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)

Newest first · 1,191 complaints · page 34 of 48

Apr 30, 2015Fuel system

I AM NOT CERTAIN WHERE TO FULLY POST THIS OR WHAT CAN HAPPEN FOR THIS CAR. I GAVE THIS CAR BACK TO WESTLIE FORD IN CAMAS, WA. IT WAS CONFIRMED BY A DOCTOR THAT 3 PEOPLE GOT SULFUR POISONING FROM THIS CAR. I SAW THIS CAR INSTANTLY BACK ON FORDS LOT EVEN THOUGH I HAD ADVISED THEM IT GAVE ME SULFUR POISON. WHEN MY FRIEND EMAILED INQUIRING ABOUT THE CAR THEY ADVISED THAT THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN CHECKED BUT WAS A KEEPER. THEY CAR WAS A LEMON FROM THE START AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE CAR FOR 7 MONTHS IT HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS OF THAT TIME PERIOD FOR DIFFERENT REPAIRS. WE ALSO INQUIRED ABOUT THAT WITH EVERYTHING ON THE CAR FAX REPORT. THEY CAME BACK THAT IT WAS JUST BASIC MAINTENANCE. 7 ISSUES IN 7 MONTHS WAS NOT BASIC FIXES. THE OTHER MAJOR THING BESIDE SULFUR POISON WAS THE CAR WAS LEAKING AND HAD MILDEW ISSUES BEFORE I FOUND THE LEAK. I AM JUST WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT FAMILY THAT GETS IN THIS CAR. IF IT HASN'T BEEN PROPERLY FIXED THE NEXT PERSON CAN HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AS MY FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713736

Apr 29, 2015Steering

IN APRIL 2015, I HAD TWO INSTANCES IN WHICH MY VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITH A CORRESPONDING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE. I, FORTUNATELY, WAS IN A PARKING LOT BOTH TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO STEER TO A PARKING SPACE, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR (AS ADVISED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL). IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I DISCOVERED A RECALL NOTICE FOR POWER STEERING ISSUES. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON APRIL 23RD TO HAVE THE SERVICE PERFORMED. ON APRIL 27TH, WHEN I STARTED THE CAR TO PULL OUT OF MY GARAGE AT HOME, I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING NO LONGER WORKED. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE. BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE RECALL SERVICE, THEY PERFORMED THE BASIC RESET AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. FORD IS TELLING ME THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD SERVICED THE RECALL ONCE, THEY CONSIDER IT TO BE REPAIRED AND WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR OF THE FAILED POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD IS REFUSING TO REPAIR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713656

Apr 28, 2015Steering

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASH STATING THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD FAILED. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT CLEARED THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR SERVICE IN AUGUST OF 2014 THERE WAS A RECALL FROM FORD (14S06) THAT REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MODULE. AFTER THE SERVICE THERE WERE STILL INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS WHERE THE WARNING APPEARED, BUT IT ALWAYS WENT AWAY WHEN CYCLING THE ENGINE OFF THEN BACK ON. ON APRIL 27. 2015 THE WARNING AGAIN APPEARED, BUT WOULD NOT DISAPPEAR WHEN THE OFF/ON CYCLE WAS COMPLETED. ATTEMPTED THIS MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT THE WARNING PERSISTED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE PURCHASING DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10713322

Apr 24, 2015Brakes

BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS ARE SEIZED. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM ONLY WHEN THE BRAKE PADS HAD WORN DOWN TO METAL ON METAL AND WERE CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE. I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712752

