Home · 2011 Ford Explorer Police Intercept · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,191)Crash / fire / injury (40)Steering (737)Body & structure (110)Electrical system (94)Engine (83)Transmission & drivetrain (64)Airbags (44)Fuel system (40)Brakes (28)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (28)Suspension (24)

737 of 1,191 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 12 of 30

Feb 4, 2021Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LIKE THE FAILURE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11394655

Jan 25, 2021Steering

POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED CALLED FORD JUST OUT OF RECALL WINDOW RECALL 15N01 CAR CLEARLY UNDER MILEAGE SINCE CAR HAS 80000 RECALL IS WITHIN 150000MILES BUT RECALL ENDED 1/16/2021 CAR IS STILL DEFECTIVE I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL WHEN I PURCHASED CAR

NHTSA ODI 11389765

Jan 21, 2021Steering

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CODE IS PRESENT AND STEERING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS ALREADY RECALL 14S06 HOWEVER MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER ISN'T INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI 11389273

Jan 18, 2021Steering

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POWERSTEERING GETS HARD TO TURN AND SAY POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT IT HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES

NHTSA ODI 11388669

Jan 15, 2021Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE SERVICE STEERING NOW WAS DISPLAYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ODI 11388281

Dec 21, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIMMY MICHEL MOTORS, INC. (555 S ELLIOTT AVE, AURORA, MO 65605, (417) 678-5001) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS LIKE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) AND 14E001000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE MILEAGE AND REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,573.

NHTSA ODI 11384454

Dec 17, 2020SteeringElectrical system

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND HAS BEEN FINE UNTIL TODAY. PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION, TIRE LOW LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER TO GET AIR AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE STEERING TO WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11383993

Dec 15, 2020Steering

THE CAR DROVE FINE AT 7AM - AT 8:30 AM. I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I WAS GOING 45 MPH WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR ON A VERY BUSY ROAD, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTING FLASHING "HILL DESCENT CONTROL OFF" THEN IT WENT TO "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" THEN "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" AND POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. I HAD TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF A DITCH WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND ITS 26 DEGREES OUT. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR GUY STATES POWER STEERING RACK IS NOT GOOD AND STATES THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON 2011 FORD EXPLORER FOR IT. I LOOK THROUGH SERVICE RECORDS I SHOW HIM IN 2016 RIVERHEAD FORD DID THE WORK 5 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR - HE SAYS THERE IS NO WAY IT WAS DONE OTHERWISE THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. OR, THE PARTS THEY USED TO REPAIR IT ARE FAULTY. I CALLED RIVERHEAD FORD THEY CAN'T SERVICE THE CAR, OR GIVE ME A LOANER UNTIL 1/7/2021 BECAUSE OF COVID & TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS I'VE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK, THE ENGINE BLEW 18 MONTHS AGO, AND NOW THE POWER STEERING RACK AGAIN. THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE, AND I'M LUCKY MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE ALIVE. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 11383579

Dec 11, 2020Steering

TRIED DRIVING MY EXPLORER ONE MORNING AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING CONTROL, MEANING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN AND I WASN'T ABLE TO PULL IT OUT OF CAR PORT BEING THAT SAID I SEARCH MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING LOSS. CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THE COULD FIX IT DUE TO THE RECALL BUT CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT WAS SAYING MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS ACCORDING TO THE VIN OF MY VEHICLE, WHEN CLEARLY IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME ISSUE AND WITH RECALL LETTER HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 11383061

Dec 7, 2020Steering

WE WERE TURNING LEFT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, FROM A BUSY STREET ONTO A HIGHWAY, WHEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT SUDDENLY. NORMALLY I'M THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, MIRACULOUSLY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY STEER US HOME. IF THIS FAULT HAD OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD, THEY FOUGHT MANY LEGAL BATTLES OVER IT, IN MY VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER THEIR RECALL. THEY HAVE AN FIELD SERVICE ACTION FOR MY VIN, BUT IT EXPIRES AT A HUNDRED AND 150000 MILES. I WAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES OVER THAT WHEN MINE FAILED. THIS SHOULD BE AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD RECALL FOR ALL FORD EPAS SYSTEMS FOR THE AFFECTED YEARS, AS THEY SEEM TO BE AWARE THAT IT IS AN INEVITABLE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11378215

Nov 30, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAMMONASSET FORD (191 BOSTON POST RD, MADISON, CT 06443; (203) 245-8828), WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,900.

NHTSA ODI 11377153

Nov 29, 2020SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 75 FROM GAINESVILLE FL TO LOGANVILLE GA MY POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT ! THANKFULLY MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR , BUT EVEN AFTER PULLING OVER AND CUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF TO TRY TO RESET IT IT DID NOT WORK!

