2011 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was started, the steering wheel was intermittently firm. Additionally, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel locked. The contact stated that the following day while attempting to move the steering wheel, the steering wheel was back to normal. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 103,500.

I was driving 68 MPH down the highway when my car threw a Power Stearing Assist Fault, I almost hit head on with a Semi but was able to hit my E break and put the car in neutral to get back over to my side fo the road. I had to have the car towed, my mechanic said there was a recall on the Electric Power Assist System. the Reference number is 14v286000. I called the ford dealship and explained to them the situation as well as what my mechanic said and they told me they were not going to do anything for the vehicle. How are we not going to replace faulty parts that almost took someones life. Someone has to be held resposible as there should be safety measures in place on the vehicle to prevent this and there were none and now the manufacturing company isnt going to honor the recall put into place by the NHTSA.

The recall for my 2011 Ford Explorer (Manufacturer Recall Number: 24S02, NHTSA Recall Number: 24V031) remains unresolved because Ford has not supplied the necessary parts to local dealerships, despite the official recall documentation stating, "Parts are now available to repair your vehicle." Ford claims to have authorized dealers to inspect and repair any loose or missing exterior A-pillar trim moldings free of charge, including parts and labor. However, this claim is false, as no dealership I’ve contacted in the Bay Area, including those near Brentwood, CA, has received the required parts to perform the repair. The A-pillar trim on my vehicle has already detached while driving, creating a road hazard for other vehicles and posing a serious safety risk. Additionally, the lack of a permanent fix is exposing my vehicle to potential water and moisture damage. I have contacted multiple Ford dealerships over the past three months, as well as Ford’s Customer Relationship Center, and all have confirmed that the recall parts are not available. Ford’s inability to fulfill its stated remedy has left me without a solution, prolonging the safety risk and potential vehicle damage. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate Ford’s handling of this recall and compel them to supply the necessary parts to dealerships so that the repair can be completed as promised. This is a critical safety issue that requires immediate resolution. The A-pillar trim has detached from my vehicle while driving, creating a road hazard for other drivers. Additionally, the continued lack of repair risks water and moisture entering my vehicle, potentially causing further damage and compromising its safety. No, Ford has not been able to inspect or repair the vehicle because the necessary parts are unavailable, despite their claim that parts are ready. No warnings were present before the A-pillar trim detached while driving.

As I was driving, a “service Power steering” warning came on along with another warning about my power assist being lost. I have taken my car to see a mechanic a total of 4 times for this same issue and need answers or reimbursement.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced a loss of power steering functionality intermittently. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed; however, the failure progressively worsened. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH with her child in the rear seat, the vehicle made an abnormal beeping sound, the messages "Power Steering Failed" and "Service Advancetrac" were displayed, and the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact called an independent mechanic who instructed the contact to temporarily disconnect the battery. The contact followed the instructions; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where it remained. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) and the steering rack assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) software was previously updated under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Complaint Regarding Lack of Recall Parts Availability for Manufacturer Recall Number: 24S02, NHTSA Recall Number: 24V031 Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, I am writing to formally report an issue regarding the unavailability of parts necessary to complete the safety recall repair for my 2011 Ford Explorer. The recall in question is Manufacturer Recall Number: 24S02, NHTSA Recall Number: 24V031, concerning the detachment of the A-pillar applique trim. Despite being notified that parts are available, I have been unable to find a Ford dealership in my area (Brentwood, CA 94513) or the broader Bay Area that has the required parts to perform the recall repair. I have contacted multiple dealerships over the past three months, and each has informed me that Ford has not supplied them with the parts needed to resolve this issue. This lack of resolution is alarming, as the detachment of the A-pillar trim panel while driving has already posed a significant safety hazard. The original panel flew off into traffic, endangering other road users, and a temporary panel continues to detach while driving. Ford's inability to supply the necessary parts leaves this critical safety issue unresolved and puts myself and others on the road at continued risk. I respectfully request the NHTSA to investigate this matter and ensure that Ford complies with their obligation to provide the necessary parts for this recall repair. Additionally, I would appreciate any guidance on further steps I can take to ensure my vehicle is repaired promptly and safely. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The contact's son owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel intermittently became stiff and excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that the "Service Power Steering Now" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the strut on the driver’s side had fractured. The contact was later informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The contact's daughter-in-law called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

The exterior A-pillar trim panel on my 2011 Ford Explorer has detached multiple times while driving. The first incident occurred when the original panel flew off into traffic, creating a safety hazard for other road users. Since then, I have been using a temporary replacement panel, which also continues to detach while driving, further escalating the safety risk. I have been attempting to resolve this issue for over three months by contacting every Ford dealership in the Bay Area. Each dealership claims they do not have the parts necessary to complete the recall repair, despite Ford's assertion that parts are available. As a result, the recall remains incomplete, and the issue persists, creating ongoing safety risks for myself and others on the road. No warning lamps or messages preceded the incidents. The problem has not been reproduced or inspected by a dealer due to the unavailability of parts. This unresolved recall places myself and other road users at continued risk of potential crashes caused by flying debris from my vehicle.

The contact 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact previously received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the recall repair did not need to be performed because the vehicle was not experiencing the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked, and the contact became aware that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. No further information was provided. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the power steering became functional. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently upon starting the vehicle. Several unknown dealers were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could only be diagnosed after the failure occurred. The contact stated that the failure had worsened and persisted after turning off and restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

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 unavailable. 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 contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the driver’s and passenger’s side A-pillar trims had detached and flew off the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred prior to receiving the recall repair. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who replaced both trim pieces. The failure mileage was 146,682. Parts distribution disconnect.