2011 Ford Explorer Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 2%of 1,197 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2011 Ford Explorer, 2% of the 1,197 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Always got tired when I drove the vehicle. I never felt completely alert when I drove it. I wouldn't take my grandchild anywhere with me in that vehicle because I didn't feel comfortable or safe driving in it with others. One day I got really light headed and the next thing I knew is I wrecked the vehicle into the side of an over pass wall at 35 MPH. I no longer have the vehicle, but I never knew why it happened. Did the vehicle have a cabin monoxide leak? When I had the accident I was so out of it that I thought a car was beside me or something. …”
NHTSA complaint #11051494, filed 2017-11, 60,000 miles“Power steering failed while driving. Traction assist control also failed at the same time. Shutting the engine off and restarting brought the power steering back but not the traction control. The traction control began functioning again after the truck sat for about 8 hours.”
NHTSA complaint #10463422, filed 2012-06, 15,000 miles“My Ford Explorer 2011 omits a foul odor(smells like rotten egg)when you turn on the AC while driving, the steering column feels loose and has a strong wind noise while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10920227, filed 2016-10, 36,400 miles“When pulling out from a stop sign, the car accelerated up a hill reaching a speed of close to 90 MPH within a short distance. The car was difficult to control and almost collided with an oncoming car. Only by putting the transmission into neutral was it possible to slow the car down and pull off the road. Once off the road the engine continued to run in the 6000 to 7000 RPM range. It was not possible to slow down the engine speed. After shutting off the engine and restarting, the engine continued to run at these high RPM. …”
NHTSA complaint #10451561, filed 2012-03, 11,056 miles“Power steering assist disabled and associated warning light enabled. Vehicle had been stopped with engine running and in gear. Disable occurred when I started to move forward. Problem corrected itself after turning off and restarting vehicle. Continued to drive vehicle. Occurred a second time, approximately 1 week later, while turning into a parking space. Power steering was again enabled by turning off and restarting engine. Parked vehicle in garage for about 1 week until it was driven to the dealer where diagnosis was steering gear needed replacing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10478398, filed 2012-10, 29,549 milesRelated service bulletins
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- 10177599Jun 3, 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no…
- 10177598Jun 3, 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no…
- 10162412Jun 24, 2019Customer Satisfaction Program 19N05: Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles - Carbon Monoxide Concern
- 10156877Feb 7, 2019Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer…
- 10152473Nov 14, 2018For 2010-2019 vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines, when diagnosing and/or replacing turbo related concerns, all steps within the Workshop Manual (WSM) procedure must be…
- 10137131Apr 11, 2018Some 2007-2016 Edge/MKX/Flex/MKT/MKZ/MKS/Taurus/Police Interceptor Sedan/Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with AWD and built on or before 30-Jun-2016 may…
- 10125095Oct 26, 2017Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles - Carbon Monoxide Concerns
- 10125093Oct 12, 2017Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Retail Vehicles - Carbon Monoxide Complaints
- 10099076Mar 14, 2017Some 2011-2015 explorer vehicles may exhibit an exhaust odor in the vehicle with the auxiliary climate control system on. Customers may indicate the odor smells like sulfur, or…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 2 | 1% |
| 2021 | 10 | 2% |
| 2020 | 21 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 2% |
| 2018 | 29 | 4% |
| 2017 | 77 | 5% |
| 2016 | 114 | 5% |
| 2015 | 66 | 4% |
| 2014 | 67 | 4% |
| 2013 | 67 | 3% |
| 2012 | 14 | 2% |
| 2011 | 21 | 2% |
| 2010 | 3 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 4 | 3% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 164 | 26% |
| 2005 | 29 | 6% |
| 2004 | 71 | 5% |
| 2003 | 69 | 6% |
| 2002 | 163 | 5% |
| 2001 | 39 | 10% |
| 2000 | 90 | 9% |
| 1999 | 100 | 7% |
| 1998 | 189 | 10% |
| 1997 | 198 | 11% |
| 1996 | 81 | 6% |
| 1995 | 45 | 5% |
| 1994 | 74 | 6% |
| 1993 | 55 | 6% |
| 1992 | 64 | 10% |
| 1991 | 52 | 9% |
| 1990 | 2 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2011 Ford Explorer
742 complaintsOther or unknown
118 complaintsBody and structure
110 complaintsElectrical system
95 complaintsEngine
83 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
64 complaintsAir bags
44 complaintsFuel system
40 complaintsBrakes
28 complaintsElectronic stability control
28 complaintsSuspension
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology