ARE ON THE ROAD NOW JUST WAITING FOR THEIR POWER STEERING TO GO COMPLETELY OUT? HOW IS THIS A SAFE POLICY? I SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10715146

I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM THE MALL ON A SINGLE LANE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE VEHICLE JUST QUIT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS GLIDING WITHOUT POWER, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE CAR STOPPED BY ITSELF. WHILE THE CAR WAS GLIDING TO A STOP, THERE WAS NO STEERING BRAKES OR ANYTHING AVAILABLE, SINCE THE ENGINE HAD CUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY. LUCKILY I DID NOT GET HIT BY ANYONE. I FINALLY PULLED OVER, RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE AGAIN. IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE CAR STALLED AGAIN WITH NO CONTROLS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES WITHIN A SPACE OF 15 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND HAD TO SPEND $1000 FIXING IT, WHICH THEY BLAMED ON THE THROTTLE ACTIVATION OR BODY. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL SITUATION, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NO CONTROLS WHEN IT STALLED. I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER FORDS AND LINCOLN VEHICLES ON THE WEB. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH SHOULD BE FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN TO SOMEONE AND RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. I FEEL LIKE FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIX TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713749

TRAVELED TO FLORIDA FROM PENNSYLVANIA FOR VACATION. WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE DEVELOPED LINE OF SMALL BUBBLES VERTICALLY WHILE SITTING IN HOTEL PARKING LOT. WINDSHIELD THEN CRACKED IN MIDDLE IN A "Z" FORMATION. ITS A RATHER LARGE CRACK AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT FRONT WINDOW. I BELIEVE THE WINDOW IS DEFECTIVE LIKE THE FORD E SERIES WINDSHIELDS. I CONTACTED FORD BUT AS USUAL THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10704571

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED TO BLOW HOT AIR WHICH PREVENTED THE WINDOWS FROM DEFROSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN ALSO, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. UPDATED 01/26/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10703389

ON DECEMBER 27TH 2014 I PURCHASED A USED 2012 FORD EXPLORER WITH 42,990 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOTICED UNDER ACCELERATING, YOU CAN SMELL THE EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN. ANY HARDER THAN 50% ACCELERATION AND WITH THE REAR AC ON, IT IS AN ALMOST INSTANT SMELL. AFTER A FEW ROADS TRIPS IT IS PREDICTABLE AND WE TRY TO AVOID REPEATING THE ISSUE. IT HAS NOT BEEN TO OUR LCAL DEALER BECAUSE THEY "HAVEN'T HEARD" OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE (CALLED 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS). I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT THE CAR, PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR, MY $100 EXTENDED WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE, AND GET THE, "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE CAN BE FROM." I HAVE HEARD AND READ ALLOT OF SEMI FIXES, BUT WISH I COULD GET A STRAIT ANSWER BEFORE TAKING TO THE DEALER FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703134

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT. NO EXPLANATION FOR THE SHATTERED GLASS. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15 DEGREE F. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676380

IN A PARKING LOT ON A FRIDAY DEC.19 AT 6AM, THE STEERING ASSIST DASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND IN SAME INSTANCE, STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER, BUT WAS ABLE TO BRING MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED TO A STOP. RESTARTING THE CAR ENABLED STEERING. I NOTIFIED MY SPOUSE WHO CALLED DEALERSHIP AND ARRANGED FOR A SERVICE VISIT THE NEXT MONDAY. DEALER HONORED RECALL ( 14S06 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ) FOR ISSUE BY FLASHING THE SOFTWARE. MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER WAS PRESENTED TO ME AS REPAIRED & FIXED AND READY TO DRIVE IN A SAFE MANNER. SAME EVENT OCCURRED JAN. 8 AT 8PM IN A PARKING LOT. I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO SAME DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. THE DEALER CALLED AND STATED THE RACK & PINION AND SEVERAL STEERING MODULES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. DEALER THEN STATED YOU ONLY GET ONE (1) FORD RECALL SERVICE FOR AN EVENT AND ANY FURTHER WORK WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT WHICH WAS NOT A SOLUTION, ALL COSTS ($1700-$2300 FOR RACK & PINION/ASSOCIATED PARTS CONTRASTED TO A VIRTUALLY NO COST SOFTWARE UPDATE DONE UNDER THE RECALL AS A POTENTIAL FIX(THUS USING UP YOUR RECALL AND CLOSING YOUR CASE, WHEN THE RECALL ADDRESSES THE PARTS FAILURE) ARE BORNE BY THE VEHICLE OWNER EVEN IF IT STILL A RECALL EVENT. DEALER DID STATE THEY WOULD CHECK WHAT FORD WOULD DO SINCE THE SECOND EVENT OCCURRED 2 WEEKS AND 600 MILES LATER. BASICALLY, FORD HAS DEVELOPED A POLICY TO CIRCUMVENT COVERING THE COST OF A MANDATED SAFETY RECALL. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A BUSINESS-AS-USUAL PRACTICE FOR FORD FOR THIS STEERING LOCK UP RECALL. BOTTOM LINE - FORD IS KEEPING UNSAFE VEHICLES, WHICH HAVE A RECALL NOTICE, ON THE ROAD AS PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS OR STAMINA TO FIGHT FORD, LEAVE THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE SAME UNREPAIRED SAFETY DEFECT PRESENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671469

