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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.

7.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,200
Average Mileage:
20,800 miles
Total Complaints:
15 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (12 reports)
  2. take it back to the dealer! (2 reports)
  3. replace system (1 reports)
2011 Ford Explorer accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2011 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #15

Jun 102017

Explorer Limited 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This system has flaws to say the least. When we needed it most the Navigation stopped working. Everything on the screen stopped working. Got lost in Houston. What a disappointment.

- Carlos C., Mission, TX, US

problem #14

May 152015

Explorer XLT 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

This vehicle is a big piece of sh*t! First the electric steering failed luckily a recall fixed it, then the myford touch screen failed and won't even come on. Now a dealer repair shop said it has to be replaced to function again. At a cost of 1200 dollars. I've read this is a very common issue and Ford is not doing anything to help those unfortunate enough to own one of these piles of crapper. If Ford doesn't fix our Explorer at their cost since its a well known and common problem, I will never buy another Ford again. If I could afford a lawyer, I'd sue them for it.

- anthonyn, Grove, OK, US

problem #13

Aug 122013

Explorer XLT 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles

The Sync system locks-up or goes through "scheduled maintenance" (which makes it unusable) fairly often. I've updated the firmware myself to make sure I have the latest (which is a ridiculously painful process), but these problems still occur about once a month. Since the system controls just about everything in the car, it's a major headache when it can't be accessed. Also, the GPS system has become unreliable as well. It frequently shows that there's no signal, despite it being a clear day with no obstructions.

- Patrick P., Little Silver, NJ, US

problem #12

Oct 012013

Explorer Limited 3.5L V6 Tivct

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have notice that sometimes my Radio will go off or won't even come on when I start the car. Stays off for more than ten minutes at a time. Nothing is on the screen sometimes. Just recently started doing this about six months ago . I think there is something wrong with my SYNC System.

- Sandy S., Tyrone, GA, US

problem #11

Sep 022013

Explorer XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

The Nsync system seems to have a real issue understanding what I am saying. It doesn't make sense to have a hands free calling system if you have to find the numbers yourself. I have upgraded it in the past and it gets better for a little while and them it goes back to not understanding anything I say. The dealer said there was a recall and that they fixed it but I have been unable to try it due to the dealer having it for a month with the power steering issue.

- lyoung0930, Hartford, WI, US

problem #10

Jun 232011

Explorer Limited 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,400 miles

June 2011 bought the brand new Ford Explorer 2011, with the New have to have Ford Sync My Ride. Safest car on the road "you know" Well since I have driven it 16500 is not a lot of miles in almost 24 months.

The system is divided in 4 sections, phone, navigation, heat & cool as well as entertainment..Well this is how the story goes. I had an HTC smart phone, my husband a motorola Droid. I was told HTC was not comparable and the best option would be a iPhone.

So with in a 6 months period I had the iPhone 3 and Droid still for my husband. I have since replaced it with the iPhone 4 and then a replacement for the same toy iPhone but the new operating system. Ford says that the issues i am seeing the iPhone, Verizon when phone messes up says Apple, when Ford sync does not work, then it is the iPhone again. Three Top sellers telling me it is the others fault.

I just want it fixed. if there is something that the three of them cant figure out because the don't or won't or cant figure it out so they blame it on the other. I need the frustration to go away especially with the HUGE amount of money spent on each one as a individual item, but as a whole it is well over $1000 per month and $50,800 spent to buy them. I have heard from all but not a fix to be found between them.

suggestions clues or help me get it bought back and I will be the happiest person Ever!

Problems are: * Navigation locking up or warning blinks that it is no longer connected - but it is always in place and connected properly. * When listening to my Music on iPhone with USB - there are 3 places to see what is playing with counters - the main large screen willl show a song, the screen in steering column shows a different artist and iPhone shows one of them....but the song that is playing can be one of those songs or actually be some other song playing.

Driving forward down the road at 55 miles per hour and all of the sudden the back up camera is on and you can now see in the large display that view from behind the car and the cars driving toward you, it is freaky!

Any random day you get into the car and the ambient lighting that is set is just gone. no lights, no on dim not on bright, just not on - go to the setting and the lighting shows on and the color chosen - but it is NOT on. turn it on turn it off and repeat.... it can take days and weeks,but it comes back on eventually.

Oh so you are going to love this one. The back up cameras go on because it is much safer to see the lines to park....oh but wait this time .... no lines they are green yellow and red, you know why. .... now today no lines....check the settings and the lines are on, but not there. Ford resets them and they come back on again sometime down the loan. ---- oh last update the lines are there and if you are crocked a little bit the area between the lines fills in slightly - and if you are crocked and no going straight back the box on the other side will not show until you are lined up straight,

ok and the best and fun one. With the cell phone connected you can make calls and redial and multi call. This all to keep your hands free and mind on driving. BUT there is no rhyme or reason for most times you use it. If you called someone and want to redial.... weel good luck- it is anyones guess as to who you will redial. Yes there is nothing in the steering wheel monitor shows redial, but no number or name,,,,, so it is a guess. I just don't. If you want to use the favorites that is good, but ------

I am BEING TOLD that the reason my sync system is NOT working correctly is my iPhone...... and some character is messing it up. if all other cell phones work and the iPhone is the reason it messes up..... then FIX THE FORD!!!! ---- oh i do have pictures of all these issues, per I don't like to be called a liar.