Apr 23, 2015Steering

SUMMARY: UPDATING THE SOFTWARE DOES NOT FIX THE 'LOSS OF POWER STEERING' PROBLEM UNDER FORD RECALL 140S06 FOR 2011 FORD EXPLORER. POWER STEERING STILL FAILS AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. HOWEVER, FORD REJECTS TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE STEERING RACK TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF THE CUSTOMER HAS DONE SOFTWARE UPDATE; FORD AGREES TO COVER IT ONLY IF CUSTOMER HAS NOT DONE SOFTWARE UPDATE. BASICALLY IF YOU ARE GIVEN REMEDY OPTION 1 WHICH IS UPDATING SOFTWARE BY THE DEALER, THEN YOU LOSE THE RIGHT FOR REMEDY OPTION 2 WHICH IS REPLACING GEAR FOR THIS RECALL REGARDLESS IF OPTION 1 HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM OR NOT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! IN JULY 2014, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER RECEIVING POWER STEERING RECALL LETTER. THEY COULD NOT DETECT THE POWER STEERING ERROR CODE AT THAT TIME, SO SIMPLY THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE. BUT I STILL OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE, AND IT HAPPENED MORE OFTEN LATER ON, UNTIL LAST WEEK APRIL 14TH, 2015, THE MESSAGE STAYED ON, AND I LOST THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY IN A PARKING LOT. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON APRIL 17TH TO OPEN A CASE #[XXX] REQUESTING TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR UNDER THE RECALL 140S06 AT NO COST. AFTER A FEW DAYS' PROLONGED BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEALER AND FORD, MY CASE WAS DENIED BY FORD. THE REASON GIVEN TO ME IS THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS COMPLETED SO MY RECALL CASE WAS CLOSED AND IT WILL NOT BE COVERED TO REPLACE STEERING GEAR. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL 12MONTH/12K WARRANTY THAT I AM STILL WITHIN, FORD INSISTED THAT IT ONLY COVERS THE SOFTWARE THAT WAS UPDATED. BUT I BELIEVE THE RECALL IS MEANT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING, IF THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS, MEANING SOFTWARE UPDATE DOES NOT WORK, THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE RECALL REMEDY OPTION 2 TO REPLACE THE GEAR FOR A REAL FIX. NO WAY WILL A SOFTWARE UPDATE FIX A PHYSICAL HARDWARE DEFECT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10712556

Apr 20, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER A POWER STEERING MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES WHERE A CODE WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10706605

Apr 11, 2015Steering

SEVERAL OCCASIONS TURNING ON VEHICLE SYSTEM REPORTS POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE ADVANCE TRACTION CONTROL - POWER STEERING FAILED, AND STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. TURNING OFF AND BACK ON HAD MADE IT GO AWAY BEFORE, THEN DID NOT. POWER STEERING ASSIST SERVICE ADVANCE TRACTION AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ALL FAILED, TRUCK NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE, IF POWER STEERING GOES OUT, AND THE WHEEL IS THAT DIFFICULT TO TURN DRIVING IN ANY CONDITION BECOMES A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ACTIVITY. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA, ROADS ARE VERY CURVY, OFTEN SCATTERED WITH LOOSE DEBRIS (SAND, SALT, GRAVEL) IF PAVED, OR JUST GRAVEL IN SOME AREAS, AND SAFE NAVIGATION OF THESE ROADS TO GET TO MY HOME WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR VEHICLES ASSEMBLED IN THE CHICAGO PLANT, BETWEEN 5/2010 AND 2/2012, FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM, AND THOUGH THIS VEHICLE MEETS THOSE CRITERIA, THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705089

Apr 8, 2015Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING FAILURE, SERVICE POWER ASSIST WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10704453

Mar 21, 2015Steering

CRANKED UP VEHICLE, PUT IT IN REVERSE AND BEGAN TO MOVE BACKWARDS. HEARD A CHIME AND AT THE SAME TIME LOST POWER STEERING. THERE WAS A "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE BOX ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH. I STOPPED; PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING IT WAS OK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS TO MY WIFE HOWEVER AND SHE WILL NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I HAVE CONTACTED MY FORD SERVICE DEPT. THAT HANDLES THE MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 14S06 IN JULY 2014 TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. THEY DID A REPROGRAM TO THE SOFTWARE WHICH OBVIOUSLY DID NOT "FIX" THE PROBLEM. IT STIPULATES IN THAT RECALL THAT IF THE UPDATE DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE THAT THE STEERING GEAR IS TO BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE REQUESTED A DATE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR WORK TO BE DONE AS I AM ALMOST 3 HOURS FROM THE DEALER / SERVICE DEPT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10700820

Mar 19, 2015Steering

WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE A TONE SOUNDED, A WARNING MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAIL" CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. AFTER CYCLING THE IGNITION THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. IT OCCURRED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER IN A SIMILAR SITUATION (LOW SPEED) AND AGAIN WENT AWAY AFTER CYCLING THE IGNITION. FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED AS "CODE U3000 FAILURE TYPE 49 INTERNAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE, NEED TO REPLACE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR - PART BB5Z 3504 D". *TR

NHTSA ODI 10695243

Mar 19, 2015Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE A-PILLARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500.

