Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
while driving the vehicle goes into what I have found is called sleep mode.. The check engine lite comes on and the left info panel shows that the all wheel drive is not working. The dealer tried to see what codes were set and found none. My solution is to pull off the road, put the vehicle in park and turn off the ignition. After about 30 seconds I can restart the vehicle and drive again. The restart lasts from 15 seconds to a month. I found a TSB ( 16-0139) that covered this problem. However it did not offer any cure. I am concerned that someone will hit me when this happens.
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. …
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. …
For about the last year, I would smell something burning inside my vehicle when entering the freeway. I was never able to identify the source of the smell, even after repeatedly stopping to sniff the engine compartment and around the tires and exhaust. I could not detect the smell outside of the car, nor did I find any evidence of anything burning (no smoke, charred areas, stuck brakes, melted rubber, etc). There didn't appear to be any pattern, as I would smell something burning at different points in my commute, with the only time I consistently experienced it being merging onto the freeway. On June 20, 2016 at 1:38 pm central time, I sent my husband the following text: "is the fire extinguisher still in the car?" due to the overpowering smell of smoke in the passenger compartment shortly after getting on the freeway. …
(re)starting August 1, 2017, while driving, the vehicle would suddenly and without warning decelerate, with no response from the gas pedal. Ford calls this their "limp home mode." the wrench icon warning would display and the entire vehicle would shudder until it was put in park and turned off. Usually, it would resume normal operations after being restarted, however, on one occasion, it took three attempts to restart. After two such incidents occurring in less than a mile, I don't feel safe driving on the highway (or, really, any other place) as there is no indication to other drivers and the vehicle actively decelerates, rather than coasting. During one such incident, the deceleration was so pronounced that passengers jerked forward in their seats and a canine passenger lost its footing, falling into the back of the seats. …
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. …
While driving down the highway my Explorer made a loud clunk sound and then the wrench symbol appeared on my dashboard. Then the gas pedal quit working, and we had to roll off the highway avoiding being hit by other traffic. I had to stop and restart my car 5-6 times before the gas pedal would work again. This has happened 5 times in the past two months, and when I called to have it serviced they told me the wrench light had to be on for them to identify the problem. But I cant go anywhere when the wrench light comes on and a tow truck will not tow a car with it running for me to get it to the dealership to be tested. This is a safety issue that other people are having. The throttle body is going out on many explorers after 55,000 miles. Is it going to take deaths before this is a recall?
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.
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
Fuel System complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2012 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2012 Ford Explorer, 4% of the model year's 829 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Ford Explorer fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2012 Ford Explorer, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Explorer fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.