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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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,558 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2011 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #42

Dec 062023

Explorer

  • miles

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

The airbag warning light keeps coming on after continued checks and fixes. The dealership zip tied connector c211 and the light went off for a bit then came back on, the seat belt has been replaced but the light came back on, and all other components have been checked but no matter what the fix the light stays on. This is an issue many people have and Ford should be responsible for fixing it.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #41

Feb 012024

Explorer

  • miles
Driver side window panel flew off during my drive on the interstate directly after I noticed it being loose for the first time. 3rd row seatbelts leak when it rains on both sides. Rear backup camera is opposite/flipped and goes in and out. Trunk will close on you after opening it up with the car not running. It will not sense movement when the car is off and continues to shut resulting in harm.

- Calhoun, GA, USA

problem #40

May 222023

Explorer

  • miles
The dash lights go off then it's says starting rebot. Air bag lights stay on. Check engine light on says miss firng. All Carfax report was forged. Dealer said needs new engine but was not told by seller. No one will fix it they say not worth the price for car. I over paid big time. Got lied too.

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #39

Oct 252022

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles

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

2011 Ford Explorer. Consumer stated that during a collision the airbags did not deploy.

- Federalsburg, MD, USA

problem #38

Apr 062022

Explorer

  • miles
Airbag fault

- La Crosse, WI, USA

problem #37

Jan 122022

Explorer

  • miles
Airbag light stays on after have completed all the fixes as stated in the official TSB 12-5-11 05/29/12. The steering has become extremely difficult to turn at low speeds or moving for a complete stop. It is freezing up and get harder as time goes by. The recall is expired, but the symptoms are the exact same as the recall stated.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #36

Nov 022020

Explorer

  • 153,000 miles

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

My air bag control light came on 3 years, I took the vehicle to the Ford dealership a D they discovered the seat belt pretensioner had shorted out. It was replaced at my expense. Fast forward to today and the same light is back on for what I imagine is the seat belt pretensioner again! the light stays on from the time the car is started till it's turned off.

- Hutchinson, KS, USA

problem #35

Jul 022018

Explorer

  • 80,000 miles
Airbag system malfunction light comes on and off seemingly randomly. No correlation to temperature or humidity. No correlation to being in motion or stopped. Sometimes it stays on for long periods of time (I.e. months). Based on research I've done, it seems that when the airbag indicator is lit, the entire airbag system is off. This is a major safety issue. After about 1 month of it being on steadily, I had it fixed at the dealership, franklin Ford, in franklin, MA. They fixed it through a tsb where connectors were cleaned and re-greased with dielectric grease. This fix lasted about 1 year. After this time period the airbag light came back on, again intermittently and randomly. Again, after about 1 month of steadily on, I took it back to the same dealership, where it was diagnosed to be the same issue. The vehicle was repaired using the same tsb method. This leads to a logical assumption that this fix is only temporary and I will continuously need to have it repaired. I've read accounts online of several other users experiencing this same issue.

- Norfolk, MA, USA

problem #34

Sep 162019

Explorer

  • 61,359 miles
Driving 25 to 30 mph when the steering wheel became difficult to turn, .call dealer Ford al piemonte and make and appointment but they say is not a recall, they didn't repaired as yet.( what can I do?) in melrose park Illinois. I took this truck for a recall in 2017 for the same problem and at that time they fix it not this tme.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #33

Sep 012012

Explorer

  • miles
Numerous repairs to airbag system. Airbag light is on and previous repairs include, seatbelt tensioner, sevreral jumpers around the connection underneath drivers seat, as well as some kind of programming in the computer system. Ive owned the vehicle since it was brand new and it has been in dealer at least 6 times for aiirbag issues. Please do a full inspection of the airbag sytem including faulty wiring harness!!!

- Ivor, VA, USA

problem #32

Oct 022017

Explorer

  • 70,000 miles

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

Air bag light came on randomly and will not shut off.

- Bangor, ME, USA

problem #31

Oct 032018

Explorer

  • 122,000 miles
Takata recall airbag light is on and will not turn off. It is on all the time will not shut off

- Tuckerton, NJ, USA

problem #30

Aug 022018

Explorer

  • miles
The air bag light keeps coming on and staying on for no reason. I feel this is really a safety issue since the air bags wont inflate if light is on and I have researched this matter and there has been several complaints from other owners who own this vehicle.

- Flagler, CO, USA

problem #29

Jul 232018

Explorer

  • miles
The "sync" touchscreen stopped working. Once this happened the passenger side airbag sets to "off" all the time. The Ford dealer reports it requires a new apin, which was covered under a recall but only for 5 years from date of new purchase.

- Canyon Lake, TX, USA

problem #28

Jun 042018

Explorer

  • 99,000 miles
Air bag light is on, possible air bag fail

- Millersville, MD, USA

problem #27

Nov 112017

Explorer

  • 95,000 miles
My car has about 95K miles. Currently it is in the shop getting 2 things done. A part is ordered for air bag. I've had several airbag issues needed service. My biggest concern is the power steering unit. I bought the car new from diblasio in 2012 w/ about 7K miles on it. I have extended warranty from Ford. Sept 2016 the original power steering unit failed and was replaced. 14 months later the replacement has now failed and is being replaced! the warning light came on while my wife was driving on the highway. Thank god!!!!! the power assist did not fail or she could have been killed. When I started the car the next time there was no power steering. I had the car towed to dealer. I no longer trust this car. The ps unit is a critical part of the vehicle. I have never owned a car that had a similar problem once, yet twice. With the second time taking only 14 months to fail. I call Ford corporate and told them about the situation and that I no longer trust the car. Looking online, I see articles about a ps unit recall in the 2014S. I don't recall ever receiving a notice about my vehicle and only brought it in when it started acting odd in 2016. Ford asked me what I wanted them to do. At this point I said I no longer want the car and do not want to sell it to someone with what I know and fear. I thought Ford should buy it back from me at a reasonable price and I will get a different vehicle. I was put on hold for show and the person came back and said they were sorry there is nothing they can do and that any time there is a problem I should bring it to the dealer. I am disgusted with Ford and I don't know what my options are. I need help please. I fear anyone driving this car once I get it back tomorrow.

- Lagrangeville, NY, USA

problem #26

Mar 082014

Explorer

  • 48,355 miles
Bought used-air bag light stays on most of the time-- kirk Ford fixed it at dealer cost from barksdale Cadillac where it was purchased.. air bag light still comes on and when I talked to them they said it might be something else causing it.. husband fightin G cancer and I could no get thr recall on door handle fixed. Husband passed away and I dont have funds to get airbag light fixed..I dont know the brand of air bag.so I dont know if it is takata

- Winona, MS, USA

problem #25

Apr 152011

Explorer

  • miles
2011 Ford Explorer that I bought new in 03/2011 and that has an issue about the airbag light being on and off at the very first month of the car purchase it has been constantly checked and fixed for free within the time warranty. Then I have to come and pay almost every year to fix the airbag light.

- Hernadon, VA, USA

problem #24

Sep 012017

Explorer

  • 79,000 miles
Dashboard warning indicator for airbags. I don't recall when/conditions under which it first came on.

- Dexter, MI, USA

problem #23

Jul 252017

Explorer

  • miles
Restraints indicator lamp warning light came on and won't go off. I have an appointment setup this Friday with my local Ford dealership to have it checked out, but when I researched the issue, I found that a ton of people had the same problem. A majority were resolved by fixing a connection under the driver seat.

- Carrollton, TX, USA

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