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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,786 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.
The dash lights go off then it's says starting rebot. Air bag lights stay on. Check engine light on says miss firng. All Carfax report was forged. Dealer said needs new engine but was not told by seller. No one will fix it they say not worth the price for car. I over paid big time. Got lied too.
Airbag light stays on after have completed all the fixes as stated in the official TSB 12-5-11 05/29/12. The steering has become extremely difficult to turn at low speeds or moving for a complete stop. It is freezing up and get harder as time goes by. The recall is expired, but the symptoms are the exact same as the recall stated.
My air bag control light came on 3 years, I took the vehicle to the Ford dealership a D they discovered the seat belt pretensioner had shorted out. It was replaced at my expense. Fast forward to today and the same light is back on for what I imagine is the seat belt pretensioner again! the light stays on from the time the car is started till it's turned off.
- Hutchinson, KS, USA
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Airbag system malfunction light comes on and off seemingly randomly. No correlation to temperature or humidity. No correlation to being in motion or stopped. Sometimes it stays on for long periods of time (I.e. months). Based on research I've done, it seems that when the airbag indicator is lit, the entire airbag system is off. This is a major safety issue. After about 1 month of it being on steadily, I had it fixed at the dealership, franklin Ford, in franklin, MA. They fixed it through a tsb where connectors were cleaned and re-greased with dielectric grease. This fix lasted about 1 year. After this time period the airbag light came back on, again intermittently and randomly. Again, after about 1 month of steadily on, I took it back to the same dealership, where it was diagnosed to be the same issue. The vehicle was repaired using the same tsb method. This leads to a logical assumption that this fix is only temporary and I will continuously need to have it repaired. I've read accounts online of several other users experiencing this same issue.
Driving 25 to 30 mph when the steering wheel became difficult to turn, .call dealer Ford al piemonte and make and appointment but they say is not a recall, they didn't repaired as yet.( what can I do?) in melrose park Illinois. I took this truck for a recall in 2017 for the same problem and at that time they fix it not this tme.
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!!!
The air bag light keeps coming on and staying on for no reason. I feel this is really a safety issue since the air bags wont inflate if light is on and I have researched this matter and there has been several complaints from other owners who own this vehicle.
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 car has about 95K miles. Currently it is in the shop getting 2 things done. A part is ordered for air bag. I've had several airbag issues needed service. My biggest concern is the power steering unit. I bought the car new from diblasio in 2012 w/ about 7K miles on it. I have extended warranty from Ford. Sept 2016 the original power steering unit failed and was replaced. 14 months later the replacement has now failed and is being replaced! the warning light came on while my wife was driving on the highway. Thank god!!!!! the power assist did not fail or she could have been killed. When I started the car the next time there was no power steering. I had the car towed to dealer. I no longer trust this car. The ps unit is a critical part of the vehicle. I have never owned a car that had a similar problem once, yet twice. With the second time taking only 14 months to fail. I call Ford corporate and told them about the situation and that I no longer trust the car. Looking online, I see articles about a ps unit recall in the 2014S. I don't recall ever receiving a notice about my vehicle and only brought it in when it started acting odd in 2016. Ford asked me what I wanted them to do. At this point I said I no longer want the car and do not want to sell it to someone with what I know and fear. I thought Ford should buy it back from me at a reasonable price and I will get a different vehicle. I was put on hold for show and the person came back and said they were sorry there is nothing they can do and that any time there is a problem I should bring it to the dealer. I am disgusted with Ford and I don't know what my options are. I need help please. I fear anyone driving this car once I get it back tomorrow.
Bought used-air bag light stays on most of the time-- kirk Ford fixed it at dealer cost from barksdale Cadillac where it was purchased.. air bag light still comes on and when I talked to them they said it might be something else causing it.. husband fightin G cancer and I could no get thr recall on door handle fixed. Husband passed away and I dont have funds to get airbag light fixed..I dont know the brand of air bag.so I dont know if it is takata
2011 Ford Explorer that I bought new in 03/2011 and that has an issue about the airbag light being on and off at the very first month of the car purchase it has been constantly checked and fixed for free within the time warranty. Then I have to come and pay almost every year to fix the airbag light.
Restraints indicator lamp warning light came on and won't go off. I have an appointment setup this Friday with my local Ford dealership to have it checked out, but when I researched the issue, I found that a ton of people had the same problem. A majority were resolved by fixing a connection under the driver seat.
Purchased used vehicle January 2017. March 2017 airbag light appeared intermittently at start, when placed in drive, or traveling at variable speeds. April 2017 airbag light now illuminates 95% of time at start and remains on throughout operation. Ford dealership identified airbag code B1212, advising high electrical resistance in gear shifter requiring replacement as will not indicate to vehicle safety monitoring system that vehicle is in proper gear and therefor pass fault detecting system. Repair/replacement approximately $515. Tsb-12-5-11 has been issued for this code, was applied with no resolve. Fault disables critical safety system, is not covered under extended warranty and is owner's financial responsibility. There is an enormous consumer reporting trend for this defect in make/model. Recommend recall investigation as common trend that disables critical vehicle safety feature identified by manufacturer in tsb-12-5-11. Internet research on this matter substantiates multiple and repeated owner/manufacturer historical data supporting claim.
Randomly, the airbag light will come on and remain on until the vehicle is reset, indicating there is an intermittent problem with the SRS system. Happens after starting the vehicle, during the initial testing of components. Upon searching online, there seems to be quite a bit of people with Explorer between 2011-2015 with this problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Warren, OH, USA