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Service bulletins for the 2012 Ford Explorer

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

88 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.

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Bulletins, newest first
SSM 462952017-03-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. TO HELP DIFFERENTIATE ENGINE OIL LEAKS FROM OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCES, A NEW WHITE-COLORED FLUORESCENT ENGINE OIL DYE IS AVAILABLE. WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM), SECTION 303-00 HAS BEEN REVISED TO REFERENCE THE NEW WHITE-COLORED DYE. THE NEW WHITE FLUORESCENT DYE PROVIDES A DISTINCT WHITE GLOW TO IDENTIFY ENGINE OIL LEAKS. THE NEW WHITE FLUORESCENT DYE REQUIRES A PURE UV DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION LAMP. THE WHITE-COLORED FLUORESCENT DYE AND PURE UV LAMP ARE NOW IN THE ROTUNDA CATALOG. DYE AND LAMP PART NUMBERS. GASOLINE ONLY DYE: 1 OUNCE BOTTLE 164-TP-33200601. DIESEL ONLY DYE: 8 OUNCE BOTTLE: 164-TP-3320-0008. PURE UV DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION LAMP 164-TP8695 OR 164-R3748.
TSB 16-01662017-03-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM. SUPERCEDES TSB 16-0165: SOME 2011-2015 EXPLORER VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN EXHAUST ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE AUXILIARY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ON. CUSTOMERS MAY INDICATE THE ODOR SMELLS LIKE SULFUR, OR THAT EXHAUST ODORS ARE ENTERING THE VEHICLE CABIN. THIS CONDITION MAY BE WORSENED WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS IN RECIRCULATE MODE AND THE VEHICLE IS HEAVILY ACCELERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. WHETHER AND TO WHAT EXTENT ANY CUSTOMER OR OCCUPANT OF A 2011-2015 EXPLORER VEHICLE EXPERIENCES THE EXHAUST ODOR WILL BE AFFECTED BY DRIVING HABITS, WEATHER AND INDIVIDUAL SENSITIVITIES. FOLLOW EACH AND EVERY STEP OF THE TSB SERVICE PROCEDURE IN PROCEDURE 1 TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION.
TSB16-00972017-02-10. Service bulletin. SEATS. SOME 2009-2010 F-150 AND 2011-2016 EXPLORER VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SEAT CUSHION COVER THAT APPEARS LOOSE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE SEAT. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SEAT CUSHION COVER J-RETAINER BECOMING DISENGAGED FROM THE SEAT CUSHION PAN FLANGE. FOLLOW THE SERVICE PROCEDURE STEPS TO CORRECT THE CONDITION.
SSM 461322017-02-10. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. SOME 2008-2017 FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC MAY GENERATE A VHR THAT IDENTIFIES A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION CATEGORY INDICATING SERVICE IS REQUIRED DUE TO A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED. IF THE PARK BRAKE WAS APPLIED WHEN THE VHR WAS GATHERING DATA FROM THE MAJOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS, THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION MESSAGE WILL BE REPORTED AS THE VHR LOOKS FOR ANY WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. RERUN THE VHR WITH THE ENGINE ON AND VEHICLE IN PARK, AND ENSURE THE PARK BRAKE IS DISENGAGED. IF THE SYNC VHR IS STILL REPORTING A CONCERN TO THE CUSTOMERS SYNC OWNERS ACCOUNT, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION FOR DIAGNOSIS BY DTC OR SYMPTOM. STARTING IN 2015 NOT ALL SYNC EQUIPPED VEHICLES SUPPORT VHR, REFER TO THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR VHR OPERATION.
