2011 Ford Explorer Owner Complaints

The power steering has fully stopped working , the car cannot be steered, this started to happen on the road, I had to steer the entire weight of the car myself, at fast speed it was difficult but not impossible, at slow speed and zero speed or while the vehicle is stationary it was impossible or unmovable to steer. there were no warning lamps about this, the Ford dealer has not detect this in my vehicle's previous recall, further vehicle has two more recalls this year, that have been cited this year by the dealer. this needs to be addressed on their recalls because this can cause a very severe problem on the road

NHTSA ID

11753984

Incident

Jul 31, 2026

On Friday 7/24/2026, I was driving and all the sudden my steering went out. Dash flashed No Power Steering Assist / AdvanTrac System Fail. I pulled over immediately to turn around & get home with zero power steering. The amount of strength to steer/control was extreme. To turn was almost impossible. I took my car to Ford AutoNation on Arapahoe in Centennial on 7/27/26, they ran full diagnostics & it came back that the car suffered a hard internal failure (DTC U3000) of the electronic Power Steering Control Module, creating an immediate, dangerous loss of steering assist while driving. This vehicle was subject to Federal Safety Recall 14S06 (NHTSA Campaign 14V286000). According to official Ford OASIS data, Ford attempted to remedy this safety defect in 2014 using a software reflash shortcut (Labor Code 14S06A) rather than replacing the physical defective hardware. I have a text (via their service dept) from the service manager as well stating "it was a reflash" when I asked which labor code was done under the 14S06; "was it the software reflash or the full rack replacement?". I have a formal case with Ford Corporate created 7/31/26, and have that number as well. IBecause Ford's software patch completely failed to prevent the component's internal hardware failure, the original federally mandated safety defect remains active, unresolved, and dangerous in this chassis. Ford Corporate is refusing to honor the recall remedy because the vehicle is past an arbitrary 10-year limit on their internal customer satisfaction extensions, violating the permanent nature of safety recalls. I stated I would be filing with the NHTSA and they pushed my information on to the Safety Auto Office on 7/31/26.

NHTSA ID

11753968

Incident

Jul 24, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed and the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred after starting the vehicle, and the steering wheel locked up. The dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V286000 (Steering) and 14E001000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11751531

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

Mileage

140,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was an abnormal rumbling sound coming from the vehicle and the steering wheel started shaking. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (STEERING); but the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 199,455.

NHTSA ID

11747972

Incident

Jun 15, 2014

Mileage

199,455 mi

The pillar covers fell of the vehicle when driving last week. Both plastic covers are on the side of the interstate. I was told and found there is a recall for the clips on these covers, but when I searched, they are not listed for this vehicle. There appears to be an issue with this recall and the explorer.

NHTSA ID

11745751

Incident

Jun 18, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the dealer and manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the trim piece was almost detached. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11744504

Incident

Mar 15, 2025

While stopped at a stop sign my engine suddenly died, before restarting a low oil pressure light came on but went out immediately. I was approximately 40 miles from home when I got to my destination. The car was showing no signs of issues, no warning lights or errors. When I went back out to start it and head home it would not start. I had to pay additional expense beyond my insurance road side coverage due to the distance. I have had an independent mechanic going over the vehicle since it died. Starter has been replaced because it appeared to be the issue. (the original was bad) Once replaced while attempting to start it he found out the engine had locked up. I bought the vehicle March 30, 2026 & this happened on June 10, 2026. The vehicle had 132,344 miles on it when bought and 135,716 when it seized up. After looking through other reports I have found this to be a reported issue.

NHTSA ID

11744176

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

I contacted chapman ford in phila to have the recall corrected and it has been almost 2 yrs and no parts or follow up. They told me for months that the parts were backordered. My trim is loose and the rubber around my windshield almost gone. I also contacted ford main and was told an advisor would follow up and they did not.

NHTSA ID

11742300

Incident

Oct 31, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side exterior A-Pillar Applique Trim detached. The contact stated that the exterior A-Pillar Applique Trim was flapping and hitting the ground. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The contact was advised to remove the detached exterior A-Pillar Applique Trim. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1000,000.

NHTSA ID

11742184

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

Mileage

1,000,000 mi

In early 2024, we learned our 2011 Ford Explorer was under open recall (NHTSA #24V031) for the A-pillar windshield trim, which could detach and create a road hazard. For two years, our Ford dealer said repairs could not be done due to parts availability. The A-pillar trim detached three separate times, including once at 75 mph on a highway, causing fear and danger. The vehicle’s elderly owner stopped driving for safety. On May 26, 2026, a non-Ford mechanic attempted a repair due to the delay at Ford, but the part broke during that attempt. The recall remains incomplete, and we have ongoing safety concerns, out-of-pocket expenses, and no timeline for a real fix.

