2012 Ford Explorer Electrical Problems

Your steering wheel became very stiff and wouldn't turn on at least three separate occasions while driving, forcing you to stop and restart the vehicle each time. A power steering assist warning light appeared on the dashboard. The first dealer couldn't duplicate the problem, but a second dealer found that corrosion had built up around the grounding bolts in the electrical system, which was preventing power steering from working properly. The fix involved cleaning and reinstalling the corroded grounding bolts to restore electrical connection.

Your backup camera has been malfunctioning in the same way Ford described in a recent recall, but your 2012 Explorer doesn't appear to be included in that recall. You're concerned about why your vehicle wasn't covered given that it's experiencing the same issue. A fix would likely involve either replacing the backup camera assembly or updating the camera system's wiring and connections.

My vehicles power steering alert came on suddenly while driving home. My cars steering wheel completely locked up while I had my children in my vehicle. It was very scary knowing we could have been in a wreck due to this issue. It’s. Not under recall but under the customer satisfaction program but I do not have funds to cover this. No dealership near me is able to tow and a tow would be a lot for me. I had a family friend tow us when my steering went out in town but was still charged an arm. I need this looked at because there’s been recalls for this before. My families lives were put at risk and that’s completely unacceptable.

Sometimes putting it in reverse the rear camera doesn’t come on. Have to wait sometimes a minute before camera will come on. It doesn’t happen all the time. I read that ford is having problems and has a recall on some vehicles but my year doesn’t show up.

Back-up camera will display images backward and poses a collision hazard as driver won’t know which direction cars or pedestrians are coming from.

There is a recall on the trim. There are no replacement parts and now there is a tiny leak, The leak is hitting the center console. I have to have a plastic bag over it at all times. it at one point leaked into the hazards lights and I woke up multiple days in a row to find my hazards on and then I had to manually dry it and eventually they'd go back on . Other buttons on the display have stopped working. The fan for the heater will not turn off at all ever.

See attached document for complaint

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after receiving a map update on the main control panel, the display screen immediately blacked out. The contact stated that when updating the ATI system map, the main control panel screen completely blacked out. The contact was unable to use any of the electrical systems including the Back Over Prevention camera. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was diagnosed that the ATI system had failed due to the map update. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

The part that is needed for the suv to work called the body module chip is not made by Ford anymore and I am still paying on this vehicle

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed, the warning indicator lights illuminated. The service power steering, traction control, anti-lock brakes became inoperable. The turn signal handle failed to remain down. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who cleared the codes. The contact called the local dealer who referred her to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who informed her she failed to meet the requirements for the customer satisfaction program and referred her to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000 The consumer stated the local mechanic completed the job and the power steering, traction control, anti lock brakes, and turn signal have been working properly ever since..

ABS Trac light came on while driving Car was taken to the dealership twice to fix the problem but Ford wasn't able to find the problem. I know there is a problem with the Ford Focus ABS Module due to recalls and I think on the Ford Explore but Ford isn't saying anything about this problem with the ABS module.

WATER IS LEAKING FROM THE ROOF THAT CAUSES ELECTRICAL ISSUES. BAD DESIGN BY FORD IN WHICH SEAL SEAMS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, WHICH CAUSE LEAKS INSIDE VEHICLE.

MY TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES 🔥 AND BURN TO THE GROUND WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY. *TR

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

LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE WINDOWS LOCK UP, AND THE CAR BLOWS CONSTANT HEAT THROUGH DEFROST. NO HAZARDS CAN BE USED AS THE ENTIRE CONTROL PANEL IS OUT. VERY UNSAFE WITHOUT HAZARDS, LET ALONE FULL BLOWN HEAT WHEN ITS ALREADY . 105 OUTSIDE WITH THE HEAT INDEX.

THE CONTROL PANEL THAT SHOWS THE REAR BACKING AND THEN SWITCHES TO CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE, RADIO, SEATS, ETC HAS FAILED. THERE IS NO BACKING ASSIST OR ANY CONTROLS FOR INTERIOR FUNCTIONS. THE FEATURE STOPPED WHEN IN MOTION AND HASN'T COME BACK ON SINCE.

THE CAR HAS WATER LEAKS, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL FUNCTION AND FEAR OF FIRE OR CONTACT IN MY CAR .

