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2012 Ford Explorer Fuel System Problems

16 owner-reported fuel system complaints from NHTSA data

16
Complaints
Mar 2014Dec 2020
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (16)

mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) and linked the failure to the recall; however, the VIN nor the year, make, or model was included. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA #: 11675010
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2021

When filling up the fuel starts dripping in the bottom behind the rear wheel even though the tanks is not full yet.

NHTSA #: 11422418
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2020

THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF CARBON MONOXIDE WHEN THE ENGINE IS REVED OVER 3000 -3500 RPM THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT SEEMS TO BE ON PAR WITH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I NOTICED THIS ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE USED CAR LOT.

NHTSA #: 11385367
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2019

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2019 WHEN I STARTEDMY CAR I STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ORDER OF A NATURAL GAS SMELL COMING FROM MY CAR. IT GETS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AT TIMES. I CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THIS HOWEVER THEY SAID THATT SINCE ME CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY IT WILL BE BE COVERED AND THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. IT'S A CONSTANT GAS SMELL WHETHER I'M DRIVING, IDLING, OR PARKED. THIS IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA #: 11185860
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Oct 2016

MY 2012 FORD EXPLORE LTD. STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. A WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON IN LOWER LEFT DASH, AND THE CAR LOSES POWER. I CAN NO LONGER ONCE THIS HAPPENS. I MUST TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS, ON REGULAR CITY, SUBURBAN OR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, NOT TO MENTION IT IS NOW HAPPENING 2-3 TIMES A DAY WHILE WITH NO WARNING. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ONLY, SOMETIMES AFTER TURNING, SOMETIMES NOT, BUT THE CAR IS ALWAYS IN MOTION AT THE TIME, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN VARIOUS TEMPERATURES, WITH CLIMATE CONTROL EITHER OFF OR ON, SEEMS TO HAVE NO BEARING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH. APPARENTLY THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT ADDRESS THIS. I AM HAVING THAT WORKED ON RIGHT NOW AS I TYPE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE LAST YEAR ON THE HIGHWAY, AND ONCE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT. HADN'T HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE UNTIL THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IN THE 80 DEGREE WEATHER OF PLANO TX, WHETHER CAR WAS ALREADY WARMED-UP OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10919359
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2016

AWD OFF ERROR AND WRENCH SYMBOL - ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS. WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE LOSES ACCELERATION AND THE WRENCH ICON AND AWD ERRORS DISPLAY. THE THROTTLE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE, BUT ALL OTHER SYSTEMS REMAIN FUNCTIONING. IF YOU LEAVE IT IN GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKES ENGAGED, IT WILL MOVE AT IDLE SPEED ON FLAT GROUND, BUT IS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE INCLINES. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP, THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUDDERS. STOPPING AND RESTARTING NORMALLY RETURNS THE VEHICLE TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS ACCURED OVER A DOZEN TIMES. DEALER HAS SAID THAT THERE ARE NO CODES REPORTING THE PROBLEM. RECOMMENDED WE REPLACE TIRES. REPLACED TIRES AND ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT. HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD TO BRING IN OTHER RESOURCES TO TRIAGE/DIAGNOSE ISSUE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AS WHEN TO ISSUE PRESENTS ITSELF, THE CAR STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY AND MUST BE SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM. ON ROADS WITHOUT SHOULDERS OR MULTIPLE LANES, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR IS SOMETIMES NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND MUST BE PUT INTO PARK WHERE IT STOPS. THE CAR IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THERE ARE NO KNOW FIXES RIGHT NOW.

NHTSA #: 10896657
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2016

I/WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OF THE ENGINE FAILURE TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN A REGULAR DRIVING MODE. THE ENGINE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TODAY I WAS ABLE TO PULL A CODE P2111 AND TOOK THAT IN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING THROTTLE BODY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING IN THIS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES. FORD HAS SAID THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A LOCAL ROAD AT THE TIME OF THE CONDITION OCCURRED. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO GET IT OFF THE STREET. AFTER PULLING THE CODE THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. UPON RESTART IT RAN CORRECTLY.

