What 1,191 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Explorer Gas

GOT MY EXPLORER NEW IN 2011 HAD EXHAUST FUMES COMING IN TO CABIN TOOK TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THAT PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING OVER 3000 RPM STRONG ODOR COMES INTO CABIN. DEALER TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THEY SAID WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NEW EVENTUALLY WOULD CLEAR UP...TIRED OF BEING STONEWALLED BY FORD ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON OUR BEHALF YOU HAVE THE POWER TO FORCE FORD TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND MAKE IT SAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY TO USE THIS SUV SAFELY. WE CANT AFFORD TO GET A DIFFERNT VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE TAKE QUICK ACTION ON THIS MATTER I DONT WANT PASS OUT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS TRUCK...

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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

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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2016. I FIRST HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HEARD SCREECHING AND WHIRRING AS I DROVE THE VEHICLE. NEXT, I HAD ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY, BATTERY ACID LEAKED ALL OVER THE BATTERY, CORROSION BUILT UP ON THE BATTERY. MOST RECENTLY, AFTER SERVICING MY VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. THE COMPUTER READ THAT THERE WAS POWER STEERING FAULT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD.

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I FIRST BEGAN EXPERIENCING BRAKING AND BATTERY ISSUES 3 TO 4 WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING OF THE BRAKING AND BATTERY ISSUES. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT I SHOULD RETURN THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME, I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS LEAKAGE FROM THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP ADDRESSES SOME BUT NOT ALL ISSUES RELATED TO THE VEHICLE. NEXT, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATING THE VEHICLE WAS DUE FOR FACTORY RECOMMENDED SERVICING. I MADE AN APPT. THE NEXT DAY, THE LOW BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED DEALERSHIP, NO RESPONSE. ONE AND A HALF WEEKS LATER, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. CALLED TRIPLE A. BATTERY HAD BATTERY ACID AND CORROSION EVERYWHERE. A RED SOLUTION WAS SPRAYED ON THE BATTERY TO PREVENT LEAKAGE. BUT IT DIDN'T WORK THAT WELL. INFORMED DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF SERVICE, THAT THE POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT HAD COME ON. FIVE DAYS LATER, I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH SERVICE ADVISORS STATED THAT VEHICLE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PLACED ON LOT FOR SALE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. AS I HAVE TWO MINOR CHILDREN. THE DATE OF ONSET WOULD'VE BEEN 04/08/2016. THERE IS ANOTHER PHOTO, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO INCLUDE.

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WENT TO GO DRIVE THE SUV WHILE DOING ONLY 25 MPH & IT WAS RAVING OUR 3-5 RPM. WHILE DRUG IN THE CITY

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WE HAVE EXHAUST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN CLIMBING A HILL OR AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, WE NOTICE THE PROBLEM WHEN UNDER ACCELARATION AND WHILE USING THE HEATER/AC. WILL OPEN THE WINDOW WHEN STOPPED WITH THE CAR IDELING TO LESSEN THE SMELL. HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD BUT HAVE HAD NOTHING DONE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLITEN ON THE VALVE COVER WITH A REPLACEMENT PART BUT FORD HAS NOT RECALLED IT AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

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WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN ACCELERATING THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SMELLS OF ROTTING EGGS. FROM TIME TO TIME IT IS SMELT WHEN SITTING AT AND IDLING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OUR 2011 FORD EXPLORER.

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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.

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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.

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HAVE EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE WITH NO WARNING! I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOWN A MAIN HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE "ENGINE COOLANT OVERTEMP" CAME ON THEN "LOW OIL PRESSURE" AND MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN! I COULDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I DRIFTED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT MY CAR COULD BE TOWED WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT! SHOP DETERMINED WATER PUMP FAILURE AND WATER LEAKED INTO MY ENGINE POOR ENGINE DESIGN ON FORDS PART) AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE WITH NO WARNING! NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON OR ANYTHING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME SITUATION. I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN BUT ALL THEY DID WAS TAKE DOWN MY COMPLIANT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN! *TR

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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.

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MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER LOST POWER EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE DID NOT DIE THERE WAS NO POWER WHEN PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. THE YELLOW WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON THE PANEL. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND IT RESTARTED. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T GET ANYTHING TO REGISTER. I PICKED THE CAR UP ANYD BEFORE I MADE IT HOME IT LOST POWER AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEY STILL COULDN'T GET ANYTHING TO REGISTER. THEY REPLACED THE BA SENSOR FIR $500 SINCE MY AIR FILTER WAS DIRTY AND COULD BE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER AND THEN IT STALLED 4 TIMES IN ONE DAY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED. I BORROWED A CODE READER AND THE CODE P2111 APPEARED. I GOOGLED THIS AND IT SHOWS THROTTLE BODY. EACH TIME I LOST POWER IT DID NOT DIE BUT RAN ROUGH. WHEN I RESTARTED IT WAS A LITTLE HESITANT TO START. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED WHEN I ACCELERATED AFTER GOING AT A LOW SPEED BUT THEN IT HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH.

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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.

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BAD BURNING SMELL UNDER ACCELERATION TO HIGHWAY SPEED COMING FROM AIR VENTS. OIL WAS FOUND IN THE AIR FILTER HOUSING AND PIPING NEAR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR.

