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

MY WIFE STARTED GETTING THE CODE ON HER DISPLAY THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS AT FAULT! THEN IT WOULD RESET AND WORK, THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES! WE WERE OUT TO EAT AND GO IN THE VEHICLE AND STARTED HOME. WHEN THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY! I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FROM THERE!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROADWAY, WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND TIE ROD TO FRACTURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO BEECHMONT FORD (LOCATED AT 600 OHIO PIKE, CINCINNATI, OH 45245, (513) 752-6611) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 80 NEAR DONNER PASS IN CALIFORNIA THE "TRACTION CONTROL UNAVAILABLE" LIGHT CAME ON WITH "CHECK POWER STEERING" LIGHT. STEERING WHEEL RESISTANCE INCREASED AS IF POWER STEERING WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOWSTORM THE RED "SERVICE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING TOTALLY FAILED MAKING CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE FACT THAT THIS FAILURE COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND IN MY CASE DURING WHITE OUT WINTER CONDITIONS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND I FELT LUCKY TO NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. I HAVE READ SO MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME POWER STEERING FAILURE AND AM SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL ACTION ON THIS VIN HAS BEEN INITIATED. CONTACTED FORD DEALERSHIPS WHO SAY THAT SINCE NO "ERROR" CODE IS PRESENT THEY WILL NOT CORRECT OR REPAIR THE ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THE NHSTA WILL FINALLY INITIATE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM THIS PROBLEM.

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MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER ONLY HAS 104K MILES. IN OCTOBER OF 2018 THE CAR REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WITH NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WHEN I GOT IT TO FINALLY TURN BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN TO BE CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THE ANTIFREEZE HAS SPILLED INTO THE ENGINE AND WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE! I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE STEERING LOCK RECALL AS WELL AS NEEDING THE RADIATOR REPLACEMENT IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF MY PURCHASE. ALSO, NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THOSE INCIDENTS EITHER! I CURRENTLY HAVE THIS CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NO ANSWERS FROM FORD. THE COST TO FIX IS OVER 6K! I NOTICED A RECALL BEING ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER MY MODEL CAR IS NOT INCLUDED! THIS SHOULD INCLUDE ALL FORD VEHICLES.

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I WAS LEAVING TO WORK AND THE STEERING WAS HARD .THE CAR WAS STATIONARY , IT MARKED POWER STEERING ASSAULT.IM PREGNANT AND I'M AFRAID TO CRASH WHILE DRIVING.

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WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND AS SOON AS WE PULL IN THE PARKING LOT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WON'T MOVE. IT WAS TOWED TO FORD MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THE WATER PUMP WAS FAULT WHICH MADE THE COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE HENCE MESSING UP THE ENGINE AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. IT COST ME ARMS AND LEGS TO FIX THE ENGINE. FORD NEED TO RECALL WATER PUMP FAILURE WHICH IS LEADING TO COSTLY FIXING OF THE ENGINE. THE ROOF WAS ALSO LEAKING AND THE WATER WAS DRIPPING THROUGH BACK SEAT BELT. TODAY I WAS PULLING OFF THE PARKING THE POWER STEERING FAULT LIGHT CAME ON , AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING . THIS CAR HAS A LOT IF PRBLEMS .

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO STEER OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND "POWER STEERING FAULT" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOSES FORD INC (2001 MACCORKLE AVE, ST ALBANS, WV 25177) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,960.

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THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME DIFFICULT ALMOST RESULTING IN A CAR CRASH

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WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING SYSTEM SUDDENLY LOCKED, MAKING VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE DIRECTION. THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WE WERE CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT.

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WHEN IT RAINS, THE RAIN COMES IN THE TRUCK AND SEEPS THROUGH THE SEATBELTS, THE FRONT PASSENGER INTERIOR HANDLE, THE TWO LIGHTS IN THE TOP OF THE TRUCK (ABOVE THE CONSOLE), THE STERIO IN THE BACK, THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE DASHBOARD, THROUGH THE TRIM OF THE WINDOWS ON DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AND INSIDE THE SUNROOF (YES, THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF IS CLOSED). THIS HAPPENS IF THE TRUCK IS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, AND WHEN DRIVING. MY GUESS IS THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BEING MADE.

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TOOK TO A SHOP BECAUSE OF WATER IN REAR AREA COMING FROM SEAT BELTS. GOT TOLD THAT THE WELDS AROUND THE REAR HATCH MOUNTS ARE BAD AND KNOWN FOR MESSING UP. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX AND TOLD ME TO TAKE TO A COLLISION SHOP TO GET FIXED ON MY OWN DIME.

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POWER STEERING INTERMITTEDLY FAILS AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SEEMS TO HAPPEN EARLY WHEN THE CAR IS USED. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND STEERING BECOMES REALLY HARD.

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POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAS HAPPENED WHEN STATIONARY AS WELL AS WHEN MOVING. STEERING IS LOCKED AND STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE TURNED WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE FORCE.

