THE HEADRESTS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE QUITE UNCOMFORTABLE. WE DID NOT NOTICE WHILE TEST DRIVING, SINCE NEITHER OF US SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT ON THE DRIVE HOME I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TRYING TO REST MY HEAD AGAINST THE HEADREST AND FOUND IT…

12/18/2012 · NHTSA ODI #10489194.0

2012 Expedition · other

NECK PROBLEMS DUE TO ANGLE OF HEAD REST WHILE BREAKING, I AM 6'5'. THE EXISTING HEADREST IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR

12/13/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10664062.0

2012 Expedition · electrical

SMELLED A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE . AFTER SEARCHING I DISCOVERED THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING HAD OVERHEATED AND HAS MELTED IN THE FRAME FROM THE HEAT OF THE LIGHTING. THIS IS A STOCK HOUSING FROM FORD WITH FORD INSTALLED LIGHTS. *TR

12/11/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10663647.0

2012 Expedition · airbags Crash

STOPPED AT 0MPH. WITNESS IN CAR BEHIND. FOOT ON BRAKE. TOUCHED ACCELERATOR NORMALLY. HEARD NOISE. CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED. HIT WALL APPROX TWENTY FEET AWAY. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO ONE IN PASSENGER SEAT. SEAT BELT ON, PER DRIVER, WITNESS WHO HELPED DRIVER THRU…

12/09/2012 · NHTSA ODI #10487785.0

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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 12V034000 02/02/2012

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

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT MAY NOT PROVIDE THE REQUIRED STRENGTH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Ford Expedition reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Ford Expedition is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2012 Ford Expedition?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 64 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Ford Expedition has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Ford Expedition?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 116 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 3 days ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with ford. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.