NHTSA ODI 10695473

Mar 11, 2015Steering

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10693672

Mar 4, 2015Steering

MY FORD EXPLORER HAD A RECALL (14S06) SO I TOOK IT INTO MY DEALER AND HAD THEM TO THE UPDATE. APROX 1000 MILES LATER MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND NOW THE BILL COULD BE AS HIGH AS 1500 DOLLARS AND FORD WON'T COVER IT BECAUSE I ALREADY HAD THE RECALL FIXED ONCE. COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO TO NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS LARGE AMOUNT? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10692009

Feb 11, 2015SteeringEngine

I SENT MY VEHICLE IN TWO MONTHS FOR TO BE FIX AT DREW FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY ALSO CORRECTED A RECALL ON THE POWERSTEERING FAULT. NOW THE FAULT IS BACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS IMMOVABLE OR EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE. THEY ALSO CLAIM THIS WILL NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN REMEDY THE FIRST TIME. I AM VERY UPSET WITH FORD, BECAUSE THIS CAN BE A 600-2000 DOLLAR REPAIR. POWER STEERING SHOULD NOT GO THIS FAST, MY CAR IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. I MAY HAVE TO TRADE IT IN FOR MORE RELIABLE VEHICLE LIKE A HONDA OR TOYOTA. I WANT TO SUPPORT AMERICAN COMPANIES. THIS EXPERIENCE LEFT ME WITH A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10682792

Feb 11, 2015Steering

ON 08-2014, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR CO. INDICATING THAT I HAD A RECALL ON MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER AND THAT . THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GEAR, WHICH CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF THE MOTOR POSITION SENSOR SIGNAL RESULTING IN A SHUT DOWN OF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. AND THAT THE RECALL WOULD PREVENT THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE TO THE FORD HOUSE AND THE SAID RECALL WAS PERFORMED. IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY MY VEHICLE SHOULD NOT LOOSE POWER TO THE POWER STEERING. WRONG. APPROXIMATELY 3-4 WEEKS LATER MY VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS THE ONE THING THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSE TO PREVENT. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE WORK DONE TO MY VEHICLE DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER PAYING $1,400 TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CO. IN HOPES THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE MY PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIX TO BEGIN WITH. FORD MOTOR CO. ADVISED THAT THEY HAD PERFORMED THE WORK NECESSARY TO PREVENT MY POWER STEERING FOR GOING OUT BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW IT WENT OUT ANYWAY. FORD MOTOR CO. NEVER FIXED MY PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH AND ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD SEND A REAL STATING THAT IT IS GOING TO PREVENT SOMETHING BUT IT DOES NOT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INJURE OR POSSIBLY GET PEOPLE KILLED AND NEED TO BE RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10682826

Feb 3, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) DUE TO A RECENT EVALUATION OF THE VEHICLE AT A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 10681024

Jan 27, 2015Body & structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE LUGGAGE RACKS ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAM IN BETWEEN THE METAL ROOF AND THE ROOF LUGGAGE RACKS HAD WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10679124

Jan 21, 2015Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PROPER SEAM SEAL WAS NOT CORRECTLY APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE WHEN MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED WITH THE SEAM SEAL LEAK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,595.

NHTSA ODI 10676994

Jan 12, 2015Steering

HAD UNIT BACK IN DEALER NOVEMBER 2014 FOR THE RECALL14S06 AND WAS TOLD THEY DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE. JANUARY 7TH 2015 WENT TO LEAVE WORK, STARTED UNIT TO WARM UP. GOT IN IT 15 MINUTES LATER AND NO POWER STEERING. LIGHT ON DASH SAID :STEERING ASSIST FAILURE" TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO SPEND $1600 BECAUSE IT NEEDED THE STEERING GEAR REPLACED. PLEASE NOTE THIS UNIT WAS BUILT IN MARCH 2011 IN THE CHICAGO ASSEMBLY PLANT AND FALLS UNDER THE SUSPECTED TIME FRAME OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. ALSO IT IS 10 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT ONLY HAS 26000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO CONTACT FORD AND EXPLAIN TO THEM I FELT IT SHOULD BE COVER 100% BUT WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH MY DEALER AFTER THEY RAN MY CASE NUMBER. WAS CONTACTED BY MY DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME OUT OF POCKET $800 PLUS IT COULD TAKE 3/5 WORKING DAYS TO GET COMPONENT. I FIND THIS AS A GOOD FAITH GESTURE BUT COME ON FORD YOU KNEW BACK IN THE LAB THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS ONLY A BANDAID AND THE REALLY PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.YOU NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND REPAIR ALL FAILED UNITS WITH A NEW STEERING GEAR AT 100% YOUR COST! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671752

