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

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and merging into the right lane, the steering wheel locked up and would not allow the contact to turn the vehicle in any direction while approaching a train track. The contact manually steered the vehicle over to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle however, the power steering functionality did not return. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the electric power steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,334.

NHTSA ODI 11436100

I recently purchased this 2011 Ford Explorer. I was driving on the interstate and the suv started feeling like a boat floating in water. The swaying felt like the front and rear suspension was not connected somehow. I immediately removed my foot from the gas and tapped my brakes to slow. It felt as though I would lose control of the vehicle. The swaying wasn’t noticeable until you reached speeds above 50 initially. The suv would be ok on some days. But I drive and hour to work each way and it’s highway. Now I am noticing the sway at lower speeds as well. I am having it checked out by an alignment mechanic shop. But since this started, we have seen many things written about this problem in forums and FORD actually had some recalls.

NHTSA ODI 11435675

I have a 2011 Ford Explorer I purchased in 2016/2017. I took this car in in 2019 to Laird Noller Ford with complaint of a steer assist fault code it kept having. I was told it was a recall and they could clear the code if it happened there. Last week I was driving and my power steering completely went out with my children in the car. I took my car in again and was told it was throwing the code 15N06. It is a recall that was “expired” as of February 2021. I contacted Ford customer relations and was told multiple times it would be covered under 14S06 except now they are not submitting authorization for this safety recall. They said it is expired and outside of the warranty. It is a known problem and I was told by the service department the control module of the steering rack had “gone bad” and should have been replaced according to the Ford safety recall amendment 3 that was submitted in May 2019 to all dealerships. They continue to deny this recall service repair.

NHTSA ODI 11435633

Between 7/17/20 and 9/7/20 car stalled five times and stopped moving while in drive mode with no warning. Dealer kept car from 7/30/20 to 8/7/20, but problem was not fixed. Car returned to dealer 9/8/20 and kept by them until 9/16/20 when it was returned with problem apparently fixed. No problem since. Diagnosed Throttle Body Failure. Have verifying work order and invoice.

NHTSA ODI 11434650

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing out of her driveway, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was able to be restarted and regained functionality. The contact stated that the power steering assist message was displayed. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the Power Steering Control Module software to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11434517

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while his wife was driving 15 MPH, the power steering assist message appeared on the instrument panel. His wife was able to restart the vehicle and resume normal driving; however, the failure recurred upon her reaching her driveway. The contact then inspected the vehicle and stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle out of the driveway. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer and was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The contact's wife called the manufacturer and it was confirmed that the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer did not offer any further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000

NHTSA ODI 11433175

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at a low rate of speed, the power steering locked as the power assist warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to his home. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a dealer where he was informed that the extended warranty on his vehicle had expired. The contact then had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who informed him of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11432309

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the power steering and traction control warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel and the power steering assist failed to operate. The contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle while driving to the dealer. While at the dealer, the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

NHTSA ODI 11431923

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while at a standstill, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated that the power steering warning message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.

NHTSA ODI 11431109

Yesterday I was driving my Ford Explorer and my power steering went out as I was driving on the interstate. Lights came on and my AdvanceTrac system went out. I almost wrecked my vehicle. I have 2 car seats installed in this vehicle (luckily no children were in the car). I researched this and the issue immediately several things popped up on the issue. I logged onto my account to check for a recall and underneath recalls was: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS - EPAS STEERING EFFORTS Campaign #15N01. I called the Ford Motor Company Customer relationship to find out about the issue. Bc of the amount of issues that customers had with the same problem they issued an extended warranty instead of a recall. It was good for 10 years or 150k miles. I was told mine expired 4/28/21. This is a known SAFETY ISSUE that ENDANGERS LIVES of not just the customer, but everyone around them. I need this repaired. I never received a letter. I filed with BBB and Ford said my vehicle was not involved in the Customer Satisfaction Program, which is crazy that its not a recall. This is 100% a safety issue. Im not understanding why they dont fix it with the rest of the ones that had the same problem.

NHTSA ODI 11430322

On approximately August the 5th, 2021, my family members and myself were driving off of Signal Mountain here in Tennessee. All of the sudden, I lost all ability to steer my vehicle. In other words I lost all Power Steering. I almost wrecked a number of times with family members in the vehicle. I found that was a recall concerning the Power Steering. I contacted the Cooperate Offices of Ford and spoke with a ([XXX] ). He looked my vehicle up by VIN and found the recall. He told me that it was covered on the recall (case# CAS-[XXX] ). So I then made arrangements for getting my Vehicle towed to ( Mtn. View Ford ) 20th street, Chattanooga, Tennessee. I spoke to a service Rep: [XXX] at the dealership. I explained the situation and gave him the case number for Ford Cooperate Headquarters. The Vehicle was there well over a week, I called on 08/13/2021. The service Rep: [XXX] then told me vehicle wasn't covered under the recall as I was told by cooperate. he said that I would have to pay over $2000.00 to get my vehicle back. I disagreed of course. He then said that the vehicle was taken to Ford of Cleveland in Tennessee in 2015 for the recall. He said that defective part was not replaced, but they reprogramed the computer. so I almost died with my family members because a defective was not replaced. This is wrong no matter how you look at it. I retired from almost 30 years of Law Enforcement here in Tennessee. I learned through those 30 years. That Ethics and Integrity is the most important thing when dealing with the public. The Ford Headquarters and Mtn. View Ford in Chattanooga has lost those somewhere down the line. I did pay to get my Vehicle from Mtn View Ford. But this is wrong and I'm willing to take any avenue possible to make this public. I have never the type to try to get something for nothing, but there is right and there's wrong. This wrong!!!! I wnted to allow you to investigate this before I start using my other avenues....my number is [XXX]. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11429656

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The power steering assist fault message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,615.