I WENT TO UNLOCK MY VEHICLE AND THE SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND TO UNLOCK MY DOORS. I UNLOCKED MY DOORS MANUALLY AND THERE WAS NO LIGHTING INDICATOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. I PLACED MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THERE WAS STILL NO POWER. I HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND BARELY USE IT. HOW CAN A VEHICLE LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD JUST STOP WORKING ALTOGETHER? THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO PUT OUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING JUST TO GET IT TO A PLACE WHERE IT CAN BE CHECKED OUT. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH FORD VEHICLES? I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10662697

WE HAVE 74000 MILES ON OUR 2012 FORD EXPLORER. I WAS DOING THE 6000 MILE SERVICE, CHANGE OIL AND FILTER, ROTATE TIRES, CHECK FLUIDS, BRAKE INSPECTION, AND DO INSPECT OTHER AREAS. I WAS IN THE PROCESS TORQUEING THE LUG NUTS AFTER THE TIRE ROTATION. I USE A CRAFTSMAN TORQUE 1/2" DRIVE RATCHET FOR THIS. ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL 1 OUT OF THE 5 WHEEL STUDS WOULD NOT TORQUE TOO THE 100 FT. POUNDS. THE STUDS ON EACH WHEEL STRETCH AND ARE READY TO BREAK. WHY WOULD FORD USE INFERIOR MEDAL IN SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT. WE RECENTLY OWNED A 2001 DODGE DURANGO AND BOUGHT IT NEW. WE HAD OVER 200,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. AND TO REPLACE THESE FORD DIDN'T ALLOW ENOUGH ROOM. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL HUB AND BEARING. WHICH I TRIED AFTER REMOVING THE 4 BOLTS AND AXLE NUT. IT WOULD NOT COME OUT. I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE 2 DIFFERENT MEDALS. THE ALUMINUM HOUSING AND THE STEEL BEARING HUB WAS FIND WHEN IT'S NEW BUT GIVE TIME IN THE ELEMENTS AND CORROSION SETS IN. I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TAKE IT BACK TO FORD DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. I DON'T TRUST THE OTHER WHEEL STUDS AND WANT ALL REPLACE FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. PLEASE HELP ON THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE MEDAL IS TO SOFT FOR WHEEL STUDS. THANK YOU. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10661374

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER XLT, IT LOST ALL POWER FOR THE 4TH TIME. WHEN I PRESSED THE THROTTLE THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. INDICATOR LIGHTS SAID AWD OFF AND DISPLAYED A WRENCH ICON. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST THREE TIMES I TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED IT AND ALL WAS FINE FOR A FEW MINUTES, BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS QUITE A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OTHER FORD AND LINCOLN OWNERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF ANYWHERE IS NOT SAFE AND CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW LIGHT AND I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE FORD DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. IT IS GOING TO COST ME AN ARM AND LEG, BUT HOPEFULLY IT ENDS UP BEING A SAFETY RECALL AND FORD REIMBURSES DOWN THE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10661311

INVESTIGATION OF INTERMITTENT "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT EVENTUALLY LED TO A DETERMINATION OF A FAULTY EVAP PURGE VALVE PULLING FUEL INTO THE EVAP CANISTER. TECHNICIAN SAID HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AS THIS IS A FUEL LEAK AND UNSAFE CONDITION. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED SAFETY ISSUE, CITES 1ST TIME THIS HAS BEEN SEEN, AND NOT COVERED BY ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. PAPERWORK PROVIDED CITES "A FAULTY EVAP PURGE VALVE CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE ENGINE VACUUM TO BE PLACED ON FUEL TANK, DRAWING FUEL/AIR FROM THE FUEL TANK THROUGH THE EVAP SYSTEM AND INTO ENGINE. THIS CAN CAUSE DRIVABILITY CONCERNS AS WELL AS RICH/LEAN CONCERN." *TR

