2011 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems
- 57
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 57 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 40 records
- steering assist · 8 records
- warning light · 6 records
- lost power · 6 records
- light came · 5 records
- sync system · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 16 |
| 30–60k mi | 15 |
| 60–100k mi | 9 |
| 100–150k mi | 7 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
While idling and while getting car up to speed the ac cooling makes a weak sound and does not produce cool air. While idling the car overheats when the ac is on and blows hot air. Due to the effect this is a car with less than 60,000 miles on it the ac should still be in operational condition given it's only used 2-3 months a year since ownership. Car will also overheat while it's blowing heat during winter months.…
ODI 10732586
Electrical 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.
ODI 10664611
Electrical System · Power Train
While driving to work, my vehicle experience an issue with throttle response. A wrench warning light appeared and the check engine light came on. At that point, the vehicle began shuddering and the internal systems slowed the vehicle to approximately 5mph. After stopping on the shoulder of the interstate, i shut the car off, pulled the key, reinserted the key and restarted the vehicle. It started up normally, but…
ODI 10633662
Electrical System · Steering
On june 16th, 2014, i was traveling 40 mph with my 3 year old and 18 month old in the car and i lost all power steering and ended up in a ditch. There was no way to control it or even turn the wheel. It happened again on june 19th, 2014 however, my husband was driving and was able to get the car off the road. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10604682
Electrical System · Steering
At approx 1430 on june 2nd on highway on ramp accelerating had the service advancetrac warning light and chime come on and the traction control off light and chime come on and lost all power steering control of vehicle. I immediately put on my emergency flasher and let off the accelerator and forced my explorer to the shoulder. Once on the shoulder of the highway i cleared the faults, i wish i would have taken cell…
ODI 10596042
Electrical System · Steering
While driving on the interstate at about 70 mph, an electrical light came up on the dash and i immediately lost power steering. My family was in the car and it was extremely frightening. I was able to muscle the car over to the right lane at which point, power steering was restored. The issue happened again around 20 minutes later and then rectified itself after a minute or so. I drove the car to the dealer and…
ODI 10594974
Electrical System · Steering
The car basically shuts off and you lose power steering. No warn lights just cuts off immediately. We brought the car to the dealership and they ran a diagnostic and told us the issue was with the power steering sensor and that it would cost $2,000 to fix. I took to the internet and searched the issue to find out that there have been a number of owners that have had the same problem. I called ford customer service…
ODI 10585498
Electrical System · Steering · Wheels
I was traveling at 40 mph on a busy city street when all of the sudden i heard a warning bing sound and saw the power steering fault and all terrain management failure warnings on my instrument panel. Lost total ability to steer the vehicle and had to put on emergency lights, stop on side of the road, turn the vehicle off and on (hoping that it would reset and resolve the issue) and doing this cleared the warnings…
ODI 10533937
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start with the illumination of the key not detected warning message. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home where she received directions from the dealer over the phone in how to restart the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. The consumer stated…
ODI 10536352
Electrical System · Steering
We purchased our 2011 ford explorer in january of 2011 and have been the exclusive users of the car ever since. Our vehicle has experienced three total losses of power steering ability since july 8, 2013. When an event occurs, the "power steering failure" light comes on and the vehicle immediately becomes difficult to steer. Two of the occurrences have taken place while traveling at high speed on the highway. In one…
ODI 10553054
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. While driving at any speed, the power steering and computer failed. In addition, the engine, abs, traction control, air bag, and security sensors illuminated. The dealer advised the contact to reset the master controls. The vehicle also exhibited computer failure. The firmware was updated multiple times, however the failure recurred months later and included various…
ODI 10632562
Electrical System · Steering
Traveling at freeway speed the warning message appeared on the instrument panel before the power steering quit. When i restarted the car it appeared to have corrected the problem. On september 10th, the same warning came on the instrument panel before the power steering quit. I was traveling at 35mph. I restarted the car and it appeared to correct the problem again. When i previously took it into the dealership they…
ODI 10543175
Electrical System · Steering
While driving my 2011 ford explorer the power steering suddenly went out. The vehicle gave me a warning, but only after the steering failed. The vehicle became almost impossible to steer. My only option was to try and get out of the flow of traffic in order to stop the car. Turning the car off, then back on appears to reset the issue. The first time it happened i was pulling out onto a road. Because the change was…
ODI 10513968
Electrical System · Steering
Vehicle has had problems from month 3 of purchase. Cooling fans blew, sunroof rattles, but the worst was a few months ago when backing out of parking space and heard a pop. The steering wheel bolt had broke. Took to dealership and they had it for 2 days to fix it. Contacted ford motor corporate and never received call or email back from them. Then i noticed the steering wheel never seemed straight. It always turned…
ODI 10520072
Electrical System · Equipment
2011 ford explorer. Consumer writes in regards to sync malfunction in vehicle. *smd the consumer stated when the system failed, the screen went black and the radio and temperature control stopped working, as well as other components. The sync has been worked on by the dealership 13 times.
