FaultScore

2012 Ford Explorer seat belt problems

14 of the 1,029 complaints about the 2012 Ford Explorer are about the seat belts — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,400 miles.

A

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Seat Belts 14 100.0%

Seat Belts across every Ford Explorer year

1991 28 4.6%
1992 27 4.4%
1993 14 2.3%
1994 13 2.1%
1995 60 9.8%
1996 81 13.3%
1997 57 9.3%
1998 38 6.2%
1999 22 3.6%
2000 16 2.6%
2001 11 1.8%
2002 35 5.7%
2003 17 2.8%
2011 14 2.3%
2012 14 2.3%
2013 20 3.3%
2014 27 4.4%
2015 37 6.1%
2016 40 6.6%
2017 21 3.4%
2020 18 3.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 97,000 miles Clifton, NJ

SEAT BELTS

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, her grandson who was occupying the second-row driver's side seat informed the contact that the seat belt had failed to remain buckled. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and moved her grandson to the second-row middle seat. The contact stated that the plastic on the second-row driver's side seat belt clip was fractured and had detached, which caused the seat belt to not buckle as needed. The contact also stated that the plastic on the second-row passenger's side seat belt clip was fractured, but the seat belt was able to be buckled. The local dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and assisted the contact in scheduling an appointment with another dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the passenger's side and driver's side windshield exterior A-pillar trims had fractured and had partially separated from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint #11638829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Sullivan, MO

SEAT BELTS

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear second passenger’s side seat belt was faulty. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rear second passenger’s side seat belt to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The contact stated the issue has been resolved via local dealer opening up mechanism and finding twist in seatbelt, which wouldn’t allow use of the seatbelt but haven't received a new seatbelt which seems to be on backorder.

NHTSA complaint #11539115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles North Babylon, NY

SEAT BELTS

FOR ALL THREE REAR SEAT BELTS THE LATCH PLATE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE REAR SEATS ARE RARELY USED SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #11374570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,800 miles Spokane Valley, WA

SEAT BELTS

THE FRONT STRUT TOWER MOUNTS ARE BAD. THIS IS ON EVERY 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORER I HAVE SEEN. IT MAKES A BAD CLUNK SOUND EVERYTIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED.

NHTSA complaint #11309119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,000 miles Richlands, VA

SEAT BELTS

WHEN IT RAINS I HAVE WATER COMING INTO MY VEHICHLE AND IT EVEN COMES THROUGH THE SEATBELTS. I HAVE WATER IN MY FLOOR NOW.

NHTSA complaint #11307882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles Slidell, LA

SEAT BELTS

MY 2012 FORD EXPLORER LEAKS FROM THE 3RD ROW SEATBELT. IT HAS RUINED THE CARPET IN THE BACK AND MOLDED IT. IT ALSO FILLED UP THE SPARE TIRE AREA WITH WATER AND RUSTED THE RIM OF THE SPARE TIRE AND THE INSIDE WHERE THE TIRE SITS. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS UNTIL MANY MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE I WASN'T USING THE 3RD ROW AT THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11234793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,000 miles Groton, NY

SEAT BELTS

WATER LEAKS IN THROUGH THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT TENSIONER. WATER RUNS DOWN THE SEAT BELT AND POOLS ON THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. WATER IN THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IS A SAFETY RISK. I REPORTED IT TO FORD, THEY DECLINED TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #11207185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Agoura Hills, CA

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #11163777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,000 miles Syracuse, UT

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #11142427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles ST. Clairsville, OH

SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND OFF AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #11100489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles Boonsboro, MD

SEAT BELTS

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR, FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL OR STALLS OUT. SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. 6F35 TRANSMISSION. DEALER(S) REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE OR REPAIR DESPITE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND TRANSMISSION FAULT CODE. VEHICLE STALLS WHILE AT ALL SPEEDS ON HIGHWAY, CITY STREETS, OR WHILE IN INTERSECTIONS. TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE

NHTSA complaint #10887931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

SEAT BELTS

WATER LEAKS INSIDE THE CABIN EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR CAR GETS WASHED. WATER DRIPS DOWN FROM TOP THROUGH REAR SEATBELT RETRACTORS NEAR REAR HATCH/DOOR AND STREAMS DOWN SEAT BELTS AND THEN PUDDLES UNDER THIRD ROW SEAT AND SPARE TIRE WELL. LEAKS ANYTIME NO MATTER IF PARKED OR IN MOTION. SEATBELTS AND SEAT BOLTS/HINGES ARE STARTING TO RUST. WIRES NEAR 12V CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND TAIL LIGHTS ALSO GET WET. 2012 FORD EXPLORER XLT (NO SUNROOF/MOONROOF).

NHTSA complaint #10818818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Summerville, SC

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REFERENCED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 10044523. THE FAILURE ALSO PRODUCED AN AIR TENSIONER CODE, WHICH COULD PREVENT THE AIR BAG TENSIONER FROM TIGHTENING OR THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA complaint #10745057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,112 miles Lone Tree, CO

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE BEING REDESIGNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING NEW PARTS FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,112 UPDATED 02/27/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED. UPDATED 02/28/12

NHTSA complaint #10447103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2012 Ford Explorer problems

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