SSM 461322017-02-07. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. SOME 2008-2017 FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC MAY GENERATE A VHR THAT IDENTIFIES A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION CATEGORY INDICATING SERVICE IS REQUIRED DUE TO A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED. IF THE PARK BRAKE WAS APPLIED WHEN THE VHR WAS GATHERING DATA FROM THE MAJOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS, THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION MESSAGE WILL BE REPORTED AS THE VHR LOOKS FOR ANY WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. RERUN THE VHR WITH THE ENGINE ON AND VEHICLE IN PARK, AND ENSURE THE PARK BRAKE IS DISENGAGED. IF THE SYNC VHR IS STILL REPORTING A CONCERN TO THE CUSTOMERS SYNC OWNERS ACCOUNT, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION FOR DIAGNOSIS BY DTC OR SYMPTOM. STARTING IN 2015 NOT ALL SYNC EQUIPPED VEHICLES SUPPORT VHR, REFER TO THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR VHR OPERATION.
SSM-458212016-08-30. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. SIRI EYES FREE FUNCTIONAL ISSUES USING BLUETOOTH AND APPLE IOS 9.2 AND 9.2.1
16-00432016-06-22. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN. 6F35 TRANSMISSION - FLUID LEAK AT LEFT SIDE HALFSHAFT SEAL BUILT ON OR BEFORE 10/14/2013 ISSUE Some 2009-2014 Escape, 2009-2011 Mariner, 2010-2014 Fusion, 2010-2011 Milan, 2012-2014 Edge/Explorer, and 2013-2014 Taurus/MKT/MKZ vehicles built on or before 10/14/2013 and equipped with a 6F35 automatic transmission may exhibit a fluid leak from the left hand (LH) transmission halfshaft seal due to wear on the transmission case bushing.
15-01562016-06-22. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
449852015-08-17. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS. FORD EXPLORER 2011-2015: BULLETIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE FRONT GLASS WINDOW CHATTERING UP/DOWN WHILE TRAVELING. THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *LJ
14-02232015-08-06. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER. FORD EXPLORER 2012-2015, FORD TAURUS 2013-2015: SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L GASOLINE TURBOCHARGED DIRECT INJECTION ENGINES BUILT BEFORE 10/05/2014 MAY HAVE LACK OF POWER AND MALFUNCTION ILLUMINATED LAMP CODE DUE TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW 0 DEGREES CELSIUS. *LJ
TSB-14-01752015-08-01. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. FORD/LINCOLN: THE AMBIENT LIGHTING ON LINCOLN (MYLINCOLN TOUCH) VEHICLES WILL DEFAULT TO WHITE AND ON FORD (MYFORD TOUCH) VEHICLES WILL DEFAULT TO ICE BLUE AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH CYCLE. *PE
448632015-07-01. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS. FORD: NO SERVICE ACTION IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS CONDITION. PLEASE USE AT YOUR DISCRETION. VARIOUS 2010-2015 VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A TURBULENCE NOISE, SIMILAR TO AN HELICOPTER NOISE, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE REAR DOOR WINDOW(S) OR SUNROOF ARE OPEN. *TA
448562015-07-01. Service bulletin. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL. FORD: CERTAIN 2013-2015 FORD FUSION AND TAURUS, 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORER, 2013-2014 FORD EDGE AND FLEX, 2013-2015 LINCOLN MKS, MKX, AND 2013-2014 LINCOLN MKT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED THAT DOESN'T MATCH THE SPEEDOMETER SPEED. *TA
ASI-447132015-05-26. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. LINCOLN/FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES, THE MOON ROOF SUNSHADE BINDING IS EXPERIENCING ISSUES SUCH AS RETAINING CLIPS/TABS ARE BROKEN AND ITS HARD TO OPEN OR CLOSE. MODEL 2009-14 MKS, 2011-15 EXPLORER, 2013-14 ESCAPE. *PE