NHTSA #: 10896460
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2016

THROTTLE BODY ELECTRONICS, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP. I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 55MPH AND SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. DASHBOARD INDICATED A 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR ENGINE CHECK. I WAS SLOWED TO 2MPH LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE BEHIND ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC, NO WARNING. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT RECALLING VEHICLES WHY, THE PARTS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY MY SUV WAS IN THE GARAGE FOR 10 DAYS WAITING FOR PART, THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL. FORD REPAIRED MY EXPLORER BUT MANY DRIVERS ARE ON THE ROAD AND HAVE NO IDEA THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM. SAFETY FIRST PLEASE

NHTSA #: 10882309
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2015

THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES AT SPEEDS OF 40, 50 AND 60 MPH, ON HIGHWAY, VEH. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND VEH. COMES TO A STOP. THE ENGINE IS STILL IDLING BUT THE GAS PETAL DOES NOT WORK. THERE IS NO WARNING, THE VEH. JUST COMES TO A STOP.I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ON RURAL TWO LANE ROADS SO I COULD PULL OF ROAD. IF YOU WERE ON A MULTI LANE HIGHWAY YOU WOULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE, BECAUSE VEH. COMES TO A STOP AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE SPEED. THE FIRST PROBLEM, SWITCHED OFF VEH. RESTATED, NO ENGINE LIGHT AND EVERYTHING WORKED, TOOK VEH. TO FORD, THEY CHECK IT OUT, COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE VEH. WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 6000 MORE THOUSAND MILES, THEN AT 60 MPH IT CUT OFF AGAIN, I GOT OFF ROAD, RESTARTED VEH. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON BUT GAS PETAL WORKED. I DROVE ABOUT TWO MORE MILES AND VEH. CUT OF AGAIN, ENGINE IDLING GAS PETAL NOT WORKING. RESTARTED VEH. ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON BUT GAS PETAL WAS WORKING. I DROVE VEH. TO FORD DEALER, THEY NOW SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE THROTTLE MODULE. FORD SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS MODULE, SO I PAID OVER $600 FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SOMETHING TO WARN FORD EXPLORER OWNERS THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM. I WOULD THINK, I AM NOT THE ONLY EXPLORER OWNERS TO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 10783168
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD DELAY TO START AND STALLED WHEN THE METER MEASURED OVER A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED A FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2015. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA #: 10759714
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA #: 10716231
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2014

I AM EXPERIENCING AN ODOR OF CARBON MONOXIDE INSIDE THE CAR. I LIVE IN EL SALVADOR CENTRAL AMERICA AND HAVE FOUND IN THE INTERNET THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM THE AGENCY IN MY COUNTRY DOES NOT RESPONSABILIZE ON THIS I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND WE CANT BE SMELLING THIS EXHAUST FUMENS AND STRANGE ODORS INSIDE OUR CAR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10621834
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE
Filed: Apr 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 REVIEW OF THE ISSUE THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, AS WELL AS HE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. THE MILEAGE AT THE INCIDENT WAS APPROX 45,500 BUT THE COMPLAINT SAYS 44,000 BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS DONE THIS, AND THE FIRST TIME FOR THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. AFTER DINNER WE CAME HOME AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL, IT STARTED IT DROVE, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY WE HAD IT TOWED TO FORD, SO THEY COULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10583656
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 2014

ON MONDAY 10MARCH2014, MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER STARTED AND IMMEDIATELY STALLED OUT, WHEN I LOOK AT THE DASH IT HAD SAID IT HAD LOW OIL PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAVALIER FORD IN CHESAPEAKE, VA WHERE IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DURING FURTHER TROUBLE SHOOTING IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT HENDERSON FORD IN BAY ST. LOUIS, MS HAD INSTALLED A FUEL INJECTOR INTO THE ENGINE WITHOUT PROPERLY ENSURING THE CLEANLINESS OF EITHER THE INJECTOR OR THE POINT OF INSERTION. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY CAVALIER FORD THAT HENDERSON FORD IMPROPERLY INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT PART, AND ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE OVER 1,000 MILES WITH THIS PROBLEMATIC PART IN PLACE! *TR

NHTSA #: 10568909
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Mar 2014

WHEN CAR WAS 3 WEEKS OLD, WE HAD AN INTERMITTENT GAS ODOR WHEN RESTARTING CAR. ALSO, WHEN SITTING IN GARAGE. DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY DID AND REPLACED THE FUEL CANISTER. ODOR CAME BACK WITHIN 3 WEEKS. NOW HAS 40,000 MILES AND STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM. SAW 2 RECALLS ON 2013 EXPLORER RELATED TO FUEL ODOR AND THOUGHT ARE 2012 WOULD BE INCLUDED, BUT FORD SAYS NO. OUR CAR WAS BUILT ON 12/15/2011. *TR

NHTSA #: 10567398
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Dec 2011

WHILE I WAS PUMPING GAS THE GAS WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10440202

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