Page 15 of 24 · complaints 701–750 of 1,198

2011 Ford Explorer complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2011 record →

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 28, 2017105,000 milesNJ

EXHAUST LEAK PROBLEM IN MY CAR WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON OR WHEN I ACCELERATE. THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS CONSTANTLY, EVEN WHEN IT IS PARKED AND IN MY GARAGE. I AM TERRIFIED FOR MY THREE CHILDREN. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD TWICE ALREADY AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT AND EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. NO WAY! WE ARE ALL SICK ALL OF THE TIME. I AM TERRIFIED TO EVEN DRIVE IT.

Engine
Filed Mar 16, 20172 milesNY

WENT TO GO DRIVE THE SUV WHILE DOING ONLY 25 MPH & IT WAS RAVING OUR 3-5 RPM. WHILE DRUG IN THE CITY

Steering
Filed Mar 9, 2017120,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND OPERATED AS NORMAL AFTER BEING RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14E001000 (STEERING) OR 14V286000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 2, 2017CA

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES OFF & ON WHEN DRIVING. WHEN LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAG WILL NOT OPERATE IN A CRASH.

Engine
Filed Feb 22, 201790,000 milesCA

WE HAVE EXHAUST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN CLIMBING A HILL OR AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, WE NOTICE THE PROBLEM WHEN UNDER ACCELARATION AND WHILE USING THE HEATER/AC. WILL OPEN THE WINDOW WHEN STOPPED WITH THE CAR IDELING TO LESSEN THE SMELL. HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD BUT HAVE HAD NOTHING DONE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLITEN ON THE VALVE COVER WITH A REPLACEMENT PART BUT FORD HAS NOT RECALLED IT AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 20, 2017101,567 milesRI

WITHIN THE PAST YEAR WE HAVE SMELLED ROTTEN EGGS IN THE CAB OF OUR EXPLORER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT ASSUMED IT WAS NOTHING. UPON READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION INTO CARBON MONOXIDE SEEPING INTO THE CAB WE ARE EXTREMELY NERVOUS. WE HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN THE BEHICLE IS DRIVING.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 19, 201739,000 milesNY

SINCE I GOT MY EXPLORER IN DEC 2014 OFF AND ON I'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH A FOUL SMELL IN THE CAR. SINCE IT WOULD COME AND GO I JUST WOULD USE MORE AIR FRESHENERS WHEN IT HAPPENED. BUT RECENTLY IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE! THE SMELL NOW IS UNBEARABLE ,I'VE BEEN RECENTLY DEALING WITH REAL BAD HEADACHES AS WELL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 64K MILES AND NOW AFTER SO RESEARCH I SEE IT'S A PROBLEM WITH OTHERS ALSO! I NEVER USED TO LIKE FORD BEFORE BUT THE LOOK OF THIS ONE CAUGHT MY EYE. I SHOULD'VE STAYED AWAY, THIS PURCHASE WAS A HUGE MISTAKE! UNTIL I CAN GET RID OF THIS CAR MY KIDS WILL NOT RIDE WITH ME IN IT AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN I'M DRIVING AND WHEN I PARK AFTER DRIVING. IT SMELLS AND SMOKE COMES FROM UNDER THE CAR WHEN I STOP AT RED LIGHTS

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 17, 201750 milesWY

FREQUENT STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAB, WORSE AFTER DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS THEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING AND SITTING WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING

Engine
Filed Feb 17, 201797,000 milesNY

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN ACCELERATING THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SMELLS OF ROTTING EGGS. FROM TIME TO TIME IT IS SMELT WHEN SITTING AT AND IDLING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OUR 2011 FORD EXPLORER.

Engine
Filed Feb 15, 201751,000 milesTX

STRONG ENGINE EXHAUST SMELL IN VEHICLE CABIN WHILE DRIVING, DURING ENGINE OPERATION ABOVE 3000-3500 RPM WITH WINDOWS CLOSED AND CLIMATE CONTROL ON. OUTSIDE AIR ON OR OFF SEEMS TO MAKE NO DIFFERENCE.