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - AIR BAGS COULD MALFUNCTION AT ANYTIME DUE TO MISCOMMUNICATION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AIR BAGS CAN DEPLOY AT ANYTIME OR CAN FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN NECESSARY. AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND STAYS ON. ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED. SEAT BELT BUCKLE REPLACED, AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MODULE REPLACED, PROGRAM CONTROL MODULE AIR BAG REPROGRAMED. LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON. HAS A WIRE HARNESS ISSUE L/F DOOR MODULE SRS - WIRING LOOM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PRETENSIONER HAS FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN CREATED ON FORD'S END BLAMING THE CONNECT. SEE TSB 12-5-11. IT TELLS THE MECHANIC TO INJECT DIELECTRIC GREASE AS A FIX.

MY VEHICLES AIR TURNS ON ON IT'S OWN AS YOU DRIVE. THIS IS NOT THE AC NOR HEATER. AS YOU DRIVE YOU CAN HEAR YOUR AIR VENTS TURN ON AND YOU SMELL A FOUL SMELL AND THE AIR PUSHING THROUGH THE VENTS IS MUGGY STICKY AIR THAT MAKES YOUR SKIN FEEL CLAMMY. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE AND HAD BEEN "REPAIRED" HOWEVER, THE AIR CONTINUES TO PUSH THROUGH THE VENTS WHETHER YOU HAVE THE SWITCH SET TO ON OR NOT.

MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T TURN. WHAT I HAVE READ IS ONCE IT ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY I'M CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. FORD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT TRYING TO FIX THIS IS VERY UNACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE.

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AT HTTP://WWW.EXPLORERFORUM.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/AIR-BAG-LIGHT-SEAT-BELT-WARNING.349429/ THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL OF THE FIFTH GENERATION FORD EXPLORERS. ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS UNDER THE SEATS THAT RUN TO THE SEAT WEIGHT SENSORS ARE HAVING CONTINUITY ISSUES AND CAUSING AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STARTING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A" KEY NOT RECOGNIZED START CAR" MESSAGE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG FUEL AND BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER CALIBRATIONS NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUMES IN THE VEHICLE AFFECTING HER CHILDREN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

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.

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

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

WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED V6 WITH ECOBOOST SYSTEM UP A HILL I HAD TO STOPPED BEHIND A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS. I TRIED TO GIVE THE VEHICLE A LITTLE GAS TO EDGE UP THE HILL AND THE TRUCK CUT OFF. SINCE I WAS IN DRIVE THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL I PUSHED THE BRAKE. I WAS IN SHOCK. LUCKILY THERE WEREN'T ANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME BUT IT SCARED MY KIDS. WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE I FLIPPED IT INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. I THEN CALLED AND SCHEDULED SERVICE FOR THE NEXT DAY. I WAS FULLY COVERED UNDER MY MAINTENANCE PLAN BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT CAUSED THIS ISSUE BUT I AM TERRIFIED IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN AND NOW MY KIDS ARE TERRIFIED AS WELL. *TR

FORD SYNC SYSTEM - CONTINUES TO FREEZE AND NOT FUNCTION. NAVIGATION SYSTEM FREEZES UP AND/OR DOESN'T WORK AT TIMES. PHONE SYSTEM SHOWS YOU ON A CALL WHEN YOU ARE NOT. MULTIPLE TIMES NOT WORKING AND IS SUPPOSED TO BE HANDS FREE. HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM REPLACED AND UPDATED AND STILL DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY OR AS ADVERTISED. FORD CASE # CAS [XXX] KEEP GETTING TOLD THEY HAVE AN EXPERT LOOKING IN TO IT AND IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE IPHONE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FIRST INSTANCE (2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT XLT MODEL - BOUGHT LATE SEPTEMBER 2011), IN DECEMBER 2011, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY CAUSING MY TOUCH TO GO OUT, MY ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF, ETC. NOW, SECOND INSTANCE (MARCH 31, 2012), DRIVING AN HOUR TO A DESTINATION, TURNED OFF THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES, GOT BACK IN THE CAR, THE CAR STALLED AND LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER TALKING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY TOLD ME IF I GOT THE CAR RUNNING, THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. FINALLY GOT THE CAR TURNED ON FOR THE DRIVE BACK, HALF WAY BACK, THE RPMS WERE REVVING AND THEN THE CAR WAS SUCKING BACK, ALMOST HOME AND THE CARS POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT AND IT WAS STALLING AT EVERY LIGHT. TOOK INTO FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THINK IT IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN'T FIND IT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR RIGHT NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MY SYNC FUNCTION THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO FAIL LY INCLUDING THE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATING SYSTEM, RADIO AND DEFROSTER SYSTEM. ALL SYSTEMS REMAINED AT A CONSTANT RATE IF ACTIVATED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE THE FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS FAULTY BUT HE DID NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

