YearToAvoid

2012 Ford Expedition Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2012 Ford Expedition has a complaint index of 25 and ranks 16th out of 21 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict. Transmission & powertrain problems dominate at 54% of complaints, with three recalls covering transmission software, electrical, and head restraints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
25/100
#16 of 21 Expedition years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
118
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
6
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
13
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2013
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
15.5
13.5 city / 19 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0

Top 2012 Ford Expedition problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain64 (54%)
  2. Engine28 (24%)
  3. Electrical System20 (17%)
  4. Structure & Body18 (15%)
  5. Other10 (8%)
  6. Brakes7 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)
  8. Fuel System4 (3%)
  9. Airbags3 (3%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some owners describe the transmission jumping or jolting hard when shifting from first to second gear, even after dealers reprogrammed the powertrain software multiple times.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolling on its own down a driveway after being parked and turned off, crossing the street and hitting a neighbor's house.
  • Several owners describe the front passenger door moving irregularly and triggering false 'door ajar' warnings at low speed.
  • One owner reported a tire sidewall separating at highway speed with no visible wear or improper inflation beforehand.
  • One owner described a strong gas smell filling the cabin during highway driving despite no recent refueling.
  • One owner reported the heated/cooled seat motor overheating, making the seat surface uncomfortably hot with no available fix.
2012 Ford Expedition complaints: complaints filed per quarter72012 Q22014 Q22016 Q22017 Q42019 Q32021 Q22023 Q12025 Q3
118 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q2 (7).

2012 Ford Expedition recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V248000Apr 27, 2016Transmission & Powertrain153,581 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

    Risk: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.

  2. NHTSA 12V190000May 3, 2012Electrical System10,500 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:back up lights

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 â“lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.┠these vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.

    Risk: If this condition exists, the transmission may not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse â“r┠position and the vehicleâ’s transmission does go in reverse, the â“r┠may not illuminate on the dashboard of the f-150, expedition, or navigator models and/or the backup lamp on the rear of the f-150, expedition, navigator, or mustang vehicles may not illuminate. These conditions increase the risk of a crash or a pedestrian being struck due to the vehicleâ’s not signaling it is in reverse.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 11, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

  3. NHTSA 12V034000Feb 2, 2012Structure & Body569 vehicles

    Seats:mid/rear assembly

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator vehicles, manufactured from november 19, 2011, through december 2, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 202, "head restraints." these vehicles may have inadequate welds on the head restraint support brackets for the second row, right-hand seat.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat head restraint may not provide the required strength, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on february 21, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

2012 Ford Expedition fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13.5 MPG
Highway
19 MPG
Combined
15.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,175
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Expedition years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best2058015
2011Best571015
2012Good25118315.5
2013Best1092015.5
2014Best1572015.5

All Ford Expedition years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Ford Expedition reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Expedition carries a complaint index of 25 and a 'Good' verdict, ranking 16th out of 21 model years for this model.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Ford Expedition?
Transmission & powertrain issues account for 54% of complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 108,000 miles, making it the top problem area.
Does the 2012 Ford Expedition have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists three recalls: a transmission control module software update, an electrical transmission range sensor inspection/replacement, and a head restraint replacement.
How does the 2012 Ford Expedition compare to other years?
The 2012 model's complaint index of 25 is much lower than years like 2019 (95) or 2020 (100), which are rated 'Avoid', placing 2012 among the better years for this model.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Ford Expedition?
EPA rates the 2012 Expedition at 15.5 mpg combined (13.5 city / 19 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,175.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.