Engine
Filed Feb 14, 201783,000 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING AND ESPECIALLY AFTER, THERE IS A BURNING HAIR SMELL THAT IS IN THE CAR AND WHEN YOU STEP OUTSIDE THE CAR IT IS VERY STRONG IN THE ENGINE. UPON LEARNING OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TOO LATE, IT HELPED MAKE SENSE WHY I WAS SMELLING THE "BURNT HAIR" SMELL WHEN I RAN THE HEATER AND/OR AC. THIS WAS ANYTIME I DROVE THE CAR WHETHER HIGHWAY DRIVING OR AROUND TOWN.

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 14, 201750,000 milesPA

WHEN ACCELERATING UP INCLINES OR HILLS OR WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM THE ACCELERATION LANE OR ACCELERATING TO PASS A STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST GAS CAN BE DETECTED IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG THE WINDOWS HAVE TO BE LET DOWN TO EVACUATE THE CABIN OF THE EXHAUST GAS.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 14, 2017TX

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED CLEARLY DISCERNIBLE EXHAUST GAS LEAKS INTO THE CABIN OF THE 2011 EXPLORER, WHICH ARE MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP RECENTLY, AND THEY IMPLEMENTED A TSB FROM FORD THAT INVOLVED ADDING SMALL VENTS IN THE REAR DOOR AREA. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL US IF THIS WOULD ACTUALLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AND WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THAT TIME, SO DON'T YET KNOW IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY THE TSB IMPLEMENTATION.

Power Train
Filed Feb 6, 2017114,000 milesMD

MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER HAD A FAULTY TRANSFER CASE, WHICH SET ME BACK $2000.00. THE ISSUE I WAS EXPERIENCING WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN MY FRONT END WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD EXPERIENCE HESITATION WHEN INCREASING SPEEDS, AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. WHILE GOING IN REVERSE, THE CAR WOULD STALL AND THE GEAR WOULD LOCK. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND TRY TO REVERSE AGAIN, IN ORDER TO MOVE. MAZDA HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR TRANSFER CASE, WHICH IS THE SAME TRANSFER CASE ON THE 2011 FORD EXPLORER!!!!!!! THIS CAR HAS MAJOR ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD. I JUST RECENTLY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK, WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY RECALLED BY FORD AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. THE 2011 FORD EXPLORER TRANSFER CASE SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD. THE TRANSFER CASE CAN DISMANTLE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHILE YOUR ARE DRIVING!!

Steering
Filed Feb 3, 201775,590 milesWV

MY STEERING GEAR WENT BAD ON 1-18-2017 I REPLACED IT AT MY COST $1,666.73 IT LASTED ABOUT 10 DAYS AND WENT OUT AGAIN.

SuspensionCrash
Filed Feb 1, 201774 milesAK

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MY CAR LOST CONTROL. THIS WAS REALLY SCARY. I SAW SEVERED CRAVING FOR WELD. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS -25. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. HE REFUSED TO HELP ME. NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I FEAR FOR THE LIVES OF THEIR LOVED ONES. DATE OF INCIDENT: 27 JANUARY 2017 VIDEO SCENE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=59M8A1KXYPO I'M FROM RUSSIA. HOPE ONLY ON YOU. MY ADDRESS [XXX] TELEPHONE [XXX] I DO NOT WISH THAT EVEN SOMEONE HURT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 27, 2017146,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

Steering
Filed Jan 25, 2017159,000 milesGA

AT START, VEHICLE SHOWS POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE AND BECAUSE VEHICLE IS PARKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL - STARTED 2 MONTHS AGO AS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, THEN PERMANENT FAILURE NOW. ISSUE HAS NOT OCCURRED, YET, WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE SUBJECT TO RECALL 14V286000 - EVALUATED IN OCT 2014 WHEN NO FAULTS OR DTCS WERE SHOWING UP - DEALER SAID SOFTWARE UPDATED PER RECALL ACTIONS - DTC IS NOW U3000 WHICH IS THE REPLACE GEAR CODE. PRIOR EVALUATION WASNO REPLACEMENT NEEDED THEN BECAUSE NO FAULTS WERE SHOWING WHICH APPEARS TO BE A USELESS RECALL ACTION THAT DID NOTHING TO PREVENT SAFETY ISSUE. EVEN THOUGH THE SAFETY RECALL ITEM (DTC U3000) IS NOW OCCURRING 2 YEARS AFTER INITIAL EVALUATION, DEALER & FORD WILL DO NOTHING. WHY IS YOUR RECALL # 14V286000 SO USELESS? *TR

