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

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON; DEALER CHECKED & RECOMMENDS REMOVING CENTER CONSOLE TO GREASE CONNECTORS. THEY SAY THIS MAY FIX PROBLEM; ESTIMATE $450-$500; THEY DID CHECK CONNECTORS UNDER SEAT AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ALSO SAY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WHEN DUE (MAR 2017).

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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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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AN ODOR OF EXHAUST OCCASIONALLY ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 12, 2013, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

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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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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 08/30/16*LJ UPDATED 09/28/16.*JB

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WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH SMELLING EXHAUST IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP OR ACCELERATING SUDDENLY. WE HAVE NOTICED THIS FOR A WHILE NOW AND IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. WE KNOW YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE BUT WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE ALSO. WE HAVE LESS THAN 55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.

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EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN WHILE EXCELRATING IN PASSING GEAR, STRONG FUMES COMES THREW THE A/C SYSTEM. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ANYTIME YOU EXCELRATE. WE HAVE HAD THE VECHILE IN THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST WEEK WE BOUGTH, A NUMBER OF TIME FOR THIS PROMBLE

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BACK UP CAMERA IS FAILING ON THIS MODEL. EVERYONE I TALK TO THAT HAS A FORD EXPLORER 2011, 2012 HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE SOON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DOWNSHIFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

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REGARDS FROM THE FIRST YEAR I PURCHASED I HAVE ENTERED THE EXHAUST AREA OF THE CABIN. FROM THE FIRST YEAR, SERVICE, PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED ME IN THE FORD DEALER, TOLD ME I COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE OR THAT WAS PART OF THE DESIGN OF THE UNIT. I GOT TO TAKE IT TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS WHENEVER I'M DRIVING AND PRESENTED ME HAVING TO CLIMB DOWN OR UP A HILL, IT IS WHERE THE PROBLEM ARISES. I MAY HAPPEN IN THE EXPRESS OR NORMAL ROADS. THE ONE LAST VISIT FOR A RECALL, RETURNED TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM AND NOW TELLS ME IT COSTS ME $ 600 FOR THE REPAIR MEMO I GET HOW TO WORK WITH THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY SPENT 36,000 MILES. MY COMMENT IS THAT FROM THE FIRST YEAR'VE BEEN REPORTING THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF SOLUTION. THE SMELL IS NOW VERY OFTEN AND TRULY BOTHERS TO GUIDE AND MUST REPRESENT A HEALTH PROBLEM.

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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 HAVE MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASH, AND MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIS CAR IS TOO YOUNG TO HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS. MY PASSENGER BACK SEAT BELT CASE IS BROKEN AS WELL. THE STITCHING ON THE SEAT BELT SEEM TO BE TEARING. THIS IS ONLY A 2011 FORD EXPLORER IT IS WAY TO YOUNG FOR ALL THESE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. MY MECHANIC CANT FIGURE IT OUT.

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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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I HAVE EXPERIENCE TWICE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE OF THIS VEHICLE. I CHANGE THE PART ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO AND HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN LAST WEEK. THE VEHICLE JUST DECREASES SPEED SUDDENLY TO ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR AND A LIGHT COME ON THE DASH WITH A WRENCH. THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE ALREADY AND IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF DRIVING AT A HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND LUCKLY I WAS ON THE INNER SIDE AND COULD PULL OVER BUT IF IT HAD HAPPEN ON THE OUTTER LANES THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

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THE POWER STEERING FAILS, AND IT BECOMES VERY HARD AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE.

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THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD HAS NOT ADDRESS THIS AS A RECALL. FORD NEEDS TO THINK THAT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. LIKE IF A SAFETY BELT DONT WORK THEN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE A LIFETIME WARRANTY.TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE THE AIRBAG WORKS BUT CAN KILL YOU AND WHEN AIRBAGS DOES NOT WORK IT CAN KILL ALSO.SO WHY DOES NOT FORD ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THEIR VEHICLES SPECIALLY 2011-2015 FORD EXPLORERS

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN I64 EAST WHEN I STARTED HEARING THIS LOUD BUZZING LIKE NOISE. NEXT THING I KNEW IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING HIT MY DRIVING SIDE WINDOW BOUNCED ALONE MY CAR AND FLEW BEHIND ME CAUSING THE DRIVER BEHIND ME TO DODGE IT. ...I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE TO FIND THAT THE TRIM WAS GONE ALONE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. IT HAD HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE ON MY CAR IN MULTIPLE PLACES AND CAUSED LONG BLACK MARKS ON MY SIDE MIRROR, AND REAR SIDE PANEL. GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE AND NOT EVEN TEN MINUTES LATER IT HAPPENED TO THE LEFT SIDE. SAME EXACT THING! RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TRIM FLEW OFF HITTING MY WIFE'S WINDOW, SCRATCHED THE CAR AND CAUSED PERSON BEHIND US TO DODGE IT. I ALSO HAD MY FOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR, SO EVERYONE WAS VERY UPSET AND SCARED CONSIDERING THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED US TO WRECK GOING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (GREENBRIER FORD) WHERE WE BOUGHT IT AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IS TOO BAD, COME IN AND GET AND ESTIMATE, SO YOU CAN PAY TO FIX YOUR REPAIRS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MALFUNCTION WITH THIS EXTERIOR OF THE CAR WHICH I SHOULDN'T BE LIABLE FOR ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND HARMED MY FAMILY. I GUESS FORD NEEDS SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE THEY RECALL OR FIX THE PROBLEM. THANKS FORD FOR CARING...NOT.. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO INTEGRITY??

