2012 FORD EXPLORER steering wheel

Introduction 4
Instrument Cluster 12
Warning lights and chimes 12
Gauges 19
Message center 22
Entertainment Systems 48
MyFord™ system 48
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) 57
USB port 58
SYNC59
Climate Controls 60
Manual heating and air conditioning 60
Automatic temperature control 63
Auxiliary passenger climate control 68
Rear window defroster 68
Lights 71
Headlamps 71
Turn signal control 76
Bulb replacement 78
Driver Controls 86
Windshield wiper/washer control 86
Steering wheel adjustment 88
Power windows 93
Mirrors 94
Speed control 98
Adaptive cruise control 100
Moon roof 110
Locks and Security 126
Keys 126
Locks 133
Anti-theft system 148
Table of Contents
1
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Your vehicle is not equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation
Package.
DATA RECORDING
Service Data Recording
Service data recorders in your vehicle are capable of collecting and
storing diagnostic information about your vehicle. This potentially
includes information about the performance or status of various systems
and modules in the vehicle, such as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and service your vehicle, Ford
Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities may
access or share among them vehicle diagnostic information received
through a direct connection to your vehicle when diagnosing or servicing
your vehicle. For U.S. only (if equipped), if you choose to use the SYNC
Vehicle Health Report, you consent that certain diagnostic information
may also be accessed electronically by Ford Motor Company and Ford
authorized service facilities, and that the diagnostic information may be
used for any purpose. See yourSYNCsupplement for more information.
Event Data Recording
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). The
main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle; this data will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data
related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period
of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
•How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
•Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
•How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or the brake pedal; and
•How fast the vehicle was travelling; and
•Where the driver was positioning the steering wheel.
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
Introduction
7
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

BASE MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING:Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle
control, accident and injury. Ford strongly recommends that
drivers use extreme caution when using any device or feature that may
take their focus off the road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of the vehicle. We recommend against the use of any
handheld device while driving and that you comply with all applicable
laws.
Your vehicle’s message center is capable of monitoring many vehicle
systems and will alert you to potential vehicle problems and various
conditions with informational messages and/or warnings.
The message center is also used to program/configure the different
features of your vehicle. The message center display is located in the
instrument cluster.
Use the left steering wheel controls to navigate through the message
center.
•Press the up/down arrow buttons
to move up/down through the
message center choices.
•Press the left/right arrow buttons
to move left/right through the
message center choices.
•Press the OK button to select
highlighted options and confirm
choices/messages.
km/hF
E
MPH
Instrument Cluster
22
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

*System Check
Oil Life
Washer Fluid
Doors
Liftgate
Blind spot
Cross Traffic
Brakes
Fuel
The number of warnings will be listed first. All active warnings will
display first if applicable. The system check menu may appear different
based upon equipment options and current vehicle status. Use the
up/down arrow buttons to scroll through the list; press the right arrow
button to display specific information on the highlighted warning.
*Note:Some items are optional and may not appear.
System warnings and status messages
SeeSystem warning and status messageslater in this chapter for more
information.
OPTIONAL MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING:Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle
control, accident and injury. Ford strongly recommends that
drivers use extreme caution when using any device or feature that may
take their focus off the road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of the vehicle. We recommend against the use of any
handheld device while driving and that you comply with all applicable
laws.
Your vehicle’s message center is capable of monitoring many vehicle
systems and will alert you to potential vehicle problems and various
conditions with informational messages and/or warnings.
The message center is also used to program/configure the different
features of your vehicle.
The message center display is located in the instrument cluster.
Use the left steering wheel controls to navigate through the message
center.
Instrument Cluster
26
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

