Parts Bench › Parts › 2012 Ford Explorer

2012 Ford Explorer parts

Common replacement parts for the 2012 Ford Explorer, what usually wears out, a general maintenance schedule, and where to shop. Parts can differ by engine, trim and build date, so confirm fitment with your VIN before you buy.

Shop the 2012 Ford Explorer in the app

Popular parts

Brakes

Ignition & Starting

Electrical & Charging

Cooling

Belts & Pulleys

Serpentine Belt

Engine

Fuel System

Air Intake & Turbo

Maintenance

Exhaust & Emissions

Catalytic Converter

Sensors & Modules

Steering

Outer Tie Rod End

Suspension

Drivetrain & Axles

CV Axle Shaft

Heating & A/C

Lighting

Body & Exterior

Wiper Blades

General maintenance schedule

These are common starting intervals, not a factory schedule for your engine. Your owner's manual always wins.

Engine oil & filter	Every 5,000 miles or 6 months Use the oil grade and spec in your owner's manual. Some engines allow longer.
Tire rotation	Every 7,500 miles or 6 months Also a good time to check tread depth and pressures.
Brake inspection	Every 12,000 miles or 1 year Pads, rotors, lines and fluid level.
Cabin air filter	Every 15,000 miles or 1 year Sooner if the airflow smells musty or feels weak.
Engine air filter	Every 20,000 miles or 2 years Sooner on dusty or gravel roads.
Wiper blades	Every 1 year
12V battery test	Every 3 years Most 12V batteries last 3 to 5 years. Test before winter.
Brake fluid flush	Every 30,000 miles or 2 years Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time.
Spark plugs	Every 60,000 miles Iridium or platinum plugs often go 100,000 miles. Check the manual.
Transmission fluid	Every 60,000 miles Interval varies a lot by transmission. Check the manual.
Coolant flush	Every 60,000 miles or 5 years Some long-life coolants go 100,000+ miles.
Serpentine belt	Every 90,000 miles Inspect for cracks at every oil change.
Timing belt (if equipped)	Every 90,000 miles or 7 years Skip if your engine has a timing chain. Check the manual.

Safety recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2012 Ford Explorer. Recalls apply by model year, and not every vehicle of that year is affected. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

SUSPENSION:REAR (19V435000): 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.
WHEELS:HUB (17E048000): 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 bear…
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR (15V171000): 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 retu…
STEERING (14E001000): 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 d…
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM (14V286000): 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 …
SUSPENSION:REAR (21V746000): 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, Marylan…

Showing 6 of 7.

Other Ford Explorer years

Parts Bench is a free tool for identifying a vehicle, tracking maintenance and finding parts. Open the app to save your vehicle and keep a maintenance log.

Links to eBay and other stores are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Parts Bench is not a store and does not sell parts. Always confirm fitment with the seller before you buy.