NHTSA ODI 10658792

AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THE 2012 FORD EXPLORER WE NOTICED A VERY FOUL EXHAUST SMELL FROM INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE EXPLORER. WE WOULD SMELL THE ODOR UNDER ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN RPMS REACHED 3,000 PLUS. THIS PARTICULAR ODOR SMELL UNDER THE ABOVE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED EVER SINCE. WE DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF THE SMELL UNTIL WE BEGAN RESEARCHING IT RECENTLY AND CAME ACROSS SEVERAL SOURCES INDICATING THIS COULD BE HARMFUL TO OUR HEALTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10654067

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP. WAS TOLD BY FORD DEALER IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE YET THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE IT TO THEM TO BE REPAIRED WHICH THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE ME FOR. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD IN FULL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652906

I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR AND THE MOLDING FROM AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD FLEW OFF AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER 10-15 MILES THE LEFT HAND MOLDING ON THE WINDSHIELD ALSO BLEW OFF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TROUBLE FOR ANY ONE BEHIND ME OR TO THE SIDE OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10651997

WE OWN A 2012 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND ARE VERY PLEASED WITH IT OVERALL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT OUR INTERIOR DOOR PANEL ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES IS SPLITTING ON THE VINYL SEAM JUST BELOW THE ARM REST. OUR VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 55K ON IT FOR MILEAGE, SO ANY HOPE OF THIS BEING COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IS GONE. I HAVE CONTACTED AN UPHOLSTERY REPAIR SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT IS VINYL, BUT WILL INSTEAD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I RECENTLY GOT AN ESTIMATE AND FOR PARTS AND LABOR IT WOULD COST US ALMOST $600 TO REPAIR BOTH SIDES. BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION ON BOTH INTERIOR DOORS, I FEEL THAT THIS IS FAULTY DESIGN AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652113

POWER STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT. MUST SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTART TO RECOVER POWER STEERING. HAPPENS OFTEN. TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND SOURCE OF PROBLEM WAS NOT ISOLATED OR FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10648610

I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 35MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WRENCH LIGHT ON THE ENGINE CAME ON I LOST ALL POWER TO THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO COAST TO STOP, TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, START IT BACK UP AND PROCEED. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES SINCE THE ORIGINAL DATE. ONE OF THOSE TIMES WAS WHEN I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS HAPPENING WITH NO WARNING OR PATTERN. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED WITH MANY FORD EXPLORER OWNERS. I AM READING IT HAS TO DO WITH THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643084

THE THROTTLE BOX HAS GONE BAD. THE CAR STALLS RANDOMLY WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A START AND REQUIRES A NEW THROTTLE BODY AT ONLY 47K MILES. THIS IS PART OF THE POWERTRAIN, BUT NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. FORD HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE BODIES IN EARLIER MODELS AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVEN'T FIXED IT YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643166

THE POWER STEERING PUMP QUIT WORKING 2 TIMES ON MY MOTHERS SUV. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD TWICE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIX IT THE FIRST TIME. SAW RECALL BUT EXPLORER WAS NOT IN THE LIST. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON BOTH OCCURRENCES. IT IS MY ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT THIS ISSUE. I ALSO WORK IN AUTOMOTIVE FIELD AND I KNOW THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. I DO NOT WANT MY MOTHER OR ANY INDIVIDUAL HURT DUE TO LACK OF INVESTIGATION. I EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION. THE DEALERSHIP CAN PULL UP ALL INFO, A RENTAL WAS PROVIDED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANAGE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, A WEAKER DRIVER, PHYSICALLY, WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10641834

WE HAVE A 2012 FORD EXPLORER WITH 46,000 MILES AT THIS TIME. ON AUGUST 30, 2014, WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, AND THE POWERTRAIN/WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DISPLAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CAR WAS SHAKING LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND IT STARTED UP FINE, AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF. WE DROVE ANOTHER 100 MILES WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 1 GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP WHO NOTICED THAT THE VOLTAGE WAS DROPPING FROM 14 VOLTS DOWN TO 12VOLTS AND SHUTTING DOWN THE COMPUTERS (SO THEY SAID). THEY CHANGED OUT THE ALTERNATOR- $560. EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 20 WHEN THE CAR DID THE SAME THING TWICE AGAIN, ABOUT 10 MINUTES APART, GOING 70 MPH (CAR LOST POWER, WRENCH LIGHT ON, HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART). I TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER WITHIN 2 DAYS; THEY DROVE THE CAR 55 MILES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT. THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES PRESENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THEY SAID TO COME GET THE CAR AND KEEP DRIVING IT. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS LIKELY A THROTTLE BODY (ETB) MALFUNCTION. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR (NOT WHERE IT WAS NOW) AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO A SERVICE MANAGER WITH 19 YEARS EXPERIENCE. HE SAID IT WAS LIKELY THE THROTTLE BODY SINCE THE CAR WOULD RESTART. HE SAID ONLY 2 THINGS TRIGGER THE WRENCH LIGHT- THE TRANSMISSION AND THE THROTTLE BODY. SINCE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER RIDE IN THIS CAR, I DECIDED TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ON SEPTEMBER 24 - $470. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR AS FORD SUGGESTED, WITH AN INTERMITTENT CUT-OFF PROBLEM, WAS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME SO I DECIDED TO MAKE AN EDUCATED GUESS/DIAGNOSIS AND THROW PARTS AT IT AND SEE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10639941

