CarComplaints.com Notes: The NHTSA's complaint data shows potentially scary power steering problems with the 2011 Ford Explorer.
The steering complaints are pretty serious - owners report the power steering cuts out while driving. The NHTSA opened an investigation into the power steering problems in June 2012, which lead to a recall in 2014. However years later, many 2011 Explorer owners report this defect is still occurring.
It's too bad because the 2009 & 2010 Ford Explorer are solid, trouble-free model years.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,410 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Vehicle was purchased a couple of months ago and has been fine until today. Pulled into the gas station, tire low light came on, pulled over to get air and power steering went out. Couldn't get the vehicle steering to work at all.
Started the Ford and the backup camera was not functioning. Also noticed the 'sync' screen was blank, climate controls were not visible (functioning) as well as the radio system was not functioning. Went out and started the SUV in my driveway, everything was correct when I returned home the night before.
I have had this truck for ruffly 3yrs. When I first bought the car something was wrong with it immediately.... I was driving to the mail box after getting home from about a 30min trip. The whole car cut off lights were dim in the car, steering had locked very hard to turn... automax in killeen took the car in for service. Had the new purchased truck for a month and 2 days. Their service team told me it was the battery. I felt other wise and no longer wanted the car. But of course by this time all paperwork had went through to the bank......drove the truck fine for about 8months, then broke down the same way as the very first time but on a bridge this time...... this time around I was told it was the engine, got a second opinion, said person said water pump. I fixed the water pump. Now guess what"?? its actually the engine.... I am blown away by how many problems I have had with this Ford Explorer..... I thought I was making a great purchase going with a Ford. This truck sat in the driveway for a year while in nursing school..... I am lost and at my wits end..... when I look for recalls all I am seeing is suspension issues or towing.... when I talk to mechanics they say these models are know for bad engines, thus is another reason why the 2011 Ford Explorer engines are more expensive..... I am looking for help. Has anyone else had these same issues. I owe 14000 still on this truck and how could it need a new engine already"
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the infotainment screen was not illuminated. The vehicle was taken to J. O. williams motors (419 E broadway ave, gladewater, tx 75647, (903) 845-2222) where the contact was informed that the accessory protocol interface module (apim)needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the warranty regarding NHTSA id number: 10053471 (equipment, equipment adaptive) was closed. The failure mileage was unknown.
I lose power steering when I turn the car on and have to turn it off and back on to regain power steering. This has occurred multiple times throughout the last few years.
Numerous repairs to airbag system. Airbag light is on and previous repairs include, seatbelt tensioner, sevreral jumpers around the connection underneath drivers seat, as well as some kind of programming in the computer system. Ive owned the vehicle since it was brand new and it has been in dealer at least 6 times for aiirbag issues. Please do a full inspection of the airbag sytem including faulty wiring harness!!!
When you shift the vehicle in park, the parking sensor does not always recognize the shift thus leaving a message on the dashboard/screen saying 'shift to park.' To correct the issue you have depress the shift lever over and over to get it to shift in park. This is a known problem on the blogs, amongst various Ford owners.
Engine damage due to overheating. Regular and required oil changes are documented and implemented as scheduled. No other engine or vehicle malfunctions during the course of ownership, except regular oil changes and tire replacement. However, on May 15, 2019, vehicle sensor notified oil change needed. Five days later vehicle stalled at local motel due to decreased power, rocking motion of car and luckily we were able to slowly turn into local hotel to cut off engine and get to safety. After 2 hours of letting vehicle set and cool down, local mechanic, checked and said we had enough oil in vehicle and not sure what happened. Was able to drive vehicle home, with no sensors on dashboard alerting us to any further problems. Three days later, with no visible sensors flashing, car began to exhibit rocking motion not sputtering motion as I began to pull out in four-way intersection, and approaching traffic heading my way. Then suddenly, car regained power and was able to continue to proper lane as if nothing was wrong. After traveling another 1.6 miles, car just starting losing power, check engine, low oil pressure light, temperature light warning all appeared suddenly. I was able to drift in middle lane in front of dealership where vehicle was purchased. I immediatedly turned vehicle off and walked to dealership to get help in moving vehicle off the road. After 3days of waiting, duncah dealership in christiansburg, va, notifed us that head gasget was cracked and over 7,000 repair bill was needed to fix engine repair. As noted before no major problems has ever been repaired or replaced regarding this vehicle. During the two incidents regarding the vehhicle losing power, without no visible vehicle sensor notifications is of great concern to us regarding our safety in driving our vehicle. Thankfully, we weren't on a major highway.