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I HAVE LEAKS THROUGH THE SEAT BELTS ON MY THIRD ROW. MY CAR HAS A MILDEW ODOR FROM THESE SO IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE. I HAD CARMAX FIX A LEAK THAT I NOTICED IN 2016 BUT NOW 2 YEATS LATER IT IS REALLY BAD. I LOOKED UP ONLINE POSSINLE FIXES AND FOU D HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND NO FIX. FORD IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH FOR THE REPAIR. PLEAS LOOK INTO THIS FAULTY ISSUE AND REQUIRE A WELDING FIX ON THE SEEMS BY FORD. SEEMS ALL INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND WITH THE ISSUE IS WITH THE NEW EXPLORER BODY STARTING WITH MY 2011 YEAR. LEAK OCCURS QHEN IT RAINED OR WHEN CAR IS WASHED. IT IS SO MUCH WATER THAT WE CURRENTLY CAN NOT USE THE THIRD ROW SEATONG AS A SEAT. IT IS CONSTANTLY WET.

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THE SAFETY HAZARD LIGHTS BUTTON DOES NOT WORK. UNABLE TO TURN HAZARD LIGHT ON. BUTTON IS COMPLAINED ABOUT IN MANY ONLINE FORMS FOR DYING OR JUST NOT WORKING.

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AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF.

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WE WERE TRAVELING I-26 FROM SC BACK INTO NC AFTER THANKSGIVING. MY CAR DINGED AND SAID COOLANT TEMP WAS TOO HIGH. THANKFULLY I WAS RIGHT AT A REST AREA AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED IN AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. TRIED ADDING COOLANT AND IT POURED OUT THE BOTTOM. HAD MY EXPLORER TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. TURNS OUT THE WATER PUMP BLEW. IN MOST CASES A WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT IS NOT A BIG DEAL. EXCEPT WHOEVER DESIGNED THIS ENGINE WAS NOT THINKING BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP IS INSIDE THE ENGINE. SO EVEN TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP (A PART COSTING LESS THEN $200), THE LABOR MAKES IT AT CLOSER TO $1500. BUT, ALSO, BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP IS INSIDE THE ENGINE, WHEN IT BLEW, COOLANT AND WATER WENT INTO MY ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE, MEANING THE WHOLE ENGINE NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SO A CAR WITH 71,000 MILES ON IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF A WATER PUMP. I AM THANKFUL I WAS IN A POSITION TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE IF THE ENGINE HAD GONE OUT ON THE BUSY INTERSTATE, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE CRASH. IF A WATER PUMP CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE, THAT IS NOT A CAR I WANT TO BE IN WITH MY CHILDREN. DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO US, BUT TO OTHERS TRAVELING NEAR US. FORD NEEDS TO RETHINK THIS DESIGN. NOT ONLY IS IT COSTLY TO REPAIR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A STRONG ODOR OF NATURAL GAS WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR WAS ALSO NOTICED AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, ALL THE WINDOWS WERE FOGGY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL ODOR WAS STRONGER WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LESTER GLENN SUBARU (1501 RTE 37 W, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08755, (888) 785-0675) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE O-RING INSIDE THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

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TACKATA RECALL VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. UNKNOWN REASON FOR LOSS OF STEERING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FORD SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR THIS VEHICLE. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FOR THE SAME YEAR MODEL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL PERTAINING TO THE E-PASS GEAR AND THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON JOHNSON CITY FORD (207 PRINCETON RD, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37601, (423) 282-3000) TO RECEIVE THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE SINCE MAY 29, 2014. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED WHY THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PROVIDED AS A TRADE IN FROM HONDA KINGSPORT (2217 E STONE DR, KINGSPORT, TN 37660, (423) 358-2519). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED FIVE STAR FORD STONE MOUNTAIN (3800 US-78, SNELLVILLE, GA 30039, (470) 552-0862) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,989.

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TAKATA REPORT. THIS IS TO REPORT THAT MY VEHICLE IS GOING THROUGH A SIMILAR AS OTHER VEHICLES. THE STEERING LOCKS IN PLACE AND I AM UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I AM NOT THE ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. AN ACCIDENT COULD OF EASILY HAPPEN BECAUSE OF IT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SERVICE TRAC AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

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POWER STEERING WENT OUT A SECOND TIME. MORE THAN JUST A LOSS OF POWER STEERING....BASICALLY CANNOT STEER AT ALL. WAS 'FIXED' BY FORD IN 2015....BEYOND DANGEROUS.LIFE THREATENENING PROBLEM NEVER FIXED...REALLY?I CAN BE REACHED AT (XXXXXX). 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)

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I WAS TURNING OUT OF MY ALLEY AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD AN ORANGE WARNING LIGHT WITH A WRENCH COME ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT AND NO ISSUE WITH THE ACCELERATION. DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT THIS ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR IT BUT NOT FOR MY VIN NUMBER OR YEAR.

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