NHTSA ODI 11376964

Nov 24, 2020Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN MY MOM STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO BACK UP. TOOK IT TO FORD THEY SAID A RECALL WAS OUT ON THIS BUT FORD IS NOT COVERING IT.

NHTSA ODI 11376140

Nov 23, 2020Steering

DRIVEING ON RT 53 IN ADDISON IL AT 45 MPH TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING

NHTSA ODI 11375917

Nov 19, 2020Steering

MAKING RIGHT TURN AT TRAFFIC AIGNAL, 8:30 AM S/W/C ANTHEM WAY & DAISY MOUNTAIN ANTHEM AS 85086 LOSS POWER STEERING. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE LOSS

NHTSA ODI 11375368

Nov 12, 2020SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

MY POWER STEERING TOTALLY WENT OUT. IT KEPT SAYING POWER STEERING FAULT AND JUST STOPPED WORKING. THEN IT STARTED SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT TRAC TERRAIN FAULT OR SOMETHING. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2018 AND THEN FOUND OUT TODAY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THEM FOR POWER STEERING. WE BOUGHT OUR CAR IN OKLAHOMA AND NOW LIVE IN ALABAMA. THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN WEIRD ON ME BEFORE BUT TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT WOULD FIX IT, BUT IT HAS WENT OUT SAYING FAULT WHILE I WAS GOING AROUND A TURN AND I HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY, THROW ON MY HAZARDS, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. BUT NOW NOTHING IS FIXING IT, I HAD TO TOW IT TO MY HOUSE FROM AN HOUR AWAY BECAUSE I WAS STUCK AT WORK AT 1AM. I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN MY FAMILY ABLE TO WORK AND WORK ABOUT 52HOURS A WEEK AND DON'T KNOW I CAN AFFORD TO FIX THIS ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY WAS KNOWN BUT NOT FIXED IN MY VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO ME (NOT YOUR FAULT, THE DELEARSHIPS FAULT, BUT THEY ARE 10 HOURS AWAY...)

NHTSA ODI 11374287

Nov 5, 2020SteeringSuspension

AS I WAS IN MOTION DRIVING MY SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER I LOST ALL POWER STEERING CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IHAS HAS THIS ISSUE OF LOOSING POWER STEERING IN THE PAST AUGUST OF 2019 AND THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED FEBRUARY OF 2018. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN 2019 AND WAS ADVISED IT NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING RACK AT MY COST! I HAVE SINCE HAD THIS ISSUE AGAIN NOVEMBER 3RD. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP IN 2019 CREATED A FRAUD CLAIM FOR REPROGRAMING THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE NOTHING WITH THE ISSUE THAT I INITIALLY BROUGHT IN WITH. IM SCARED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE AND THE UNETHICAL CLAIM BARNES BAKER AUTOMOTIVE OF TRENTON, MO HAS CLAIMED. MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME AND I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE SUSPENSION RECALL HAS EVEN BEEN PREFORMED. THE RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN PERFORMED BUT, IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR MY VEHICLE. FORD IS CLAIMING THIS IS NOT A RECALL RELATED ISSUE WHICH THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A ONGOING P[ROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING LOCKING UP. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT!

NHTSA ODI 11373171

Nov 3, 2020Steering

POWER STRESSING WENT OUT ALONG WITH WARNING NOTICES OF SELECT TRACK SERVICE REQUIRED

NHTSA ODI 11372804

Nov 3, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FIRM AND HARD TO TURN HOWEVER, AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WORKED AS DESIGNED. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FAMILY FORD, INC., (30 NJ-183, NETCONG, NJ 07857, (973) 347-3000) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LIKE THE FAILURE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,022.

NHTSA ODI 11372888

Oct 20, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AL PACKER FORD ROYAL PALM BEACH LOCATED AT 10601 SOUTHERN BLVD, ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL 3341, (561) 790-1100, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING STEERING BOX TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11365381

Oct 16, 2020Steering

TERRAIN MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE TRAC LIGHT IS ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS UNABLE TO TURN

NHTSA ODI 11364620

Oct 16, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITH THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE AROUND AND DROVE BACK TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINON FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11364645

Sep 11, 2020Steering

THE STEERING IS KNOCKING WHEN TURNING WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN IN MOTION. THE STEERING LOCKS IN MID TURN WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11354476

Aug 31, 2020Steering

POWER STEERING FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 4 YEARS

NHTSA ODI 11352258

Aug 31, 2020Steering

I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK AND I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE THAT'S WHEN MY POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED. IT HAS DONE THAT BEFORE AND I WOULD JUST PUT IT IN PARK SHUT IT OFF THEN RESTART IT AND IT WOULD BE FINE. I'VE TALKED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED BECAUSE IT'S A RECALL ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT IT'S A CLOSED RECALL. AND THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY'RE WANTING ME TO PAY $77 FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11352337

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Ford Explorer Police Intercept verdict →