"service power steering" warning light came on, code was for left steering control module. One week later, power steering was intermittent, then went out completely. Took in to Ford dealership, code for safety recall 15N01 came up, Ford dealership says my vehicle is covered under recall but Ford Motor Company refuses to fix, stating "no household loyalty", because I've not purchased a Ford brand new. When calling Ford about the issue, they say they "will stand behind the Ford dealerahip in their decision"; yet now that the dealership is ready to fix and waiting for the authorization code from fmc, fmc will not stand behind the dealerships decision.
This vehicle was in for a recall for the electrical power steering. Recall was done on the vehicle in 2014 now in 2019 at 150,000 miles and again the same problem only this time it cost me $1,800 to get fix just to have the same problem recur 3 times. I also got into an accident. This is more than a safety issue and I notice a lot of people complaining about the same thing. When will Ford decided to address this issue!
Every time I go in the highway and I go 60 miles per hour I start smelling the exhaust smell inside my car start feeling kind of dizzy with headaches took the car to the dealer check that and it's doing it again exhaust smell comes inside of car really bad
Experiencing intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear. Causes a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the air conditioner/heating unit failed causing the windows and the windshield to be unable to defrost. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (autonation Ford North canton, 5900 whipple ave nw, North canton, oh 44720, 1-877-346-8338) where it was diagnosed that 1 of the 4 motor blenders failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired at a discounted rate but approximately one year later the failure reoccurred where another 1 of the 4 motor blenders failed. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where the second motor blender was replaced. The vehicle was repaired and covered under an extended warranty program purchased by the contact. The vehicle was repaired however the contact was concerned that the other 2 motor blenders in the vehicle would also fail. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 29,416.
The "sync" touchscreen stopped working. Once this happened the passenger side airbag sets to "off" all the time. The Ford dealer reports it requires a new apin, which was covered under a recall but only for 5 years from date of new purchase.
My whole sync system has turned off not allowing in visual on controlling radio, temperature, or destination. The problem occurred after purchasing but I had live now noticed it's gettibg worse. There are a lot of trouble shooting ideas suggested. Disconnecting negative cable, removing a fuse, and restarting sync system. I am now going on three weeks and my issue is yet to be resolved. I believe this may be more electrical then sync system.
When driving a warm vehicle (meaning it was driven and then parked for 1-5 hours) then driving it a second time within this time frame, the vehicle will die after driving 15-25 minutes. When this happens, the radio continues to work, the engine shuts off, the interior lights come on and the lights around the speedometer come on. The rest of the instrumental panel is dead. The remote will lock and unlock the doors. The car will remain in this state for anywhere from 10 seconds to 4 or 5 minutes. This has happened 6 or so times in the month that I have had the vehicle. It has happened pulling up to a stop sign and also going 75 mph on the interstate (which is very scary). It has always happened in this 15-25 min timeframe. I have never had it happen in less time than this nor have I had it happen after the vehicle has run cleanly for 25-30 min. I have driven the vehicle to akron, oh and back. It happened twice on that trip. One time after we had driven for ~3 hours, stopped to eat for an hour and then got back on the road. It died about 15-20 min after we were on the road. It stayed in the "dead" state for about 2 min, then started back up and I was able to drive another 3 hours with no issue. It happened a second time when we were getting ready to travel home. We drove about 3 miles to a restaurant, ate for about an hour again. Then when we got on the road to travel back it died about 15-20 min after we got on the road. This time it was only out for about 15 seconds because it came back on and jump started before I could even get it off the road. This is the only time that has happened.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jacksonville, FL, USA