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.
Ford dealer wants more than $2000 to replace and paint the hood! This is insane, the part is faulty, the hood has been protected since new with 3M film, so the problem is not caused by rock chips. Ford needs to fix the corrosion issues with these aluminum hoods, this is not reasonable for a 6 year old vehicle.
I took my 2011 Ford Explorer to Ronnie Watkins Ford in Gadsden (where it was purchased) and filed the issue of the paint bubbling around edge of hood. They took pictures and submitted them to Ford who denied it due to it not rusting completely through. This is a manufactured issue and Ford refused to accept their mistakes and fix my vehicle. It continues to extend across the front edge of my hood toward both front sides. I had an extended warranty that I paid a lot for and it would not cover it. Now that it is over 100,000. miles they will not look at it.
My 2011 explorer had rust bubbling in the hood and was repaired and covered by the warranty. In 2014 one year after the same problem came back and I went back to the ford dealer and were told that the warranty has already expired , what can I do now? it's really getting very ugly all around the edge of the hood and we paid $53,250.00 for this unit in Fajardo Ford out of Puerto Rico. Thank you
Paint chipping and bubbling up around the rim of the hood. Can't even go through an automatic carwash without huge chips of paint coming off each time. If you lean on the hood to dry it, you can literally hear the paint cracking. This is a horrible problem to have when the car is barely 5 years old. Of course, contacted the Ford dealership and problem will not be fixed by Ford. I have a 2001 Grand Am and it does not have one rust spot or bubble of paint on it! I was very hesitant to purchase a Ford, but tried to give them fair chance. Let's just say that their reputation in my book has been ruined and I will NEVER purchase a Ford vehicle again. Since Ford is highly aware of this issue and choose to do nothing, I will be trading my vehicle in as soon as I get a chance and I promise I will never look Ford's way again. And I will be spreading the word like many others, for hardworking consumers to take their money elsewhere if they don't want to just through it away on a rusting car.
- antiford,
Warren, MI, US
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Bought the car from a well known car dealer in Eugene, Oregon, 1 year old. There was a bug deflector over the edge of the front hood. When we had it taken off because it was making noise, we found bubbling on the edge of the hood, which has been spreading. I'm not only angry with Ford for such a poor job in their ability to properly paint their vehicles after 100+ years of being in the car business (they should have this figured out by now), but with the car dealer--Kendall Dealership--for likely knowing about the defect but not being decent people and informing us of this....you can't tell me you didn't know about it.
I have a 2011 Ford Explorer w/ 36,000 miles. I noticed a couple of months ago that the paint along the edges of the hood was bubbling up, most likely from rust underneath. I went to Ford to see if they would repair it since this is obviously a defect in the vehicle manufacturing. They said that this is a common problem that they regularly see but they would not fix the problem for free. They said that they had just sent a request into Ford Cooperate the day before asking if they could fix the same problem on another vehicle and were denied.
In an effort to see how common this problem was, I sent out an email to my coworkers to see if their vehicles also have the same problem, my office has 58 - 2011, 2012 & 2013 Explorers. I received 9 responses from my coworkers saying that their vehicles have the exact same problem. I then checked online and found out that Ford has known about this problem for years and is currently being sued in New Jersey Federal Court over this problem, MICKENS v. FORD MOTOR COMPANY - 2:10-cv-05842-KM-MAH.
I cannot believe Ford is unwilling to fix this obvious defect w/ their vehicles. I have contacted my management about this problem and our office will not be purchasing Ford vehicles in the future.
Corrosion on hood and Ford will do nothing about it because the vehicle is out of warranty and the corrosion has not caused a hole in the hood and as such the corrosion warranty does not come into play.
Same problem many other users mention. The paint around the front edge of the hood is bubbling. Apparently this is a very common problem as a result of Ford switching to aluminum hoods and not knowing how to properly handle and paint them at first. I bought the vehicle used (out of warranty) and was hoping Ford would cover the repair of a known issue out of goodwill to a new first time ford owner. After waiting on hold for 15 minutes I reached a customers service rep who told me the vehicle was out of warranty and could not be covered. Obviously I knew all that going in. Thanks for the help. I tried to press the matter but got nowhere. Now I remember why I'm a Honda/Toyota guy! Ford saves 600 bucks on avoiding fixing a known problem, but they'll lose thousands as this will be my first and last Ford!
The paint on the hood of my 2011 Ford Explorer is bubbling and cracking. When I contacted the Ford dealership and the Customer Relationship dept on Ford.com they said it is not under warranty and they can't do anything. This is a complete disgrace that my car paint is bubbling and cracking do to clearly a manufacturers defect. The fact that Ford is not accepting responsibility for this and remedying the issues, that many Ford owners are experiencing, is just bad business!!
When I saw the bubbles start to appear on this 3yo, I was livid. My 06 Mustang had the very same issue. And low behold, both have aluminum hoods. I'm very lucky to have an awesome dealership. Marshall Ford in Mayfield Heights Ohio is great. The problem was addressed and fixed at no cost, rental was given. Almost a year since the fix, no corrosion on the hood.
The bubbling of the paint of the hood is peeling and looks awful. Ford again has provided an infer-er product buy providing or using the aluminum hoods for their vehicles. Ford should be held liable to replace the defective hoods with WITHOUT COST to the vehicles owner. The mileage of the vehicle should have no bearing on the issue if the vehicle is less than 5 or 6 years of age.
Paint coming off alum hood. Pioneer Ford looked at it and said there is nothing they could do. District complaint manager said nothing they could do. Both lied saying they had never seen this before and yet it is all over the Internet since 1999. Had an estimate of about $600.00 to fix. Actually bought this car from the dealerships previous owner, so I know it is not a wreck problem. Could repair this myself, but since they lied about it I am willing to go for a Ford repair!!!!!
I first noticed the rust problem in 2012 and I started researching and found out there were several other customers having the same problem. I proceeded to Bob Bell Ford where the technician looked at it and took several pictures and his comment was normally they would take it in the back and repair it but they've made changes at his location, but he'd get in touch with me, which never happened.
I soon found out he moved to another location and I've talked with 2 additional Technicians at Bob Bell and there have been no explanations, they don't return calls, This is my first Ford Vehicle and based on the service I've received from Bob Bell it will probably be my last.
I would defiantely like to join the Class Action Suit since Ford is not replacing the manufacture defective hood on my vehicle. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Ford dealer wants more than $2000 to replace and paint the hood! This is insane, the part is faulty, the hood has been protected since new with 3M film, so the problem is not caused by rock chips. Ford needs to fix the corrosion issues with these aluminum hoods, this is not reasonable for a 6 year old vehicle.
- Brian M., Calgary, AB, Canada