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" AND "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK" WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

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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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THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I WANT TO CHANGE LANES, IT IS HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE WHEEL. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHERE AND SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN AND IT IS EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE WHEEL.IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME BUT IT HAPPENS MORE THAN ENOUGH.

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GAS LEAK DRIVER SIDE FUEL TANK AT SEAM

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AFTER HAVING EPAS REPLACED (@HALL FORD ELLIZABETH CITY, NC) UNDER RECALL 15N01 AFTER COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE. WE BEGAN A 700 MI. ROAD TRIP HOME AND BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE SPONTANEOUS TRACTION CONTROL INTERACTION WITH OUR DRIVING INPUT WHICH AFFECTED EITHER POWER DISTRIBUTION TO THE AXELS, BRAKING ABILITY, AND STEERING ABILITY. AFTER MAKING IT NEARLY 300 MILES THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL COMPLETELY WENT OUT ALONG WITH WHAT FELT LIKE ABS CONTROL SEEMED LIKE IT INTERVENED SPORADICALLY. WE ALSO RECIEVED A DASH PROMPT THAT THE FUEL FILLER INLET NEEDED CHECKED AS WELL. UPON ARRIVAL TO A FORD DEALER ALONG OUR ROUTE (SHEEHY FORD, WARRENTON, VA) THEY PULLED THE CODES LISTED AND APPEARED TO BE A LITANY OF CODES NEARLY A PAGE AND A HALF LONG. THEY CLEARED THE CODES AND DROVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK THE TRACTION CONTROL BEGAN TO ACT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT LOSS OF TRACTION. THEY CAME BACK AND CHECKED FOR ERROR CODES AND THE "STEERING POSITION SENSOR WAS AT FAULT" THEY WENT THROUGH RE-CALIBRATED THE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AND CLEARED OUT THE CODES AND DROVE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. WE THEN CONTINUED ON OUR REMAINDER OF OUR TRIP WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES. UPON ARRIVAL TO OUR HOME DESTINATION THE FOLLOWING DAY WE BEGAN TO AGAIN HAVE TRACTION CONTROL INTERVENING WITH DRIVER INPUT WHEN NOT NEEDED WHERE IT APPEARS TO BE SHIFTING POWER FROM AXLE TO AXLE OR APPLYING BRAKING TO AID IN TRACTION CONTROL. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THAT REAR VIEW CAMERA DISPLAYS THE POSTION OF THE DRIVER WHEEL IN RELATION TO THE WHEEL PATH IN REVERSE BUT APPEARS INTERMITTANT AS IF THERE IS A NOT A CONTINUOUS CONNECTION WITH THE SENSOR. TAKING TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER HERE MONDAY 4-4-16 TO HAVE THEM THOROUGHLY GO THROUGH THE VEHICLE BUT APPEARS TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. ALL ISSUES ARE PRESENT WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED AND TURNING

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THE HOOD PAINT IS BUBBLING UP AND SHOWS CORROSION ALONG THE FRONT. THE RUBBER AROUND THE WINDSHIELD IS DRY ROTTED AND CRUMBLING ALL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT EITHER PROBLEM. THERE IS A FORD TSB ISSUED ON THE PAINT ISSUE.

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MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER STARTED HAVING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE IN DEC, 2015 AT FIRST IT WOULD BE ON FIRST START UP, LASTING 3-4 SECONDS WITH A FROZEN STEERING WHEEL. GRADUALLY IT HAPPENED MORE OFTEN AND LASTED LONGER (5-10 SECONDS) RECENTLY IN MARCH 2016 WHILE DRIVING ACROSS FLORIDA ON VACATION, I SLOWED TO ENTER THE DRIVEWAY OF A SHOPPING CENTER, AS I MADE THE TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH MY STEERING WENT STIFF AND I HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN AND AVOID A VEHICLE EXITING THE PARKING LOT. IT WAS ONLY THEN I GOOGLE SEARCHED IF OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES. THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED THAT ITS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF OTHER FORD EXPLORER. EVEN THOUGH A SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR, YOU'LL FIND FORD WILL WANT TO CHANGE OTHER PARTS FIRST, PARTS NOT COVERED ON THE RECALL. THE STEERING GEAR IS VERY EXPENSIVE ($1,500) FIRST THE DEALER SAID ITS THE STEERING WHEEL ANGLE SENSOR AND NOT THE STEERING GEAR. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR......I LITERALLY PULLED OUT OF SUBURBAN FORD OF WATERFORD MICHIGAN AND DROVE 1 MILE TO A NEARBY GROCERY STORE, AFTER RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE ON THE FIRST START UP AFTER THIS REPAIR MY STEERING WAS FROZEN FOR 7-10 SECONDS AFTER 4 DAYS LOSS OF USAGE OF MY VEHICLE WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, NO RENTAL CAR OFFERED, I'LL BE RETURNING MY EXPLORER TO THE DEALER TOMORROW, I'LL KEEP POSTING UPDATES TO THIS NIGHTMARE WITH FORD MOTOR CO. FOLKS, I'M SURE YOU'LL ALL AGREE, LOSS OF STEERING IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS DEFECTS A VEHICLE CAN HAVE, NOT ONLY TO THE OWNER AND OCCUPANTS BUT TO THE OTHER INNOCENT DRIVES ON THE ROAD AS WELL

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AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON. WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER IS BAD. WAS QUOTED $450 TO REPAIR. AFTER REFUSING TO HAVE THE WORK DONE I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ON EXPLORERFORUM.COM SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE THE CONNECTIONS CHECKED UNDER THE SEAT AND I HAVE NOW FOUND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE. MY DEALER NEVER SUGGESTED TRYING TO GREASE THE CONNECTIONS, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE MADE THEIR OWNERS AWARE OF, SINCE WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON MY AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

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