- hollyjow, Beaverton, OR, US

problem #9

Jul 132011

Explorer Limited 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Navigation Fault keeps appearing on the screen and prevents you from performing any functions. To say this new sync system is glitchy is an understatement. It has probably functioned incorrectly more than it does correctly. And when it was working, the lag time between touching and functioning is very slow. I also have a new appreciation for buttons that I can feel and that provide feedback through touch because you do not have to take your eyes off the road to use them.

Update from Feb 14, 2012: The dealer did an update and it, didn't work. Took it back the following day, they tried again and it has been working since. No glitches and fast as new and its been about a month so it looks like its good.

- Everet B., Humboldt, SK, Canada

problem #8

Mar 112011

Explorer Limited 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20 miles

Sync is inoperable and very annoying - going on 10 months now - Ford has no solution to date.

- lhardware, Wilkesboro, NC, US

problem #7

Jul 302011

Explorer Limited V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,200 miles

ford's mysync screen went black - lost radio, back up camera. without the screen you can't use the radio, phone, navigation and the climate controls.

- sawgrass4846, Leesburg, FL, US

problem #6

Jul 202011

Explorer XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,800 miles

This is the THIRD time I have taken my new car back to the dealer. First it was for the fan for the AC that was bad and it had to be replaced....but they did not have the part and it had to be ordered...two weeks later...it was fixed.

- cleghorne, Gainesville, GA, US

problem #5

Sep 122011

Explorer XLT 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1.I took the vehicle to update the software, because it kept disconnecting the phone and or MP3 player, but know after the update, it is taking longer to browse and two days ago it had problems connecting to the phone.

2.It is taking more than two hours to index the media player.

3.When requesting a song by Artist, it will play a different artist not the requested one. When it does, it will stay as is for a long time doing nothing, and then minutes later it will start playing any song.

4.The A/C; After storing a temp as “My Temp” most of the time the system will say “My Temp ON” but it does not change the temperature to prior stored temperature. Another problem with the A/C is that for some reason sometimes it turns on or off by itself, and it gets warmer when increasing speed.

5.My vehicle health report; gave me a warning regarding the brake system, and then when I tried to double check and ran another vehicle health report, the system kept failing, cannot do it from the vehicle. Now it is working, but for some reason it gave me a low oil pressure. Three days ago it showed again, and then I got another report all good... I do not know if we can trust the vehicle health reports

6.My SYNC services; when requesting directions it keeps misinterpreting commands as well as disconnecting when downloading a route.

7.Two days ago, the whole system failed. The screen was blank. I came on and the backup camera did not showed up. Also, when I tried to set my preferences on the steering wheel controls for the left LCD display, it did not change anything, from locks, to lights and so on.

8.I had a Ford Fusion with Sync (older model) and never had these problems, especially when I have been going back a forward to the dealership since I brought the vehicle.

- rafarios, North Bethesda, MD, US

problem #4

Sep 032011

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,000 miles

SYNC stinks. Second time this has frozen on me. I was on east coast starting drive to Texas. long drive with no music or navigation.

Ford says hope to have fix by January 2012. Do not buy Ford product with SYNC right now. Let them try and find solution before buying.

Ford not offering to help drivers , only saying so sorry for problem. really....so sorry you had to drive 1800 miles alone with no SYNC...which was part of why you bought our product.

Shame on Ford for not taking care of your consumers. On second thought... never buy from Ford.

- dmason, Houston, TX, US

problem #3

Jun 172011

Explorer Limited 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,500 miles

Screen froze. Time didn't change. Displayed same song forever. Couldn't change any options from the screen. When we stopped for gas and turned the car off and started it again it reset itself. It was disturbing since we had the car for all of 2 days.

- Leah A., Palm Harbor, FL, US

problem #2

Jul 052011

Explorer Limited 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,145 miles

No screen when I started the car. All those lovely features that I paid significantly for didn't work. No radio. The only thing that seemed to still work was the air conditioning, thank goodness. Took it to a dealer and they did some kind of reprogram of the computer that took 2 hours. It seemed to work fine afterward.

- Leah A., Palm Harbor, FL, US

problem #1

Jun 012011

Explorer XLT 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,500 miles

The Sync system loses track of time. Randomly changes time when you get into the car. Also, previous destinations history disappears so you have to reenter them. The Sync system reboots without warning for an update even if the driving system is in the middle of giving you directions to a destination. It can take several minutes for a reboot. Why didn't Ford partner with Apple instead of Microsoft's Sync? At least it would be reliable. Sync is a disaster.

- Dean S., Woodinville, WA, US

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