SteeringCrash
Filed Jan 21, 2017104,897 milesFL

I STARTED THE CAR AND A NOTICE CAME UP: "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" WITHOUT WARNING. I PULLED OFF AND THE CAR DRAGGED TO THE RIGHT AND INTO THE CURB. I WASN'T INJURED. I HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME AS IS. I WAS PARALLEL PARKED BY A BUILDING. THE POWER STEERING OF THE FORD EXPLORER IS A FAULTY SYSTEM AND THEY'RE QUOTING ME OVER $2,000 TO FIX IT.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 18, 201775,000 milesCA

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 PROBLEM WITH THERE 2011 EXPLORER. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND FILED A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE. NEITHER WOULD COVER THE DAMAGE. THEY BOTH SAID ITS FAULTY SEAM SEALER AND WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS. ITS A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE.

Steering
Filed Jan 18, 201775,407 milesWV

MY WIFE WAS BRINGING MY KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL AND HAD A COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE BUT WAS NOT INJURED AND DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 17, 2017107,000 milesIL

THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM COMES ON WHILE DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEED AND THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD AND THEN EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN AND IF YOU ARE LUCKY YOU MIGHT MAKE IT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS VERY SCARY AS I LIVE IN A RURAL AROUND WHERE YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET OVER IN AN APPROPRIATE AREA. IN THE PAST I COULD LET IT SET FOR A MINUTE AND RESTART IT AND WOULD BE FINE. RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP STARTED FOR IT TO RUN AGAIN AND THEN SEEMS FINE. JUST LAST NIGHT/THIS MORNING IT WAS SO BAD THAT WE HAD TO LET IT SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE WE COULD GET IT TO JUMP START IT AGAIN. I HAVE SAW THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WHEN I SEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER IT SAYS THERE IS NO RECALLS BUT WHEN I WAS SEARCHING FOR RECALLS IT MENTIONS THE POWER STEERING AS A RECALL. THE RECALL WAS PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THIS UNIT. I AM FRUSTRATED AND THIS IS A GREAT SAFETY RECALL THAT FORD SHOULD FIX ON ALL VEHICLES. THE DATE ENTERING AS EVENT HAPPENED WAS THE LAST EVENT BUT IT STARTED BACK IN MAY OF 2016. *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 17, 201760,000 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 13, 2017PA

EXHAUST FUMES IN CAB UNDER HARD ACCELERATION

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 26, 201688,000 milesMI

I HAD STARTED THE CAR BEFORE OUR TRIP WITH THE REMOST START AND IT WARMED UP FOR 10 MINUTES. WE WERE ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO OUR TRIP AND DRIVING DOWN THE I-96 EXPRESSWAY IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI NEAR EXIT 43 (28TH STREET), 65 MPH, 9:45PM, 32-33 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND RAINING, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON AS WELL AS AUTO TEMP CONTROL AT 70 DEGREES. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REAR WINDOW LOUDLY EXPLODES INWARDS AND SHOWERS OUR 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH GLASS (SHE WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN THE THIRD ROW) AS WELL AS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF IMPACT, NO SNOW OR ICE IN THE CAR, NO ROCKS, NO BULLETS. WHERE IT OCCURRED THERE WERE NO OVERPASS OR SIGNS OVER THE ROAD (NOTHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON OUR CAR). AFTER INSPECTING THE WINDOW, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE WHOLE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED WITH A LARGE GAPING HOLE IN THE LOWER MIDDLE (12" X 18") WITH MOST OF THAT GLASS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER HAD CAME THROUGH THE HOLE AND WAS INSIDE THE CAR (BUT STILL ATTACHED TO ITS OUTSIDE POSITION). THE EDGES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR WINDOW HAD BROKEN OFF. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Dec 20, 201669,000 milesMI

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.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Dec 2, 2016TX

