2012 Ford Explorer defect investigations

Investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation that name the 2012 Ford Explorer. An investigation is how complaints can become a recall: complaints → investigation → (sometimes) TSB → recall.

• Windshield trim molding Item detachment
  Preliminary Evaluation PE23001 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Feb 8, 2024 · led to recall 24V031

  On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has receive…

• Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab
  Engineering Analysis EA17002 · opened Jul 27, 2017 · closed Jan 17, 2023

  During the EA17-002 investigation, the agency reviewed and analyzed reports of exhaust odors in the passenger cabins of Model Year 2011 to 2017 Ford Explorers. This investigation required an approach that incorporated knowledge and expertise from the automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety fi…

• Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor
  Preliminary Evaluation PE16008 · opened Jul 1, 2016 · closed Sep 12, 2017

  During the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration?s (NHTSA?s) investigation into the Ford carbon monoxide allegations, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) identified additional Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports with similar exhaust odor claims.Presently, ODI has identified 791 VOQs for Model Year …

• Electric power steering failure
  Preliminary Evaluation PE12017 · opened Jun 19, 2012 · closed Jun 12, 2014 · led to recall 14V286000

  On May 27, 2014 and amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist in approximately 179,027 model year (MY) 2011 through 2013 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with electric power ass…