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LONG STORY SHORT, I PULLED OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD GOT ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. HEARD THE DRIVE BELT SQUEAL FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS, FOLLOWED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND EXTREME ENGINE KNOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. THE CODES READ, CRANKSHAFT/CAMSHAFT CORRELATION BANK A SENSOR 1, THE SECOND CODE WAS ENGINE KNOCK. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WERE THEY HAD 2 OF THEIR TOP TECHNICIANS LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND THE BOTH REPORTED THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED AND FILLED THE ENGINE UP WITH COOLANT WHICH CAUSE THE ENGINE TO EXPIRE. MY WIFE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 2 YEARS AND SHE'S VERY CAREFUL DRIVER. NO WOARNING SIGNS OF A FAILING WATER PUMP. JUST GOT BACK FROM A 7HR ROAD TRIP A WEEK BEFORE THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND THE ENGINE EXPIRED.

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I WANT TO STATE THAT MY TRUCK DOES THE SAME THING AS REPORTED IN THIS PROBLEM. THE SMELLS GETS REAL BAD IN THE CABIN WHEN ENTERING HIGHWAY OR CROSSING VEHICLES NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE16008 COMPONENT(S): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING , STRUCTURE

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I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE PULLING A KAYAK TRAILER WITH ONE KAYAK ON IT, WENT ABOUT A HALF BLOCK AND THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND THE FORD EXPLORER WOULD HARDLY MOVE. WAS ABLE TO GO AROUND THE BLOCK AND MAKE IT BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. I HAD THE FORD EXPLORER TOWED TO THE DEALER WERE I BOUGHT IT, THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID IT DIDN'T SHOW A ERROR CODE ON THE COMPUTER AND DROVE IT TWICE AND COULD NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT IT IS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND THEY HAVE CHANGED OVER ONE MILLION OF THEM. BOTH YOU AND FORD ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. ALSO ONCE THIS HAPPENS IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH 38 THOUSAND MILES ON IT THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND CANNOT GET IT FIXED.

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AFTER HARD ACCELERATION AND LET UP EXHAUST SMELL GETS IN THE COMPARTMENT TO THE POINT YOU HAVE ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO CLEAR IT OUT FORD HAS TRIED TO FIX IT THEY HAVE A SERVICE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 58 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

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UNDER HARD ACCELERATION I GET A STING ODOR IN THE CABIN. IT IS LIKE AN EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. IT ALWAYS DOES IT ABOVE 3500 RPM.

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SINCE PURCHASING MY 2011 EXPLORER, I HAVE JUST REPLACE THE COOLANT FAN ON JUNE 20,2015. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE FAN HAS QUIT WORKING ENTIRELY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. REQUESTED FORD TO REIMBURSE COST OF MOST RECENT REPAIR.

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I SENT MY VEHICLE IN TWO MONTHS FOR TO BE FIX AT DREW FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY ALSO CORRECTED A RECALL ON THE POWERSTEERING FAULT. NOW THE FAULT IS BACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS IMMOVABLE OR EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE. THEY ALSO CLAIM THIS WILL NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN REMEDY THE FIRST TIME. I AM VERY UPSET WITH FORD, BECAUSE THIS CAN BE A 600-2000 DOLLAR REPAIR. POWER STEERING SHOULD NOT GO THIS FAST, MY CAR IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. I MAY HAVE TO TRADE IT IN FOR MORE RELIABLE VEHICLE LIKE A HONDA OR TOYOTA. I WANT TO SUPPORT AMERICAN COMPANIES. THIS EXPERIENCE LEFT ME WITH A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING AND COMPUTER FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AIR BAG, AND SECURITY SENSORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO RESET THE MASTER CONTROLS. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED COMPUTER FAILURE. THE FIRMWARE WAS UPDATED MULTIPLE TIMES, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED MONTHS LATER AND INCLUDED VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SHORTS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR MONTHS TO DETERMINE IF THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO THE FIRMWARE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V286000 (STEERING) AND 14E001000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

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THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WHILE DRIVING AN INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE AWD SYSTEM SHOWS ON THE DASHBOARD & SYNC COMPUTER. THE ENGINE LOSES COMPLETE POWER AND YOU MUST PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO RESET THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER. THIS LOSS OF POWER HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IS AT GREAT RISK OF CAUSING SERIOUS ISSUES TO OTHER TRAFFIC. NOT TO MENTION WHEN I HAVE MY CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO ROSNER FORD DEALERSHIP IN KING GEORGE VA (THEY COULDN'T FIND A ISSUE 4 FOUR TIMES NOW). IT HAPPENS WITH FREQUENT AND UNREGULAR INTERVALS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY (THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE SERVICE DEPT) SEEMS AS IF THEY DON'T CARE EVEN WHEN I EXPRESSED THE SAFETY CONCERN. I BELIEVE THE COMPUTER PROBLEM IS A BIGGER THING THAN REALIZED. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP IN GETTING ADD TO THE COMPLAINT LIST SO FORD WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY, I ACCELERATED TO REACH THE SAME SPEED OF THE TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE REVVED OVER 3500 RPM. MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON AND SET TO RECIRCULATE THE AIR. SHORTLY AFTER MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN OF MY CAR. *TR

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