THERE ARE ALLOT OF ISSUES GOING ON WITH THE TRUCK WE HAVE JUST HIT AROUND 70K MILES, THIS STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR IS NOT LATCHING CORRECTLY UPON BEING CLOSED. THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN FAULTY FOR SOME TIME NOW A/C DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY/ REMOTES AND LIGHTS ON CAR ON CONSTANTLY FLICKERING... HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE ISNT IN MOTION AND WHEN IN MOTION

Steering
Filed Nov 30, 2016146,000 milesIN

IT WAS A POWER STEERING WHEEL RECALL BUT THE FORD COMPANY COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE OF OVER MILEAGE BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S A RECALL AND I HAVEN'T HAD MY FORD EXPLORER FOR ABOUT 5 WEEK AND I REALLY NEED IT BACK THANK YOU *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 29, 201637,000 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT COULD NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT COMPONENT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 01/26/2017*CT UPDATED 7/11/18*JB

Steering
Filed Nov 16, 201695,000 milesTX

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN MY POWER STEERING QUIT. THE STEERING JUST QUIT. I COULD NOT STEER MY VEHICLE. IT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM SO GRATEFUL IT DID NOT AND SOMEONE WAS CLOSE BY TO HELP ME GET MY VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD.

Steering
Filed Nov 16, 2016152,000 milesWA

WHILE DRIVING THE 2011 FORD EXPLORER THE AUTOMATIC STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AND STEER. I FOUND THAT THE SAME SITUATION HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE 2011 FORD EXPLORERS. IT SHOWS ON LINE THERE IS A RECALL BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOT. WE ARE AT 152K MILES AND WE WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO BE AT 150K OR LESS FOR THE REPAIR TO BE COVERED. EVEN THOUGH ONLINE SHOWS A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL IM TOLD WE ARE NOT COVERED. IT HAD TO OF "HAPPENED" WHILE DRIVING AND THEN WE NOTIFY THE DEALER. WITH SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS STEERING GEARS GOING OUT NOT BEING COVERED BY A RECALL MAKES ME SICK. IT WAS MY MINOR CHILD DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NOW I MUST PAY 2K TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE WHEN IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS MULTIPLE REPORTS OF IT HAPPENING INCLUDING AT LEAST 15 RELATED ACCIDENTS THE DEALERSHIP HAS CONFIRMED THAT MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE PARAMETERS BUT BECAUSE OF 2K OVER THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT IT IS NOT COVERED.

Engine
Filed Nov 2, 2016126,000 milesVA

HAVE EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE WITH NO WARNING! I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOWN A MAIN HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE "ENGINE COOLANT OVERTEMP" CAME ON THEN "LOW OIL PRESSURE" AND MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN! I COULDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I DRIFTED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT MY CAR COULD BE TOWED WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT! SHOP DETERMINED WATER PUMP FAILURE AND WATER LEAKED INTO MY ENGINE POOR ENGINE DESIGN ON FORDS PART) AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE WITH NO WARNING! NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON OR ANYTHING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME SITUATION. I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN BUT ALL THEY DID WAS TAKE DOWN MY COMPLIANT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN! *TR

Power Train
Filed Nov 2, 201660,000 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A DING, SAW A LARGE WRENCH ICON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH, AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATOR POWER. MY CAR SLOWED TO A CREEP. THE AUTO PROPULSION MECHANISM WOULD DRIVE IT ABOUT 2 MPH, AND I COULD PUSH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 31, 201636,400 milesCA

MY FORD EXPLORER 2011 OMITS A FOUL ODOR(SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGG)WHEN YOU TURN ON THE AC WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING COLUMN FEELS LOOSE AND HAS A STRONG WIND NOISE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 22, 201695,000 milesMS

THE CABIN FILLS WITH VERY STRONG EXHAUST FUMES WHEN DRIVING OR USING AIR CONDITIONER. IT GETS WORSE WHEN GOING UP A HILL OR ON HIGHWAYS.