Dec 31, 2014Airbags

I PURCHASED A "CERTIFIED" USED 2011 EXPLORER BASE WITH 3500 MILES IN MARCH 2014 FROM FORD DEALER. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN MAY AND STAYED ON STEADY...DEALER REPLACED MASTER MODULE (UNDER WARRANTY) AFTER A WEEK OF WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, THEY TOLD ME WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON, IT INDICATED THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND THEY WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE THE VEHICLE BACK WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE PART, A CLEAR INDICATION OF HOW SERIOUS THEY CONSIDERED THE PROBLEM. LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON THREE MORE TIMES SINCE (EVERY 6-8 WEEKS). EACH TIME SINCE, DEALER HAS "GREASED" ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHT TO GO OFF ONLY TEMPORARILY. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON, WE ARE USUALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT PROTECTED BY THIS CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM. ASIDE FROM THE EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION THIS POSES TO MY FAMILY, IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER EVERY SEVERAL WEEKS TO HAVE THEM ONLY TEMPORARILY FIX THE ISSUE. BASED ON OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I EXPECT THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR ME UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM ANY LONGER. I APPROACHED THE DEALER'S GENERAL MANAGER AND MY REGIONAL FORD REP ABOUT BUYING THE VEHICLE BACK BUT THEY BOTH TOLD ME THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE ME WHAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORTH (WHICH WOULD PUT ME IN A LARGE FINANCIAL HOLE)... *JS

NHTSA ODI 10669246

Dec 31, 2014Steering

WHEN PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE I STARTED OUT AND OF MY SPOT AND DOWN A RAMP TOWARD THE PAY STATION/BOOTH OF THE GARAGE TO EXIT. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CAME ON, I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING AND WAS HEADED DIRECTLY TOWARD THE PAY BOOTH/ATTENDANT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND MUSCLE THE STEERING AWAY FROM THE IMPENDING CRASH. THIS POWER STEERING ISSUE HAS STARTED TO OCCUR BRIEFLY OVER THE LAST FEW 6 MONTHS AND EITHER RESOLVES ITSELF OR IF I STOP, SHUT OFF, THEN RESTART IT SEEMS TO RESET. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE AT FAULT. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE LOSING THIS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE DANGER IT POSES TO DRIVERS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10669310

Dec 28, 2014Steering

AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN ON 9/15/14 TO ADDRESS THE FORD EXPLORER 2011 RECALL, SHEEHY FORD IN SPRINGFIELD, VA DECLARED MY PARTS OK AND REPROGRAMMED MY PSCM (I HAD NEVER HAD A SINGLE ISSUE WITH MY POWER STEERING)...I SUBSEQUENTLY DROVE TO KENTUCKY (FROM BURKE, VA) AND SEVERAL OTHER PLACES...EVENTUALLY DRIVING TO MY PARENT'S HOUSE IN VIENNA, VA (ABOUT 30+ MINUTES AWAY) FOR THANKSGIVING DAY (12/27/14), JUST 3 MONTHS LATER. SEVERAL STREETS FROM ARRIVAL I RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT MY POWER STEERING WAS FAILING. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HOPED TO BE ABLE TO START THE CAR AND FIND THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER THE CAR AT ALL. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO A DEALER (I DID NOT CHOOSE THE SAME DEALER WHO HAD DONE THE RECALL). THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PARTS SEVERAL DAYS LATER, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE CODE THEY RECEIVED WAS DIFFERENT. THIS HAPPENED 3 MONTHS AFTER THEY DECLARED MY PARTS OK! I ONLY HAD TO PAY $100 FOR THE FIX BECAUSE OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT AM ILL ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN ON MY WAY TO OR FROM KENTUCKY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILURE HAPPENED SO I FEEL OBLIGATED TO REPORT MY ISSUE TO YOU. I UNDERSTAND FROM PRESS RELEASES I'VE SEEN THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS ISSUE CLOSED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE THE CASE... *TR

NHTSA ODI 10668613

Dec 22, 2014Steering

WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING THERE WAS ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING, I BELIEVE IT SAID POWER STEERING SERVICE WAS REQUIRED. WHEN WE STOPPED AT NEXT INTERSECTION, IT WAS EVIDENT POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WAS REDUCED. AFTER PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE, THEN RESTARTING, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE, ONLY MANUAL. WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED, TURNING WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STOPPING, BECAUSE WHEELS COULD NOT BE STEERED, VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT, BLOCKING A CROSS PATH IN A COMMERCIAL LOT, WITH CROSS TRAFFIC NEARLY CAUSING COLLISION, ALTHOUGH NO COLLISION OCCURRED, THERE WAS CLEAR DANGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10667813

Dec 16, 2014Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 10664611

Dec 9, 2014Speed controlCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A GARAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE RAPIDLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS 23,500.

NHTSA ODI 10663126

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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 →