I BOUGHT A NEW 2012 FORD EXPLORER ON 11/26/11. THE "MY TOUCH" COMPUTER DIDN'T WORK FROM THE BEGINING. THE RESPONSE IS SLOW OR NON-EXISTENT. THE SCREENS CHANGE ON THEIR OWN. THE SYSTEM FREEZES UP AT TIMES LEAVING NO CONTROL OVER NAV, STEREO, CLIMATE, PHONE, OR EITHER OF 2 DASHBOARD SCREENS. IT WILL SWITCH TO RADIO AND PLAY REALLY LOUD AND THEN SWITCH BACK ON IT'S OWN. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND CAN'T FIX IT. THEY'VE HAD MY CAR 3 TIMES AND NOW REFUSE TO SEE ME MORE ABOUT THIS. THEY SAY A FIX WILL COME IN THE FUTURE. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS SELLING BROKEN CARS, CHARGING NEW CAR PRICES, AND CAN'T FIX THEM. *TR

IN THE WORDS OF ONE OF THE SEVERAL FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER CARE CASE MANAGER I'VE SPOKEN TO SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO, FORD'S MYTOUCH SYSTEM IS "TOTALLY DYSFUCNTIONAL". THE SOFTWARE UPON WHICH THIS SYSTEM IS BASED WAS APPARENTLY CO-AUTHORED BY MICROSOFT AND FORD IS CURRENTLY TELLING CUSTOMERS THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT RELEASE, SUPPOSEDLY DUE TO BE RELEASED IN "THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR". HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD THIS KIND OF MESSAGE BEFORE...THINK MS VISTA! MY EXPLORER HAS AN APPROX. 8"X5" TOUCHSCREEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH. IT IS SUPPOSED TO COME ON WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AND MANY FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE ARE CONTROLLED BY TOUCHING ICONS ON THE SCREEN. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE SCREEN FAILS TO COME ON, USUALLY FOR ABOUT THE INITIAL 20 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER CONTROLS ARE UNAVAILABLE. THIS INCLUDES FEATURES LIKE BEING ABLE TO VIEW THE REAR-VIEW CAMERA, TURNING ON THE HEATED SEATS, CLIMATE CONTROL FEATURES, DEALING WITH PHONE CALLS AND SELECTING MUSIC SOURCES AND RADIO CHANNELS, ETC.. MYTOUCH ALSO INCLUDES A FEATURE WHERE ITS SUPPOSED TO SYNC TO THE DRIVER'S MOBILE PHONE, BUT THIS ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AT BEST. THE WORST PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM, WHICH I BELIEVE MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR NIGHTTIME DRIVING, IS WHEN THE TOUCHSCREEN, WHICH CANNOT BE TURNED OFF OR DIMMED, STARTS FLICKERING (FORD'S TERM IS "STROBING") VERY RAPIDLY WHILE DRIVING AFTER DARK. THIS CAN CONTINUE FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES AT A TIME, AND IS INCREDIBLE DISTRACTING WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE. I'VE POSTED A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE UNDER THE HEADING "FORD MYTOUCH STOBING". THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN TO FORD SINCE THE 2011 MODEL YEAR AND THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THESE PROBLEMATIC VEHICLES WITHOUT TELLING CUSTOMERS UNTIL AFTER THEY TAKE POSSESSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF WITH THE ELECTRONIC START BUTTON WITHOUT PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ALL THE VEHICLES THAT HAD A PUSH TO START BUTTON BECAUSE IT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT PLACING THE GEAR IN PARK AND CREATING A RISK OF A ROLL AWAY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.