NHTSA ID

11740507

Incident

May 27, 2026

Vehicle is very hard to steer, will not reset when restarting the vehicle. two dash messages; advance track warning and power assist failure. I have not attempted to drive on road due to difficulty of steering the wheel. I am afraid the vehicle is uncontrollable at this point and needs to be towed to a repair facility. Not sure if this incident is linked to the recall under 14S06 for ford recalls.

NHTSA ID

11739398

Incident

May 18, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after parking in the garage and turning the engine off, approximately 5 minutes later a loud noise came from the rear of the vehicle. The contact discovered that the rear hatch window had exploded and glass shards fell into the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that at the time of the failure the rear window defroster was not activated. The manufacturer and local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 227,000.

NHTSA ID

11738141

Incident

May 14, 2026

Mileage

227,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The message that the "Vehicle Needed Attention" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to back to the residence. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 270,000.

NHTSA ID

11734002

Incident

Apr 24, 2026

Mileage

270,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the A-pillar trim clip detached, and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer where a temporary repair was performed using tape to secure the trim. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11732408

Incident

Dec 20, 2023

Mileage

135,000 mi

The steering wheel got stiff and impossible to turn. I had to use extreme force to be able to make a left turn. It happened in a large intersection. No warning appeared.

NHTSA ID

11730954

Incident

Apr 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became extremely stiff. The steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11727331

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Mileage

160,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side A-pillar trim on the windshield started to detach. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, and the dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The approximate failure mileage was 116,035.

NHTSA ID

11726432

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

Mileage

116,035 mi

The contact owned a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, turned off, and unoccupied, the vehicle caught fire. The contact was in her residence, and a neighbor knocked on her door, making her aware that the vehicle had caught fire. The fire has been extinguished by the local fire department. The fire department indicated that the failure may have occurred due to a wiring malfunction in the vehicle. A police report was not filed, but a fire report was filed and was unavailable. There were no injuries reported. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11726405

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

Mileage

200,000 mi

The electrical power steering stopped working while in motion was real hard to steer and avoid hitting curbs or vehicles close to our vehicle. It was previously replaced by Ford for the same reason but now it happened again and they are telling me it doesn’t have warranty which is fine but if i buy the part which is not cheap by the way it just going to keep failing after a few years.

NHTSA ID

11724849

Incident

Nov 14, 2025

Back up camera inoperable. Screen is black. Apparently a common problem. Safety issue of hitting a person or object.

NHTSA ID

11720702

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

During a red-light, as I was coming to a stop, the vehicle gave the warning saying “service power-steering now” and “traction control off.” I was unable to turn the steering wheel much due to it being so heavy. My official complaint: Vehicle: 2011 Ford Escape XLT Safety Recall: NHTSA Campaign Number 14V284000 (Ford Recall 14S05) Issue: Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist (EPS) / Steering Torque Sensor Fault I am submitting this complaint regarding an unresolved safety defect involving my 2011 Ford Escape XLT. This vehicle is subject to a federally recognized safety recall for loss of electric power steering assist: NHTSA Campaign Number 14V284000, Ford Recall 14S05, which involves the electric power steering (EPS) system and steering torque sensor faults that can cause the vehicle to suddenly lose steering assist. The safety issue covered under this recall is still present and represents an ongoing risk. The vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, which makes the steering wheel extremely difficult to turn and increases the risk of a crash, especially at lower speeds, in traffic, or during turns. On February 13, 2026, I had a scheduled appointment at Kingman Ford (Arizona) at 3:00 PM specifically to address this safety recall issue and the continuing steering assist problem. Kingman Ford declined service and refused to perform any recall-related repair, stating they could not provide service related to the recall. After the dealership refusal, I contacted Ford Corporate Customer Service directly. Ford Corporate also declined to provide any repair assistance, and stated they had no knowledge of any federal directives or requirements regarding safety issues connected to this recall. Because this is a federally recognized safety recall and the defect continues to occur, I am requesting that NHTSA document this as a recall remedy failure / unresolved safety defect, and review Ford’s refusal (and the dealership’s refusal) to correct a known steerin

NHTSA ID

11717906

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The steering wheel seized, and the steering wheel symbol was displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was turned off and restarted to reset the steering assist function. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the electric power steering assist system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11715978

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

Mileage

180,000 mi

The wheel locks in low speeds. It does not happen often, maybe about 3 times per year. I have brought this up to Ford dealer in Encinitas CA for several years and the problem is seldom that they did not find anything wrong with it. Recently I found the recall online and brought it to their attention. I never received the notice of recall back in 2015. They are refusing service because it has been more than 10 yrs since the recall and my vehicle is at 180,000 miles. I use the car to carpool my kids and other people's kids. Please help fix the problem.

NHTSA ID

11710555

Incident

Dec 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the power steering suddenly failed while attempting to make a right turn, causing the steering wheel to seize. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle and followed the owner's manual instructions on how to reset the power steering; however, all attempts failed. The contact left the vehicle parked at the incident location. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11708272

Incident

Dec 31, 2025

Mileage

200,000 mi

Loss of power steering

NHTSA ID

11708118

Incident

Dec 31, 2025