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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.

2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,800 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.

2011 Ford Explorer accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2011 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #8

Mar 012024

Explorer

  • 104,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the windshield wipers were in the on position, the wipers went off the vehicle and had to be pushed back into place. There was an unknown yellow warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while making a turn, the driver's and passenger's front wheels detached on two occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the vehicle received an unstated repair. There was an abnormal sound while driving at various speeds. While shifting gear, the vehicle jumped. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the result of the diagnostic test was unknown. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #7

Jan 012020

Explorer

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the after starting the vehicle the front windshield wipers independently activated causing a visibility hazard to the driver. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer sam scism motors (5019 flat river rd., farmington mo) and the manufacturer were both notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.

- Caledonia, MO, USA

problem #6

Aug 142017

Explorer

  • 53,250 miles
All of the windshield top molding and half the right side has blown out over last 2 highway trips. Windshield is original and has never been worked on. Usually occurrs at speeds of 60 mph or above

- Santa Fe, TX, USA

problem #5

Jun 232017

Explorer

  • 120,000 miles

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

My vehicle was on the road in motion when I heard a creaking/clanking noise on the front right side near the tire. After taking my vehicle to the dealership to determine what the cause of the noise was, I was advised that it was a faulty front right strut and spring assembly. I had my mechanic replace both the front and left struts. After doing a lot of research on the internet from other Ford Explorer owners, I believe that strut and spring assembly are manufacture defects. While backing up my vehicle, I noticed that the back up camera was blank and not working. After monitoring the operation of the back up camera, it has become and intermittent issue, it comes and goes. Now, my back up camera is working but the back up camera guidelines are not there. After reading many blogs, there' S alot of Ford Explorer owners who are having similar issues with the back up camera. This is a safety issue and I believe it is a manufacture defect.

- Harlingen, TX, USA

problem #4

Dec 252016

Explorer

  • 88,000 miles
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.

- Caledonia, MI, USA

problem #3

Oct 182015

Explorer

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 60 mph, the front exterior driver side windshield panel detached. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 312014

Explorer

  • 18,500 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the contact heard a hissing noise coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the A-pillars needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,500.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #1

Sep 062014

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 36,648 miles
My vehicle was parked in the driveway, where it had been since the previous day. I opened the front drivers side door and got into the car. I put the keys into the ignition switch and started the vehicle. At this point I closed the drivers side door. At this moment I heard a loud "pop" sound. I looked into the rear view mirror and saw a large hole in the glass of the upper center portion of the rear window. Upon further inspection the remaining glass was shattered and spider webbed. There was glass on the ground outside the vehicle as well as in the rear compartment of the car.

- New Durham, NH, USA

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