To change the Menu Control between Standard or Memory On, refer to
Vehicle and Menu Controlfound in the table under theSettingssection
later in this chapter.
Display Mode
Press the right arrow on the left steering wheel mounted button when
display mode is selected. The boxes in the upper right corner of the
screen indicate that there are multiple screens that you can navigate
through. Each press of the right arrow will navigate to the next screen
until the last screen is reached. The white highlighted box indicates
which of the screens you are currently viewing:
Note:Regardless of display mode chosen, when SST is activated, the
cluster will change to the tachometer if not already selected, and the M
will light up in the shift select indicator and also in the message center.
Refer toAutomatic transmission operationin theDrivingchapter.
Distance to empty (DTE) + Fuel
gauge + Bar tachometer
•Distance to empty (DTE): Shows approximate fuel level before the
fuel tank reaches empty. The value is dynamic and can change (raise
or lower) depending on driving style.
•Fuel gauge: Indicates approximately how much fuel is left in the fuel
tank. The fuel gauge may vary slightly when the vehicle is in motion
or on a grade. When the fuel level becomes low (50 miles [80 km] to
empty), the level indicator will change to amber. When the fuel level
becomes critically low (0 miles [0 km] to empty), the level indicator
will change to red.
Note:When a MyKeyis in use, low fuel warnings will display earlier
.
•Bar tachometer: Indicates the engine speed in revolutions per minute.
Driving with your tachometer pointer continuously at the top of the
scale may damage the engine.
F6
4
RPM
1000+
2
0
01234.5mi
E
Instrument Cluster
28
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

SelectShift Automatic™ transmission (SST)
This feature allows you to manually shift gears. If your vehicle is
equipped with this feature it will be denoted by an M instead of an L
located in the shift selector indicator.
Regardless of display mode chosen, when SST is activated, the cluster
will change to the tachometer if not already selected, and the M will light
up in the shift select indicator and also in the message center. Refer to
Automatic transmission operationin theDrivingchapter.
The selected gear will be displayed
at the bottom of the vertical bar
tachometer (if selected).
The selected gear will be displayed
within the full analog tachometer (if
selected).
Trip1&2
Press the right arrow on the left steering wheel mounted button when
trip1&2isselected.Theboxes in the upper right corner of the screen
indicate that there are multiple screens that you can navigate through.
Each press of the right arrow will navigate to the next screen until the
last screen is reached. The white highlighted box indicates which of the
screens you are currently viewing:
Choose the standard or enhanced display. See theSettingschart
following to reach the trip display settings.
6
4
RPM
1000
2
0
Instrument Cluster
30
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Standard trip display
•Trip distance — shows the
accumulated trip distance
•Elapsed trip time — timer stops
when the vehicle is turned off
and restarts when the vehicle is
restarted.
Enhanced trip display
•Trip distance — shows the
accumulated trip distance
•Average fuel economy — shows
the average fuel economy for a
given trip.
•Estimated amount of fuel
consumed — shows the amount
of fuel used for a given trip.
•Elapsed trip time — timer stops
when the vehicle is turned off and restarts when the vehicle is
restarted.
Press OK to pause the Trip 1 or 2 screen. Press again to un-pause.
Press and hold OK to reset the currently displayed trip information.
Fuel Economy
Press the right arrow on the left steering wheel mounted button when
fuel economy is selected. The boxes in the upper right corner of the
screen indicate that there are multiple screens that you can navigate
through. Each press of the right arrow will navigate to the next screen
until the last screen is reached. The white highlighted box indicates
which of the screens you are currently viewing:
F6
4 139.5 mi Trip 1
00:58:44
RPM
1000+
2
0
01234.5mi
E
F6
4 139.5 mi Trip 1
28.5
MPG300.5 GAL
00:58:44
RPM
1000+
2
0
01234.5mi
E
Instrument Cluster
31
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Collision Warning
System MessagesAction / Description
COLLISION
WARNING
MALFUNCTIONDisplayed when there is a system malfunction
with the collision warning system. The system
will be disabled.
Door Messages Action / Description
X DOOR AJARDisplayed when a door is not completely
closed.
LIFTGATE AJARDisplayed when the liftgate is not completely
closed.
Fuel Messages Action / Description
CHECK FUEL FILL
INLETDisplayed when the fuel fill inlet may not be
properly closed. Refer toEasy Fuel“no cap”
fuel systemin theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter.
FUEL LEVEL LOW
XXX MI TO EDisplayed as an early reminder of a low fuel
condition.
General Messages Action / Description
SHIFT TO PARKDisplayed when the engine is turned off with
the shift select lever in any position other than
P (Park).
STEERING LOCK
TURN WHEEL TO
UNLOCKDisplays when you need to turn the steering
wheel in order to disengage the steering lock.
Instrument Cluster
41
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)