2012 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

79Engine complaints

9.6%Of all 820 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STEERING346 · 42.2%

Unspecified / other103 · 12.6%

ENGINE79 · 9.6%

STRUCTURE77 · 9.4%

STRUCTURE:BODY61 · 7.4%

Share of the 820 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE…”NHTSA complaint 10609349 — filed 07/09/2014

“I HAVE BEEN SMELLING EXHAUST INTO VEHICLE CABIN, LOOKED AT FORUMS, & FOUND 62 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS BY EXPLORER OWNERS, ON WWW.EXPLORERFORUM.COM, CALLED DEALER, TOOK…”NHTSA complaint 10605241 — filed 06/23/2014

“ON FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2014 MY WIFE AN I PRESTARTED THE CAR TO GO TO DINNER, AFTER ONLY 2 MINUTES THE CAR SHUT OF. UPON…”NHTSA complaint 10583656 — filed 04/19/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Explorer have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Ford Explorer: 79 of 820 complaints on file (9.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Ford Explorer have in total?

820 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 10 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.