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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.

2.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,078 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 wheels / hubs problems

wheels / hubs 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 122024

Explorer

  • miles
My car show me warning Power steering assist fail Now my car not drive because cant turn right or left is too hard Engine and transmission is ok Power steering recall was in past Now I try get help from dealer they say not recall for steering is weird Epas 15N01 recall Still original parts on my car Please what I need to do Thanks

- College Point, NY, USA

problem #6

Feb 142021

Explorer

  • 62,565 miles
On February 14, 2021 while checking tire pressures of my 4 cooper adventurer H/T cuv 245/60R18 tires. I noticed numerous splitting of the lower sidewall, around the beads of all 4 tires. This is not normal dry rot / cracking of the lower sidewall. The splitting of the sidewalls have gaps from 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch wide. The gaps are 2 - 3/32nds of an inch deep. The dot #'s of all 4 tires are UP83 1ht 4117. The tires were installed around the beginning of 2018. The tires have approx. 25K miles on them. Cooper tires / pep boys have a 65K warranty on these tires. There is approx. 7 - 9/32nds of thread left on all 4 tires. June 5, 2019 cooper tires issued a safety recall on this exact model tire but in a different size. The tire size in this recall is 235/65R18. February 26, 2021 cooper tires has issued yet another safety recall on this exact model tire but in a different size. The tire size in this recall is 275/65R18. Both, June 5, 2019 and February 26, 2021 recalls of the cooper adventurer H/T cuv tires were issued due to manufacturing defects of the lower sidewall. The 4 cooper adventurer H/T cuv 245/60R18 installed on my vehicle have very similar lower sidewall defects, as both of the issued recalls for this exact same tire model. I feel that the splitting of my tires are a safety hazard due to manufacturing defects. I would like to have my 245/60R18 cooper adventurer H/T cuv tires, as well as all of the other sizes of this model tire made by cooper, added to safety recall tire list.

- Red Lion, PA, USA

problem #5

Feb 142021

Explorer

  • 62,565 miles

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

On February 14, 2021 while checking tire pressures of my 4 cooper adventurer H/T cuv 245/60R18 tires. I noticed numerous splitting of the lower sidewall, around the beads of all 4 tires. This is not normal dry rot / cracking of the lower sidewall. The splitting of the sidewalls have gaps from 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch wide. The gaps are 2 - 3/32nds of an inch deep. The dot #'s of all 4 tires are UP83 1ht 4117. The tires were installed around the beginning of 2018. The tires have approx. 25K miles on them. Cooper tires / pep boys have a 65K warranty on these tires. There is approx. 7 - 9/32nds of thread left on all 4 tires. June 5, 2019 cooper tires issued a safety recall on this exact model tire but in a different size. The tire size in this recall is 235/65R18. February 26, 2021 cooper tires has issued yet another safety recall on this exact model tire but in a different size. The tire size in this recall is 275/65R18. Both, June 5, 2019 and February 26, 2021 recalls of the cooper adventurer H/T cuv tires were issued due to manufacturing defects of the lower sidewall. The 4 cooper adventurer H/T cuv 245/60R18 installed on my vehicle have very similar lower sidewall defects, as both of the issued recalls for this exact same tire model. I would like to have my 245/60R18 cooper adventurer H/T cuv added to the safety recall tire list. This model tire should be under review for all sizes that are manufactured.

- Red Lion, PA, USA

problem #4

Feb 142021

Explorer

  • 62,565 miles
On February 14, 2021 while checking tire pressures of my 4 cooper adventurer H/T cuv 245/60R18 tires. I noticed numerous splitting of the lower sidewall, around the beads of all 4 tires. This is not normal dry rot / cracking of the lower sidewall. The splitting of the sidewalls have gaps from 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch wide. The gaps are 2 - 3/32nds of an inch deep. The dot #'s of all 4 tires are UP83 1ht 4117. The tires were installed around the beginning of 2018. The tires have approx. 25K miles on them. Cooper tires / pep boys have a 65K warranty on these tires. There is approx. 7 - 9/32nds of thread left on all 4 tires. June 5, 2019 cooper tires issued a safety recall on this exact model tire but in a different size. The tire size in this recall is 235/65R18. February 26, 2021 cooper tires has issued yet another safety recall on this exact model tire but in a different size. The tire size in this recall is 275/65R18. Both, June 5, 2019 and February 26, 2021 recalls of the cooper adventurer H/T cuv tires were issued due to manufacturing defects of the lower sidewall. The 4 cooper adventurer H/T cuv 245/60R18 installed on my vehicle have very similar lower sidewall defects, as both of the issued recalls for this exact same tire model. I would like to have my 245/60R18 cooper adventurer H/T cuv tires added to the safety recall tire list. This model tire should be under review for all manufactured sizes.

- Red Lion, PA, USA

problem #3

Nov 032013

Explorer

  • 53,000 miles
I was getting ready to turn into the parking lot.. when 2 sets of lights came on..the system indicators came up.. one indicating the power steering error and another indicating the power steering locked... then the steering wheel became very hard to turn.. making so very hard to turn into a parking space.. someone had to push me into the parking lot out of the way.. later to call Ford dealership doesn't want to assist me with this problem... I drive a 2011 Ford Explorer.. the car is 2 years old. I reviewed other concerns of this matter.. is there a recall...

- Charlotte , NC, USA

problem #2

Aug 042013

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 35,928 miles
I was traveling at 40 mph on a busy city street when all of the sudden I heard a warning bing sound and saw the power steering fault and all terrain management failure warnings on my instrument panel. Lost total ability to steer the vehicle and had to put on emergency lights, stop on side of the road, turn the vehicle off and on (hoping that it would reset and resolve the issue) and doing this cleared the warnings and I was able to steer again. However, two days later the problem happened again after starting the vehicle in a parking lot and before starting to back out of the parking space. Once again turning the vehicle off and on again reset the warning and regained steering ability again.

- Madison Heights, MI, USA

problem #1

Feb 202011

Explorer

  • 84,000 miles
2003 Ford Explorer XLT wheel bearing hubs are bad and is a on going issue.

- Midway Park, NC, USA

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