2012 FORD EXPEDITION Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Expedition. This model year has 116 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2012 Ford Expedition Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
Unintended Acceleration
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford Expedition. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 64 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 20 | — | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 16 | 3 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 15 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 12 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 9 | — | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Expedition. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 116 most recent complaints
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 30 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, causing the occupants to lunge forward. The tires squealed and the wheels locked up. The vehicle was turned off but failed to restart. No…
While exiting the freeway at approximately 45 to 50 mph, the transmission downshifted to 1st gear locking up the tires.
The speedometer will quit working and the vehicle will not shift out of 1st gear, if you can work through it it will start throwing error messages such as zero miles to empty, tire moniter system fault, etc. This is a very dangerous situation especially in high traffic areas. T…
Over a period of time this problem is occurring more often. The vehicle will downshift into first gear. I pull over check engine light is on. I turn off wait turn back on and no problem for awhile. Within the last month this has occurred many times . Each time the check engine li…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the image displayed on the back over prevention screen was either upside down, distorted, static only, or completely black. The failure was intermittent. During the failure, the contact was able to restart the vehic…
I was driving my 2012 expedition and suddenly the vehicle went from doing 60 to 40 immediately the tires squealed and threw me into the right lane . This vehicle transmission has a recall for down shifting and power train issues. My vin number does not fit the Recall…
ABS CPU control system. Error Code B1342-EC. Antilock braking system electronic control unit defect.
JULY 2025 MY 2012 FORD EXPEDITION THREW A P0742 CODE FOR A STUCK TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST UNDER 150K MILES AND STARTED TO JERK IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED SO I, THANKFULLY WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO…
I just purchased (2 months ago) a 2012 Ford Expedition EL 5.4l v8 from a private party. I wish I would have done more research as I am ALREADY EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT I BELIEVE ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE VEHICLES LEAD FRAME RECALL. IT THREW A P0742 CODE ON ME Torq…
Campaign 19N01 Description Transmission molded leadframe extended coverage Next Steps Contact your dealer for next steps. Did this and was told that the vehicle was not covered due to it being after 10 years and barely over 150,000 miles. I am experiencing transmission issues wh…
Transmission failed to engage after startup, and while driving will slip out like its in neutral without warning. There was a series of messages that rolled over and over as the vehicle slowed. When we first took it to have it serviced for this problem June of 2024, they option…
While driving my vehicle, the transmission down shift on its on and the vehicle antilock brakes hit and suddenly stops on its on.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and downshifted unintendedly. The contact stated there were two unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnos…
On [XXX] @ [XXX]. I was traveling [XXX] in Logan Co., OK in my 2012 Ford Expedition EL (purchased used Jan. 2020) at an approximate speed of 45 mph when the vehicle downshifted into 1st gear causing a rapid deceleration wherein the vehicle behind me had to take evasive action to…
The transmission jumps in and out of gear, the engine revs on its on. I was on the highway the first time and I going between 60 and 65 mph and it sounded like the whole bottom of the truck was just ripped out, the truck went from drive to either park or first gear it locked up t…
I was driving regularly down the road when I noticed the smell of electrical fire. Smoke started coming from the undercarriage of the truck. I pulled into a gas station, and the engine died, and I got out to look at what's causing the smoke. I observed what looked to be engine…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon his wife depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPM raised abruptly however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and seemed as if the transmission was in neutral(…
Metal corrosion on the back liftgate is allowing water to leech into the electrical connections to the back camera, causing it to intermittently not work leading to complete failure eventually. The service techs at the ford dealership have described this common problem with this…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle independently decelerated and nearly caused the vehicle to be rear ended by a tractor trai…
Uncommanded downshift to first gear in 6R80 transmission. While driving at approximately 30mph, transmission downshifted into 1st gear. Problem repeated itself several times. No "codes" or warning lights. I put the transmission in "3" and drove slowly back home. This is the s…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Ford Expedition.
Recalls for 2012 Ford Expedition
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Expedition. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2012 Ford Expedition — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Ford Expedition reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2012 Ford Expedition has 116 NHTSA owner complaints, 6 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (64 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Expedition?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (64 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (20 complaints). #3: Unintended Acceleration (16 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Ford Expedition?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Ford Expedition?▾
The 2012 Ford Expedition has 6 crash-related complaints and 2 fire reports out of 116 total NHTSA complaints. 13 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Ford Expedition have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Ford Expedition. The largest issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 Ford Expedition?▾
The 2012 Ford Expedition has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Expedition reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2012 Ford Expedition
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.