How common are windshield and wiper problems on the 2012 Ford Explorer?

NHTSA lists 23 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2012 Explorer, which is 3% of the 827 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for wiper or windshield issues on the 2012 Ford Explorer?

No. The NHTSA data shows no related recalls tied to Visibility & Wipers for the 2012 Explorer.

At what mileage do these visibility problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2012 Explorer is 49,500 miles.

Did any of these visibility complaints involve crashes or injuries?

No. NHTSA records show 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to these 23 complaints.

How does the 2012 Explorer compare to other years for this problem?

The 2012 Explorer's 3% share is similar to 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016, but lower than the 10-14% shares seen in 2021-2025 model years.

2012 Ford Explorer Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 23 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2012 Ford Explorer, 3% of its 827 total complaints that year. No related recalls exist, and the median mileage at failure was 49,500 miles.

Visibility & Wipers complaints: 23; 3% of 827
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 49,500 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

Wiper arms detach or pull loose from the blade during driving, especially in slush or heavy precipitation.
Windshield and window molding or trim pieces come loose or fly off at highway speed.
Windshield cracks or develops bubbling near the edges without an apparent cause.
Wipers activate on their own or fail to shut off even when the switch is turned off.
Window guard or rubber gasket pieces detach from the windshield frame and slap against the glass while driving.

When 2012 Ford Explorer visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 25, 2011, latest Feb 16, 2026.

23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2011 to Feb 2026; peak Feb 2023 (6).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2012 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Explorer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

20103 (3%)
201121 (2%)
201223 (3%)
201362 (3%)
201452 (3%)
201542 (2%)
201667 (3%)
201773 (4%)
201827 (4%)
20197 (2%)
202066 (5%)
202141 (10%)
202229 (11%)
202310 (9%)
20243 (14%)
202513 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are windshield and wiper problems on the 2012 Ford Explorer?: NHTSA lists 23 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2012 Explorer, which is 3% of the 827 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for wiper or windshield issues on the 2012 Ford Explorer?: No. The NHTSA data shows no related recalls tied to Visibility & Wipers for the 2012 Explorer.
At what mileage do these visibility problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2012 Explorer is 49,500 miles.
Did any of these visibility complaints involve crashes or injuries?: No. NHTSA records show 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to these 23 complaints.
How does the 2012 Explorer compare to other years for this problem?: The 2012 Explorer's 3% share is similar to 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016, but lower than the 10-14% shares seen in 2021-2025 model years.