MY CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND MY CAR JUST SUDDENLY STALLED. I SAW AN "AWD OFF" MESSAGE ON MY DASH. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO THE FOOT PEDDLE. I HIT THE BRAKES AND KILLED THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND CONTINUE ON TO WORK. I JUST ASSUMED THAT I HAD SOMEONE HIT THE GEAR INTO THAT MODE. BUT IT HAPPENED A 2ND AND THEN A 3RD TIME THAT SAME WEEK. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AROUND THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST. BEFORE I BROUGHT THE CAR, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR OTHER RELATED COMPLAINTS FROM FORD OWNERS. I FOUND A SITE AT WWW.CARGURUS.COM AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. ONE OWNER SAID THAT HIS DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE "THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY" AND HE HAS NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM AGAIN. I BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO MY DEALERSHIP AND I PAID THEM $99.00 FOR THIS SERVICE CALL. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, BUT THEY DID DO SOME SORT OF SERVICE NOTICE THAT I HAD NOT YET DONE ON MY CAR. THEY HOPED IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT DID FOR ABOUT A MONTH. BUT THIS WEEK, IT HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES. YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AND I AM HOPING THAT THEY WILL FIND THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY IS THE ISSUE. IF NOT, THEN I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT I MAY BE REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE I AM TRYING TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORD MUST KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE "AWD OFF" ERROR CODE. I DO NOT INTEND TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR!! MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD BE PAYING FOR ANY CAR/ENGINE REPAIRS ON SUCH A YOUNG VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638639

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRENCH WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPEATEDLY BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 10638196

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY HAS FAILED AND VEHICLE WILL STALL. THROTTLE WILL NOT WORK. YOU ARE STRANDED UNTIL YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638186

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 14S06/NHTSA RECALL 14V-286 WE RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM FMC. KNOWING WE HAD A TRIP COMING UP, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO KEN GARFF FORD IN UTAH FOR SERVICING AND TO HAVE THE RECALL CORRECTED. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE ISSUE SO I WENT ON MY WAY. I DROVE A SINGLE GAS TANKS WORTH (APPX 400 MILES) AND THEN EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL. POWER STEERING FAILED, TRACTION CONTROL FAILED, TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAILED. THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR WHICH FORD ISSUED THE RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS NOW TELLING ME THAT THEY COMPLETELY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IT IS MY FAULT THAT THESE SYSTEMS FAILED. THEY WANT ME TO BELIEVE AN ELABORATE TALE ABOUT HOW I HAVE DRIVEN MY EXPLORER 72000 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND SUDDENLY, AFTER THE RECALL GETS FIXED, I THEN HAVE THAT EXACT PROBLEM? THAT IS A SNEAKY LIE THAT MIGHT WORK ON SOMEONE MORE PASSIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR FAMILY ON A VACATION AND THIS INCIDENT STRANDED US IN MERIDIAN, IDAHO, WHERE OUR VEHICLE CURRENTLY SITS 6 WEEKS LATER. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN A SAFETY RECALL IS ISSUED AND "FIXED" IT SHOULDN'T CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE CONSUMER ANYMORE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS PROBLEM CAUSED. IT ALSO SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS AWFULLY CONVENIENT FOR FMC THAT MY CAR BROKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS "FIXED". SO NOW I AM LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. HOW NICE FOR FMC. MEANWHILE, IT TOOK FMC 6 WEEKS TO GET THE PART TO THE DEALERSHIP IN IDAHO SO THEY COULD "FIX" THE ISSUE. WE'LL SEE HOW LONG IT HOLDS UP THIS TIME. I AM STILL WAITING TO GET MY CAR BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633441