KnownCarProblems2011 Ford Explorer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,197 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Explorer, most often about the steering (62% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles). It is 9th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2011 Ford Explorer problems
Steering
742 complaints · 62%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system, rack and pinion, steering control module, hydraulic power assist system.
While driving my vehicle it lost power steering assist system showed "power steering assist failure" as well as "service traction control". This was the scariest feeling I have ever had. This has happen to my husband several times.. I immediately called my local Ford dealership spoke with service advisor. I was told…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH the power steering failed. The contact was able to control the vehicle by exiting to the shoulder. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the failure and stated that there was a national shortage on the component for the…
Other or unspecified
113 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles.
My wife has a 2011 Ford Explorer. It was around christmas when we noticed that gifts in the back storage area were soaking wet. I removed the spare tire and in the spare tire holder was approximately 2 inches of water. I searched water leaks on the internet and was overwhelmed how many people had the same type of…
Car has nauseating smell when air conditioner/heater is on. Air conditioner overhauled at my expense july 26, 2017. Smell remains, although slightly better at times. Smell is a cross between burned rope/urine-type smell. If driving all day, or long distances, I get a headache. Please respond
Body and structure
110 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 100,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
I was driving down i64 east when I started hearing this loud buzzing like noise. Next thing I knew it sounded like something hit my driving side window bounced alone my car and flew behind me causing the driver behind me to dodge it. ...I pulled off the interstate to find that the trim was gone alone the driver side…
When it rains, the rain comes in the truck and seeps through the seatbelts, the front passenger interior handle, the two lights in the top of the truck (above the console), the sterio in the back, the passenger side under the dashboard, through the trim of the windows on driver and front passenger side, and inside the…
Engine
100 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 83,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while the cruise control was set at 58 MPH. The contact was able to coast the vehicle onto the road shoulder. Once the vehicle was restarted, it resumed normal operation. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Exhaust fumes enter the passenger compartment when the AC is running at highway speeds and at any speed when the engine is taxing ie going up a steep grade.
Electrical
95 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: software, instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery, alternator/generator/regulator.
Got into my car after being parked for about an hour and console screen never turned on. No handsfree phone connection, no radio, no navigation, no back up camera. Did not come back after more than 2 weeks of driving. Apim failure and needs to be replaced. Ford knew this part was poor because they extended the…
At approx 1430 on june 2nd on highway on ramp accelerating had the service advancetrac warning light and chime come on and the traction control off light and chime come on and lost all power steering control of vehicle. I immediately put on my emergency flasher and let off the accelerator and forced my Explorer to the…
Transmission
64 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 50,500 miles. Parts named most often: transmission case/housing, automatic transmission.
Car losses power while in motion. Frist time near my home. Second time while driving in town. Stop, turn off motor then back on and message is gone. My car has done this twice now. Do not trust my car to drive far from home. Throttle body assembly is having issues and understand it's been recalled on a different Ford…
On 8/24/2017, while I was driving on garden state parkway, nj, approaching toll gate near exist 114, suddenly the indicator lights showed AWD off and I lost all power. I was able to coast through the toll gate but could not accelerate anymore. I was able to park on road shoulder. I dismissed indicator AWD off warning…
Air bags
44 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles.
Diagnose and advised that driver pretensioner is faulty. I have to pay $400 plus to have this replacement. My air bag light is always on with faulty pretensioner it may not go off in an accident.
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…
Fuel system
40 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 2 MPH, the odor of exhaust fumes filled the vehicle without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered to pay a portion of the…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. While driving, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to jones Ford casa grande (1932 n pinal ave, casa grande, az 85122, ([phone]) where it was diagnosed that the engine block was mixing with the oil. The vehicle was repaired. On another occasion…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Ford Explorer recalls
Body and structure: roof and pillars
Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the a-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between july 18, 2024 and december 16, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24s02.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 explorer vehicles. The a-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Suspension: rear
Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealer will inspect for the presence of a cabj. If a cabj of any design is found, the dealer will inspect the tightness of the cabj, and replace the cabj, knuckle, and/or toe link as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters were mailed november 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on march 17, 2022. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s43.
Full defect summary
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, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin. These vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (cabj) replacement part that could seize, and result in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
Suspension: rear
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began june 26, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s17.
Full defect summary
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.
Body and structure: door
Risk: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on july 23, 2015. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15s11.
Full defect summary
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 return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the power steering control module (pscm) software, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of motor position sensor signal when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on july 23, 2014. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14s06.
Full defect summary
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 electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.
Seats
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat back may not provide the required strength, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners and dealers will repair the seats free of charge. The safety recall began on february 15, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 explorer vehicles manufactured from july 15, 2010, through december 13, 2010, equipped with second row 60% seats with manual recliner mechanisms that may have components that are out of dimensional specification. These seats fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "seating systems."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Windshield trim molding item detachment
Summary
On january 27, 2023, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe23-001 to investigate allegations of a-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (my) 2011-2019 ford explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) reporting this failure. Odi has received 671 voqs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injuries. Some consumers have reported that the failure occurred while they were driving at highway speeds, with the detached trim panel entering the path of travel of the vehicle behind them, requiring the driver of the following vehicle to take evasive action. It is noteworthy that motorists who experi
Exhaust odor in passenger cab
Summary
During the ea17-002 investigation, the agency reviewed and analyzed reports of exhaust odors in the passenger cabins of model year 2011 to 2017 ford explorers. This investigation required an approach that incorporated knowledge and expertise from the automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety fields. The agency conducted an in-depth investigation that encompassed the review of over 6,500 consumer complaints, conducting field inspections, and testing the relevant vehicles, both independently and in coordination with ford and other entities. During the investigation, the evolution of ford service bulletins intended to reduce the level of exhaust odors and carbon monoxid
Ford explorer exhaust odor
Summary
During the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA?s) investigation into the ford carbon monoxide allegations, the office of defects investigation (odi) identified additional vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) reports with similar exhaust odor claims.presently, odi has identified 791 voqs for model year 2011-2017 ford explorers pertaining to exhaust odor claims.odi has identified three crashes and 41 injuries potentially linked this issue.the reported injuries range from unspecified to loss of consciousness, with the majority being nausea, headaches, or dizziness ? All of which can be symptomatic of carbon monoxide exposure.additionally, ford provided 2,400 reports including o
Electric power steering failure
Summary
On may 27, 2014 and amended june 2, 2014, ford motor company (ford) submitted a defect information report (dir) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist in approximately 179,027 model year (my) 2011 through 2013 ford explorer vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (epas), including 82,328 my 2011 explorersthat are the subject of pe12-017.ford has assigned the recall number 14s06.the NHTSA recall number is 14v-286.ford's dir indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.sudden loss of power steering as
Questions about the 2011 Ford Explorer
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Explorer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (742 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles); other or unspecified (113 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); body and structure (110 complaints, typically around 100,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Explorer have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 19, 2024 (body and structure). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Ford Explorer?
- It is 9th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints, with 1,197 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.