Power Train
Filed Oct 13, 20163,500 milesCA

DRIVING AT SPEED LIGHT ON THE STREET AT 35-40 MILES AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE SPEED GOES DOWN TO ABOUT 5MILES AND STARTS TO SHAKE AND A WRENCH LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASH BOARD AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN OF THE CAR WAIT ABOUT 5-10 MINS TURN IT BACK ON AND WORKS PERFECTLY NORMAL ABOUT, THIS HAS HAPPEND ONCE EVERY WEEK FOR THE PAST 4 WEEKS, LAST WEEK WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL RECALLS THE CAR HAD, AND TOKD THEM ABOUT IT BUT THEY DIDNT SAY ANYTHING. THEIRS NEED TO BE A RECAL ON THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS DANGEROUS SITUATION

Steering
Filed Oct 10, 201655,900 milesKY

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH, STEERING FROZE AND "POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAULT" NOTIFICATION ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. SAFELY STOPPED AT NEXT DRIVEWAY. SHUT DOWN CAR. EXITED CAR, CALLED HUSBAND. RESTARTED CAR AND STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. TRAVELLED 2 MORE MILES AT 35MPH AND POWER STEERING FROZE AGAIN WITH SAME SUBSEQUENT NOTIFICATION; ALSO ADVANCE TRAC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. MAN HANDLED STEERING TO DRIVE CAR HOME. NOW ENGINE STARTS AND RUNS 7-10 MINUTES BEFORE POWER STEERING FAULT OCCURS. SCHEDULED AT FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN PADUCAH, KY FOR REPAIR ON OCT 19, 2016.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 5, 201685,000 milesGA

EXHAUST/BURNING SMELL COMING THROUGH HVAC VENTS UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 4, 201690,000 milesMI

2011 FORD EXPLORER XLT: UPON RAPID ACCELERATION (EXAMPLE: ACCELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY VIA HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP) VEHICLE LOOSES MOMENTUM THEN LURCHES FORWARD. VEHICLE IS NOT SMOOTHLY TRANSITIONING FROM LOWER GEARS TO HIGHER GEARS. VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM FORD DEALER, CERTIFIED USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. ISSUE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES.

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 4, 2016105,000 milesMI

2011 FORD EXPLORER XLT: THIRD ROW SEAT BELT COMPARTMENT ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES, LEAKING WATER. SEATS ARE LEATHER. NOTICED WHEN CHILD BOOSTER SEATS WERE SOAKED AFTER IT RAINED. NOW CONCERNED IF METAL HAS RUSTED IN ANY OF SEAT BELT MECHANISMS. VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM FORD DEALER, FORD VERIFIED USED VEHICLE. PURCHASED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. ISSUE OCCURRED AT 105,000 MILES

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Oct 4, 201690,000 milesMI

2011 FORD EXPLORER XLT: FAILURE OF 2011 FORD EXPLORER PASSENGER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS ACTUATOR THREE TIMES IN 12 MONTHS. FAILURE OCCURS SLOWLY. FAILURE BEGINS WITH CLICKING SOUND PRESENT FOR 10 SECONDS UPON STARTING A/C OR HEATER AND TURNING OFF OF A/C OR HEATER. ISSUE PROGRESSES TO CLICKING SOUND PRESENT THROUGHOUT ENTIRE TIME A/C OR HEATER IS USED. ISSUE THEN PROGRESSES TO COMPLETE FAILURE AND NOT WORKING. VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM FORD DEALER. FORD CERTIFIED USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. ISSUE STARTED OCCURRING AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES.

Steering
Filed Sep 30, 2016100,526 milesNH

POWER STEERING FAILED REQUIRING EXTREME EFFORT TO PULL OVER OFF THE ROAD. WARNING CAME UP "SERVICE POWER STEERING". VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (MANY MANY REPORTS ON THIS) ON 9/26. PICKED UP VEHICLE ON 9/29 WITH A BRAND NEW POWER STEERING RACK AND DROVE IT HOME. STARTED VEHICLE ON 9/30 AND DROVE 3 MILES WHEN THE BRAND NEW POWER STEERING RACK FAILED GIVING A RED WARNING "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW". AGAIN, NO POWER STEERING AND HAD TO MAN HANDLE THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. CONTACTED FORD ROADSIDE AND THEY WOULD NOT TOW BACK TO SAME DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A CLOSER DEALER BY 9 MILES. WHY ISN'T FORD BEING REQUIRED TO RECALL THESE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE

