Vehicle report

2012 Ford Explorer

Fair price, market signal, reviews, and common issues — all in one place. Tuned to ZIP 43215 (from your location).

Fair price range

$8,200

$7,450 — $8,950

medium confidence

Est. out-the-door

$9,445

$8,640 — $10,249

in Ohio (7.25% tax + fees)

What's shaping this price

  • Age (14 yrs)−$30,566

    11%/yr for suv

  • Mileage (40,000)+$761

    128,000 under expected

Local market signal · 432xx

Avg days on market

33

from 58 comparable listings

30-day price trend

↓ 3.6%

cooling

Prices for this trim in 432xx are trending down — a buyer's edge right now.

Price over its life

2012 → 2026
$15.7k$23.1k$30.6k$38k$8.2k201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

Anchored on the original manufacturer MSRP for this trim, curved to today's typical price via segment depreciation.

Next 5 years (forecast)

2026 → 2031
$5k$6.1k$7.1k$8.2k$3.9k202620272028202920302031

Projected from today's typical price using the segment's annual depreciation rate, with a small penalty for accumulated mileage. Rough forecast — actual resale value swings with the used-car market.

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Affordability72-month loan · Ohio · 1,000 mi/mo

Potential monthly cost of ownership

Loan + insurance + gas — the three big monthly line items.

Estimated monthly total

Loan + insurance + gas

$451/mo

  • Auto loan

    72 months · 10% down · 7.5% APR (national avg)

    $128/mo

  • Insurance

    Full coverage · Ohio average for SUVs

    $96/mo

  • Gas

    19 mpg combined · $4.31/gal · 1,000 mi/mo

    $227/mo

Estimated payments — actual rates depend on credit, coverage, and driving.

Long-term ownership costsDepreciation + maintenance over 5 years, assuming 12,000 mi/yr

$8,871over 5 yrs

~$1,774/yr

  • Depreciation

    $3,621

    Segment: suv

  • Maintenance

    $5,250

    segment ballpark

Depreciation projected from segment averages against today’s typical price; maintenance is an AAA-derived segment ballpark. Loan, insurance, and gas are covered in the Affordability section above.

Safety ratingsOfficial NHTSA crash-test scores + owner complaint volume20 NHTSA complaints
  • Overall

    ★★★★★

    4.0 of 5

  • Frontal crash

    ★★★★★

    4.0 of 5

  • Side crash

    ★★★★★

    5.0 of 5

  • Rollover

    ★★★★★

    4.0 of 5

Averaged across 2 tested body/cab configurations (NHTSA scores by variant).

Safety recallsOfficial NHTSA campaigns for this year / make / model7 total
  • SUSPENSION:REAR

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

    19V435000 · Oct 6, 2019

  • WHEELS:HUB

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

    17E048000 ·

  • STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.

    15V171000 ·

  • STEERING

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain replacement steering gears installed on model year 2011-2012 Explorers as service parts in September 2013 and January 2014. The affected gears may lock, preventing the driver from being able to steer the vehicle.

    14E001000 · Jun 1, 2014

  • STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.

    14V286000 ·

  • SUSPENSION:REAR

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. These vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) replacement part that could seize, and result in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

    21V746000 ·

  • STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

    24V031000 ·

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Ownership economics

Real market data

  • 5-year total cost of ownership — depreciation + fuel + insurance + maintenance, itemized
  • EPA fuel economy — real MPG + annual fuel cost for this trim
  • Safety ratings + recalls — official NHTSA scores and every open campaign

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