ODI 10487021
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving to work going about 55mph give or take 5mph when the steering went stiff and made it hard to steer through the turns. It was worse when i had to make slow turns. If i had to avoid an accident quickly i don't think i would be able to avoid it. When i got to work shut the car off turned it back on and i guess it reset because the steering came back. When i t happened again i called the brewster ford and…
ODI 10547332
Electrical System · Steering
Intermittently, while driving, the advanctrak and terrain management system warning light illuminated, and the "service advanctrak" warning appeared. At the same time, the power steering failed to work, and the "power steering fault" warning appeared. The turn signals also stopped working during these episodes. This has happened 5 times since september 9, 2012, all while driving the vehicle, including yesterday. In…
ODI 10478696
Electrical System · Steering
I was driving my parents and my toddler daughter back from visting a sibling (approx. [redacted]) when we stopped briefly to take a break about 2 1/2 hours away from home. When i started the car up again, i received warnings related to a power steering failure and advance trac failure. The car had no power steering and there appeared to be something wrong with the blinkers as well. On tuesday, following labor day) i…
ODI 10475217
Air Bags · Electrical System
Numerous repairs to airbag system. Airbag light is on and previous repairs include, seatbelt tensioner, sevreral jumpers around the connection underneath drivers seat, as well as some kind of programming in the computer system. Ive owned the vehicle since it was brand new and it has been in dealer at least 6 times for aiirbag issues. Please do a full inspection of the airbag sytem including faulty wiring harness!!!
ODI 11234346
Electrical System · Fuel System, Gasoline · Power Train
Upon medium to heavy acceleration, such as accelerating onto a freeway, the vehicle cabin is filled with exhaust fumes from the engine. This injures the respiratory system of the passengers. They are working on a fix (after my family has been breathing polluted air for almost two and a half years). Ford has finally admitted that there is a problem, and send me a letter that said. [xxx] ford customer service division…
1 injury
ODI 10596480
Electrical System · Steering
POWER STEERING FAILED. *TR
ODI 10475071
Electrical System · Steering
(my wife as on her way to our daughter's one month doctor's appointment. She had just began moving from a traffic light when a bunch of lights on the dash came on and the vehicle became very hard to steer (found to be stabili-trac errors and faulty electric power steering). She managed to get the vehicle onto the shoulder without harm. After reading in the owners manual, she found that with this issue, turning the…
ODI 10479282
Electrical System · Steering
The management terrain and power assist warning lights came on. Then i had no power steering. It became very difficult to steer and control car. This has happened at low speed 3 times and at a dead stop 3 times. I have been able to reset by turning the car off and re-starting. *tr
ODI 10472602
Electrical System · Steering
Power steering failure on 2011 ford explorer while traveling in neighborhood. Started the vehicle with remote start to cool vehicle in hot, humid houston, texas about 3 to 4 minutes before entering it. We drove 1.2 miles to an acquaintance's residence to co-sign a check for non-profit payment. Left vehicle running for +/- 3 minutes in his driveway. Backed out of his driveway and drove 1/2 mile when lost power…
ODI 10467719
Electrical System · Steering
The car's power steering went out while driving around 10 mph pulling out of a gas station. The screen said it was a power steering failure. Turned car off and turned back on and it went away, however it happened once more later around 5 mph. *tr
ODI 10474011