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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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,926 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2011 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #39

May 182017

Explorer

  • 93,000 miles

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

Car was fine then all of a sudden over heating sign went on in the car. I pulled over on the freeway called a tow truck because I was told not to drive the car. I had it towed to my house had a professional mechanic look at it at my house I was then told that there was a leak and the water tank was not holding water because of it. The next day I went to my car I turned it on and check engine light was on. I then turned off the car cause I did not want to cause anymore damage. The mechanic came back to my house and told me it was now leaking water and oil to take it in right away. I had no previous problems with my car until that point. I take it to the dealer they tell me that it was an internal problem within the engine that I, the driver, could not have known about unless I was having previous problems with the car which I was not. 230 dollars later just to tell me what is wrong with the car Ford is telling me that water got into the engine, transmission, all of the fluids and pipes. How does this happen with no previous problems with the car? I believe this issue needs to be resolved I have read many reviews on this model and this issue needs to be recalled

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #38

Apr 172017

Explorer

  • 67,800 miles
The rear view camera system started showing a reverse image to what is actually behind us without warning (the video was showing mirrored/backwards view). This caused us to think someone who was actually on one side of the vehicle was in a safe place, while in reality they were in the path of the vehicle. The vehicle has large blind spots in the back sides making an accurate picture a must-have

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #37

Mar 032017

Explorer

  • 30 miles
Exhaust making me sick, bad smell like rotten eggs inside the car every time I turn on the A/C and my kids get sick of that smell

- Camden, NJ, USA

problem #36

Feb 012017

Explorer

  • 105,000 miles

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

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.

- Medford, NJ, USA

problem #35

Dec 012016

Explorer

  • 101,567 miles
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.

- Cumberland, RI, USA

problem #34

Dec 302014

Explorer

  • 39,000 miles
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

- Baldwin, NY, USA

problem #33

Dec 222016

Explorer

  • 50 miles

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

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

- Gillette, WY, USA

problem #32

Sep 012015

Explorer

  • 51,000 miles
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.

- North Richland Hills, TX, USA

problem #31

Jan 012014

Explorer

  • miles
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.

- Cat Spring, TX, USA

problem #30

Dec 152016

Explorer

  • 83,000 miles
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.

- Geneva, IL, USA

problem #29

Dec 292016

Explorer

  • 75,000 miles

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

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.

- Willows, CA, USA

problem #28

Jan 042016

Explorer

  • miles
Exhaust fumes in cab under hard acceleration

- Prospect, PA, USA

problem #27

Dec 012016

Explorer

  • miles
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

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #26

Mar 052016

Explorer

  • 95,000 miles
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.

- Meridian, MS, USA

problem #25

Oct 042016

Explorer

  • 85,000 miles
Exhaust/burning smell coming through HVAC vents under hard acceleration. Has been a constant problem since owning the vehicle.

- Lilburn, GA, USA

problem #24

Sep 192016

Explorer

  • miles
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.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

problem #23

Sep 102016

Explorer

  • 44,000 miles
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.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #22

May 152016

Explorer

  • 60,000 miles
Exhaust fumes enter the cabin through the ventilation system, upon acceleration and on inclines.

- Jasper, TN, USA

problem #21

Jul 302016

Explorer

  • 83,000 miles
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.

- Pineville, NC, USA

problem #20

May 012016

Explorer

  • 70,000 miles
Strong exhaust odors in the occupant compartment, noticeable when the vehicle is operating at full throttle or when the air conditioner is set to recirculate air. Brought in multiple times to Ford dealership, had Ford repair items specified on their tsb. Still noticeable exhaust odor, returned to dealership, dealership verified repairs and stated they could do nothing else. Still noticeable exhaust odor coming into occupant compartment.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

Read the next 19 complaints »

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