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

The pillar covers fell of the vehicle when driving last week. Both plastic covers are on the side of the interstate. I was told and found there is a recall for the clips on these covers, but when I searched, they are not listed for this vehicle. There appears to be an issue with this recall and the explorer.

NHTSA ODI 11745751

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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the dealer and manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the trim piece was almost detached. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11744504

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side exterior A-Pillar Applique Trim detached. The contact stated that the exterior A-Pillar Applique Trim was flapping and hitting the ground. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The contact was advised to remove the detached exterior A-Pillar Applique Trim. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1000,000.

NHTSA ODI 11742184

In early 2024, we learned our 2011 Ford Explorer was under open recall (NHTSA #24V031) for the A-pillar windshield trim, which could detach and create a road hazard. For two years, our Ford dealer said repairs could not be done due to parts availability. The A-pillar trim detached three separate times, including once at 75 mph on a highway, causing fear and danger. The vehicle’s elderly owner stopped driving for safety. On May 26, 2026, a non-Ford mechanic attempted a repair due to the delay at Ford, but the part broke during that attempt. The recall remains incomplete, and we have ongoing safety concerns, out-of-pocket expenses, and no timeline for a real fix.

NHTSA ODI 11740507

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 local dealer where a temporary repair was performed using tape to secure the trim. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ODI 11732408

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 the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, and the dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The approximate failure mileage was 116,035.

NHTSA ODI 11726432

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

NHTSA ODI 11704644

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 secure the A-pillar trims. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 11702487

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 contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted; however, the contact was informed that the parts were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11699461

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim on the driver’s side windshield started to detach. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 21V746000 (Suspension); however, the parts to perform the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available and were on back order. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11695270

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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11694140

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 local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the passenger’s side A-pillar trim flew off the vehicle. A local dealer was notified of the failure; however, the contact was informed that parts for the recall repair were unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11688820

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 manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11687329

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V301000 (Structure) in February 2024. The contact had been calling a dealer for several months but was informed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted for parts availability and was informed that parts were anticipated by April 2025. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11682776

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim on both sides of the windshield started to detach. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the A-pillar trims needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the parts for the repair would not be available until December. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11682396

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 upon further inspection, the front driver’s side and passenger’s side A-pillar trims were loosened. The contact used super glue to perform a temporary repair. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11680935

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 while driving at various speeds, the front driver’s side A-pillar trim became loosened and was temporarily repaired using tape. In addition, the contact stated that the sealant on the driver's side A-pillar trim was deteriorating. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 11677836

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 vehicle was previously taken to the dealer, where an unknown windshield exterior A-pillar trim was replaced under the recall. Additionally, the contact stated that while washing the vehicle, the contact noticed that both the driver's side and passenger's side windshield exterior A-pillar trims were loose. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the recall parts were on back order, and the contact was informed that there was no record that the vehicle had been repaired in the past. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11677022

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 local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the front passenger’s and driver’s side A-pillar trim pieces were unsecured. The failure mileage was 160,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11676210

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 driver's side windshield exterior A-pillar trim had separated from the vehicle while driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11675529

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 while her daughter was driving 45 MPH, the passenger’s side A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted, and a mobile mechanic was sent to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic checked the front driver's side A-pillar trim and peeled an unknown part off. The mechanic informed the contact that both parts needed to be ordered. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the driver's side A-pillar trim detached and was loose. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11671695

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's side windshield trim detached. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured front windshield A-Pillar trim. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was inspected, and the vehicle passed the inspection. The failure later occurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

NHTSA ODI 11670196

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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11670213

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. An unknown local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11669420

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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the driver’s side A-pillar trim had become detached and flown off the vehicle after an inspection. No warning lights were illuminated. The approximate failure mileage was 177,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11665277