Power Train
Filed Sep 23, 201670,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE TRANSMISSION ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 19, 2016OH

THE STEERING HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, SOMETHING JUST DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT WITH THIS VEHICLE. ALSO - THE SYNC SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND THE SCREEN RANDOMLY REBOOTS AND IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. LASTLY THE CAR SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN KEYS ARE IN THE CAR, SO EVERY TIME YOU GO TO START THE CAR DOES NOT WORK. HOW THIS IS UNSAFE - IS IN COLD WEATHER YOU HAVE YOUR KEYS IN HAND AND THE CAR WILL NOT START, WHICH MEANS YOU COULD BE LEFT IN THE COLD AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS IS NOT SAFE.

Engine
Filed Sep 10, 201644,000 milesVA

UPON HEAVY ACCELERATION SUCH AS WHEN PULLING ONTO A HIGHWAY, OR PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, AN EXHAUST/FUEL SMELL WILL ENTER THE VEHICLE AND BE VERY NOTICEABLE TO EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, ON RECIRCULATION. MY WIFE (PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS 2011 FORD EXPLORER) COMPLAINS OF A LOT OF HEADACHES AND I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF SHE IS GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING FROM DRIVING THIS VEHICLE DAILY. WE ARE GOING TO BUY A CO2 DETECTOR TO SEE IF THIS IS IN FACT TRUE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 9, 201650,000 milesFL

TL* 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 REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED, BUT RECURRED LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AWAITING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 9, 201660,000 milesTN

EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE CABIN THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM, UPON ACCELERATION AND ON INCLINES.

Steering
Filed Sep 9, 201686,000 milesCA

SEP 3, 2016 3RD INCIDENT OF POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. FIRST TIME WAS ONE YEAR AGO. THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO "UN-JAM" IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR. 6 MONTHS AGO STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING WITH MY HUSBAND AND 3 CHILDREN ON VACATION. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER WHO "FOUND NOTHING WRONG" WITH THE CAR AND SENT US ON OUR WAY WITHOUT PAPERWORK EVEN DOCUMENTING OUR COMPLAINT. 3RD TIME WAS A WEEK AGO WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY HUSBAND AND SON. MY HUSBAND, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING. DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING THE STEERING GEAR AGAIN. "SAME FIX AS LAST TIME, BUT BETTER PARTS SINCE A YEAR AGO" IS WHAT I'M TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS CAR AND CANNOT PUT MY FAMILY OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AT RISK. STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IS EXTREMELY TERRIFYING AND FORD IS TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY ANYMORE. BASICALLY, IF YOU BUY A FORD YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO RISK YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THEIR RECALL FIXES DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 6, 201680,000 milesID

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT 70 MPH THE PLASTIC COVERING OVER PASSENGER SIDE FRONT PILLAR CAME OFF, FLEW OVER CAR AND LANDED OFF ROAD BEHIND ME.

Engine
Filed Sep 5, 201687,200 milesTX

MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER LOST POWER EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE THERE WAS NO POWER WHEN PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. THE YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON THE PANEL. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND IT RESTARTED. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T GET ANYTHING TO REGISTER. I PICKED THE CAR UP ANYD BEFORE I MADE IT HOME IT LOST POWER AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEY STILL COULDN'T GET ANYTHING TO REGISTER. THEY REPLACED THE BA SENSOR FIR $500 SINCE MY AIR FILTER WAS DIRTY AND COULD BE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER AND THEN IT STALLED 4 TIMES IN ONE DAY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED. I BORROWED A CODE READER AND THE CODE P2111 APPEARED. I GOOGLED THIS AND IT SHOWS THROTTLE BODY. EACH TIME I LOST POWER IT DID NOT DIE BUT RAN ROUGH. WHEN I RESTARTED IT WAS A LITTLE HESITANT TO START. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED WHEN I ACCELERATED AFTER GOING AT A LOW SPEED BUT THEN IT HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH.

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2011 Ford Explorer → · Every Explorer year → · How the figures are calculated →