2011 FORD EXPLORER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Explorer. This model year has 1,182 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Steering Defects.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2011 Ford Explorer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Uncategorized Issues
Structural Problems
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Ford Explorer. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 735 | 19 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 111 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 106 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 103 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 93 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 64 | 2 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 44 | 3 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 35 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 28 | 8 | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 28 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 24 | 3 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 18 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 14 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 7 | — | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Ford Explorer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,182 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The message that the "Vehicle Needed Attention" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to back to the residence. T…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the A-pillar trim clip detached, and the vehicle was taken to the lo…
The steering wheel got stiff and impossible to turn. I had to use extreme force to be able to make a left turn. It happened in a large intersection. No warning appeared.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became extremely stiff. The steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manuf…
The contact owned a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, turned off, and unoccupied, the vehicle caught fire. The contact was in her residence, and a neighbor knocked on her door, making her aware that the vehicle had caught fire. The fire has…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side A-pillar trim on the windshield started to detach. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do th…
The electrical power steering stopped working while in motion was real hard to steer and avoid hitting curbs or vehicles close to our vehicle. It was previously replaced by Ford for the same reason but now it happened again and they are telling me it doesn’t have warranty which …
Back up camera inoperable. Screen is black. Apparently a common problem. Safety issue of hitting a person or object.
During a red-light, as I was coming to a stop, the vehicle gave the warning saying “service power-steering now” and “traction control off.” I was unable to turn the steering wheel much due to it being so heavy. My official complaint: Vehicle: 2011 Ford Escape XLT Safety Recall…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The steering wheel seized, and the steering wheel symbol was displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was tur…
The wheel locks in low speeds. It does not happen often, maybe about 3 times per year. I have brought this up to Ford dealer in Encinitas CA for several years and the problem is seldom that they did not find anything wrong with it. Recently I found the recall online and brought …
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the power steering suddenly failed while attempting to make a right turn, causing the steering wheel to seize. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact turned o…
Loss of power steering
My vehicle is subject to NHTSA Safety Recall 14S06 related to loss of electric power steering assist. The Power Steering Control Module was reprogrammed in 2014, and Ford now considers the recall closed based on that reprogramming. In 2025, the vehicle again experienced loss of …
Loose/Detached Bilateral Exterior C-Pillar around the rear window. Both sides are lifted and very loose with the potential to cause driver to lose control if detached resulting in damage to other vehicles on the road or even a traffic collision… this is a safety defect
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was a grinding sound coming from the steering column while making left and right turns. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel jerked while driving and makin…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The contact became aware that the passenger’s and driver's side A-pillar trims had started to crack, and the pieces were loose. The contact used tape to secur…
I was driving to Independence missouri and the power steering went out, it was difficult to steer and if I was going slow enough I could not turn the wheel at all. There was an alert that popped up stating power steering fault. My mechanic reset the code and it was fixed for abou…
Unknown
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that for two years, the dealer was repeatedly contacted; however, the contac…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Ford Explorer.
Recalls for 2011 Ford Explorer
8 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Ford Explorer. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2011 Ford Explorer — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 Ford Explorer reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2011 Ford Explorer has 1,182 NHTSA owner complaints, 30 crash-related, and 8 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (735 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Explorer?▾
#1: Steering Defects (735 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (111 complaints). #3: Structural Problems (106 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Ford Explorer?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2011 Ford Explorer?▾
The 2011 Ford Explorer has 30 crash-related complaints and 4 fire reports out of 1,182 total NHTSA complaints. 15 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2011 Ford Explorer have any recalls?▾
Yes — 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2011 Ford Explorer. The largest issue: SUSPENSION:REAR. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2011 Ford Explorer?▾
The 2011 Ford Explorer has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Explorer reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2011 Ford Explorer
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.