NHTSA ODI 11426445

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while entering and starting the vehicle, he noticed that the electronic power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact noticed that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle multiple times however, the warning light remained illuminated and failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacture was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11424817

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle loss power steering functionality and became difficult to steer. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle, the power steering functionality returned. The contact stated that the steering assist fault warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the power steering needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V286000 (Steering) for which the vehicle was serviced under the recall in August 2014. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,232.

NHTSA ODI 11421027

Car suddenly lost power steering and traction control during a turn. Made the car very difficult to steer correctly since it occurred in the middle of a turn. Steering wheel essentially jerked out of hand creating a very hazardous situation.

NHTSA ODI 11420525

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the sun roof exploded unexpectedly. There was no impact to the sun roof that could have caused it to shatter. The sun roof shards fell inside the vehicle onto the contact and her children however, there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the sun roof frame had separated and was defective. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The insurance company inspected the vehicle and concluded that it was a manufacturing defect. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11418852

HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND I AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THIS PROMBLEM SOLOVED.I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND I HAVED LOOKED AT VIDEO AND I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH IT THEY WORK SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T.. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11417647

THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE SMELLS OF SMOG/GAS AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING AND CAUSES HEADACHES FOR ME AND MY KIDS

NHTSA ODI 11416364

DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER 2011 GLENDALE AZ AND BEING IN MOTION AN ALERT POP UP OM MY DASHBOARD SAYING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LEAVING ME WITH NO STEERING SINCE MY STEERING WHEEL GOT REALLY HARD. LOOKING ONLINE FOR ANY RECALLS I FOUND ONE AND CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS NOT VALID BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY 2021 I GOT THIS CAR FROM THEM AND I STILL PAY IN FOR THERE CAR AND NEVER THIS ISSUE FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11413195

REAR BACK UP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME SO I CANNOT SEE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHILE BACKING UP

NHTSA ODI 11413043

ON SUNDAY APRIL 11 2021 I WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER 2011 GLENDALE AZ AND BEING IN MOTION AN ALERT POP UP OM MY DASHBOARD SAYING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LEAVING ME WITH NO STEERING SINCE MY STEERING WHEEL GOT REALLY HARD. LOOKING ONLINE FOR ANY RECALLS I FOUND ONE AND CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS NOT VALID BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11407799

MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL THEY WAS A RECALL BEFORE I TAKE TO DEALERSHIP THEY DONT FIXED BUT THEY REPORT FIXED

NHTSA ODI 11406843

DRIVING AT 35+ ENTERING ON RAMP MPH THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND JUST STOPPED. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ALARMS WENT OFF BEFOREHAND. ONCE THE CAR STOPPED, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE LOW PRESSURE LAMP TOO AND AN ALARM SOUNDED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO (TOLD ME MY ENGINE WAS MILKY DESTOYED)TWO DEALEARS THEN TO FORD. THEY CALLED THIS MORNING AND SAID THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. THEY QUOTED $8,000.00. HAD TO GET A $10,000 LOAN. [TO REPLACE STEERING AND ENGINE] THIS IS THE FIRST ONE (IT SEEMS TO BE HEADED IN THE SAME DIRECTION BUT ONLY SOONER) *PLEASE HELP ME I CAN'T AFFORD THIS AGAIN**WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND THEN THE POWER STEERING ALARM CAME ON. TOOK IT TO FORD AND HAD THE POWER STEERING REPLACED AT A COST OF $1800.00. THEN, LESS THEN 2 WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. AND AGAIN, NO WARNING LIGHTS UNTIL THE POWER STEERING WEN OUT. FORD SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MY TIRES HAD LOW TREAD AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY FRONT TIRES, WHICH WE HAD THEM DO. 8 MONTHS AGO, THE TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO WHEN PLACED IN PARK VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY SHOWING A LOW PRESSURE OIL LAMP. HAPPENED IN MY FIRST ENGINE NOW IT'S HAPPENING IN THIS NEW ONE AND ITS NOT 2YRS OLD YET JUST GOT THE NEW ENGINE MAY/ JUNE OF 2019. THE FIRST ENGINE WASN'T 10 YEARS OLD . THE FIRST ENGINE ALL THIS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 2016 AND 2019 ONGOING UNTIL 2019 I GUESS THE WATER PUMP GAVE UP.O1 O1 2020 FOR THE SECOND ENGINE ON THE SAME COURSE AS THE FIRST

NHTSA ODI 11405841

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START UP, THE POWER ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED REQUIRING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH AN INTERNAL RELAY FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING RACK. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11404795

RECALL EXPIRED WAS ALSO TOLD WARRANTY FOR RECALL EXPIRED(WAS TOLD ON PHONE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF WARRANTY WOULD COVER UNTIL THEY RUN TEST IT THEN WAS TOLD IT EXPIRED) IN FEB I LOSS POWER STEERING AND A CLUSTER OF LIGHTS CAME ON DASH. HAPPENED IN FEB BUT CALLED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT W FORD ON 3/1 BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AVAILABLE OPENING UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE TOOK IT IN AND OF COURSE THEY SAY IT'S NOT COVERED. THIS IS BIG SAFETY ISSUES AND LOSS IT IN CURVE WHICH WAS SCARY. I DIDN'T PURCHASE CAR UNTIL 2017 SO NEVER HEARD OF RECALL AND SAME DEALER FIXED ANOTHER RECALL SO WHY DID THEY NOT FIX THIS RECALL AT THAT TIME OR MENTION THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11403300