TSB-14-01302015-03-17. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. FORD: THERE IS AN EXHAUST ODOR IN VEHICLES WHEN AUXILIARY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ON AND IT SMELLS LIKE SULFUR. MODEL 2011-15 EXPLORER. *PE
TSB-14-01302015-03-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. FORD: WHEN AUXILIARY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ON, AN EXHAUST ODOR, LIKE SULFUR, CAN BE SMELLED. MODEL 2011-15 EXPLORER. *PE
ASI-445642014-10-02. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. FORD/LINCOLN: DUE TO CORROSION BUILDUP BETWEEN BRAKE PAD AND ANCHOR BRACKET, VEHICLE EXPERIENCE A REAR BRAKE DRAG CONDITION AND NEED TO BE CHECKED FOR DEBRIS AND/OR CORROSION. MODEL 2011-2014 EXPLORER, FLEX, TAURUS, EDGE, MKX, MKT, MKS. *PE
ASI-445312014-09-25. Service bulletin. SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST. LINCOLN/FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES AND TRUCKS, THERE IS A POPPING, SQUEALING, BINDING OR GRINDING NOISE COME FROM POWER SEATS WHEN MOVING BACKWARDS OR FORWARD. MODEL 2009-2015 F-150, TAURUS, FLEX, MKT, MKS, F-SUPER DUTY, EXPLORER. *PE
TSB-14-01152014-09-17. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. FORD: IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) THERE IS A TERRAIN MANAGEMENT POP UP WARNING, WITHOUT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) ACCOMPANYING IT, IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE OR TERRAIN CONTROL MODULE. MODEL 2011-2014 EXPLORER. *PE
ASI-443542014-03-29. Service bulletin. ENGINE. FORD/LINCOLN: AN ACCUMULATION OF OIL, IN LEFT HAND VALVE COVER BAFFLE, MIGRATING THROUGH FRESH AIR INTAKE OF POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) SYSTEM, MAY HAVE ENGINE OIL IN INTAKE AIR SYSTEM COMPONENTS. MODEL 2011-2013 EDGE, EXPLORER, MKX, 2013 TAURUS, MKS, MKT, FLEX. *PE
TSB-14-00192014-03-21. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. FORD/LINCOLN: SOME VEHICLES WILL EXPERIENCE A LACK OF AIR CONDITIONING (AC) PERFORMANCE, WITH DUAL ENGINE COOLING FANS, WHILE STATIONARY OR MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND/OR OVERHEAT. MODEL 2011-2012 TAURUS, MKS, EXPLORER, FLEX, MKT. *PE
ASI-443332014-03-18. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. FORD: DUE TO EXCESSIVE LUBE LOSS FROM PTU, OR INTERNAL PTU FAILURE, SOME TRUCKS, WILL EXPERIENCE CONTAMINATION OR SLUDGING OF PTU LUBE, RESULTING IN AN INCREASED INTERNAL LUBE TEMPERATURE. MODEL 2011-2014 EXPLORER, TAURUS SHO. *PE
TSB-13-9-82014-01-10. Service bulletin. ENGINE. LINCOLN/FORD: DUE TO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P0106, P0236, ENGINE ON SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE HESITATION, LOSS OF IDLE RPM, DIFFICULT IN STARTING, LACK OF POWER, RUNNING ROUGH AND CRANK NO START SITUATION. MODEL 2013-2014 TAURUS, EDGE, EXPLORER, 2013-2014 MKT. *PE
TSB-13-6-172013-10-31. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. FORD:LINCOLN: ON SOME VEHICLES, THERE ARE VARIOUS RELATED CONCERNS ABOUT THE SYNC FEATURES, SUCH AS SYNC FEATURES INOPERATIVE, LACK OF OR SLOW RESPONSE TO PHONE AND VOICE BUTTON OPERATION. MODELS 2012-2013 FOCUS, E-SERIES, EDGE, EXPEDITION, FUSION, EXPLORER, F-150, F-250, NAVIGATOR, 2013-2014 FLEX, 2012-2014 FIESTA, MUSTANG, 2013 ESCAPE, C-MAX, TAURUS, 2012 MKZ. *PE
TSB-13-6-132013-10-30. Service bulletin. VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR. FORD: WHEN FRONT WINDOW GLASS, ON SOME VEHICLES, ARE BEING OPENING OR CLOSING, THERE IS A CHATTERING OR JUMPING MOVEMENT. MODELS 2011-2013 EXPLORER. *PE

The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.