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Inspections & Reports / Ford Explorer / 2012
Model-Year Guide2012 · Ford Explorer

Pre Purchase Inspection for 2012 Ford Explorer

Exhaust smell in the cabin, internal water pump, and AWD transfer unit. We check the known trouble spots before you pay.

Get this Explorer inspectedRequest online ↓

Buying a 2012 Ford Explorer? Smart move to check it first. The engine it has changes what matters most.

Transmission: 6-speed automatic. The 2.0 EcoBoost joins the range.

Engines for 2012
  • 3.5L V6
  • 3.5L EcoBoost V6
  • 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cyl
Known problem areas — what we check
Costly Safety Common Verify
Exhaust smell in the cabinSafety

Owners of these years reported exhaust fumes getting into the cabin, especially under hard acceleration. It was investigated by federal regulators.

WE CHECK We drive it hard with the vents on and smell for exhaust inside the car.

Internal water pumpCostly

On the 3.5 V6 the water pump sits inside the engine. If it fails, coolant can get into the oil and destroy the engine.

WE CHECK We check the oil for coolant, look at coolant level and colour, and scan for overheating history.

Timing cover removed from a Ford Explorer, exposing the internal water pump cavity
The water pump sits inside the timing cover. This is what you see once the cover is off — and you cannot see any of it before that.
A black Ford Explorer in a workshop bay with its hood open and the front wheel removed
The same 2016 Explorer in the bay. The front of the engine has to come apart to reach the pump, which is why the bill is what it is.
Rear of a blue Ford Explorer Limited with the number plate blurred out
A 2013 Explorer in for the identical repair. On this generation it is not a rare fault — it is a question of when.
AWD transfer unit (PTU)Costly

The transfer unit on all-wheel-drive cars runs hot, has no service interval, and can whine and fail.

WE CHECK We listen for whine on the road test and check for leaks underneath.

Transmission shudderCostly

The 6-speed automatic can shudder or shift harshly as fluid ages.

WE CHECK We road test every gear and feel for shudder at light throttle.

Door latch recallSafety

Some of these years were recalled for door latches that could let a door open while driving.

WE CHECK We test every door latch and check the VIN for the recall.

Steering and suspension recallsSafety

Certain early cars had steering-related recalls.

WE CHECK We check every open recall and test the steering at low and high speed.

Before you look at a 2012 Explorer
  • Drive it hard with the vents on and smell for exhaust
  • Check the oil for any sign of coolant
  • Listen for transfer unit whine on AWD cars
  • Road test the transmission for shudder
  • Confirm the door latch and steering recalls
Safety record (live from NHTSA)
2012 Ford Explorer · Federal RecordsSource: NHTSA.gov
7
Recalls
822
Complaints
138
Service Bulletins
Loading the latest federal safety records…
Common service bulletins (TSBs)

A TSB is a note the maker sends to dealers about a known fix. They are not recalls. We check the bulletins so we know what to look for:

Engine & Drivability40

Cold-start noise, drivability, and idle issues for this vehicle. We test for each.

Power Train · Automatic6

Shift quality and transmission fluid updates. We drive every gear.

Electrical & Body92

Locks, wipers, infotainment, and trim items. Small, but good to know.

Counts are pulled from NHTSA's public Manufacturer Communications file. Full bulletins stay with the maker — we use the summaries to guide the inspection.

Common questions
What is the exhaust smell problem?
Fumes can get into the cabin, mostly under hard acceleration. It got a lot of attention on police vehicles. We test for it on the road.
Why does the water pump matter so much?
It is inside the engine. A leak puts coolant into the oil, and that can mean a new engine rather than a new pump.
Where do you inspect?
All 48 states.
Do you pull recalls?
Yes, plus service bulletins.
Buying this one?

We'll check it first

Pre-tagged for the 2012 Ford Explorer. One call and a tech is on it.

951-267-8500Call now
Other Explorer years
2011 Explorer All-new car — car-base…2013 Explorer Check the coolant and …2014 Explorer Listen for transfer un…2015 Explorer Last of the pre-faceli…2016 Explorer Facelift, and the 2.3 …2017 Explorer Exhaust smell reports …2018 Explorer Check the transmission…2019 Explorer Last year of this body…

Request a 2012 Explorer inspection

Pre-tagged for the 2012 Ford Explorer.

Details

No payment now · We confirm scheduling before any work

Buying a 2012 Explorer? Let us check it first.

Engine-specific checks, a live recall pull, and a clear report.

Call 951-267-8500