2011 Ford Explorer Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 64about this part
- Share
- 5%of 1,197 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 64 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 Ford Explorer, 5% of the 1,197 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,500 miles. 2 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.
“Car losses power while in motion. Frist time near my home. Second time while driving in town. Stop, turn off motor then back on and message is gone. My car has done this twice now. Do not trust my car to drive far from home. Throttle body assembly is having issues and understand it's been recalled on a different Ford car but not Explorer. Most likely same throttle assembly!”
NHTSA complaint #11003973, filed 2017-07, 53,000 miles“I was turning out of my alley and the car had no power. When I tried to accelerate nothing happened. I had an orange warning light with a wrench come on the dashboard. I turned the car off and then back on and there was no warning light and no issue with the acceleration. Dealership couldn't find a problem but this issue is all over the internet and there is a recall for it but not for my VIN number or year.”
NHTSA complaint #11144775, filed 2018-11, 71,240 miles“While driving down interstate 75 from gainesville fl to loganville ga my power steering pump went out ! Thankfully my children were not in the car , but even after pulling over and cutting the vehicle off to try to reset it it did not work!”
NHTSA complaint #11376964, filed 2020-11, 111,946 miles“I was driving my 2011 Ford Explorer (65,000 miles) when I suddenly lost all power to my gas, break and steering wheel. Luckily I was going close to 10-15 miles per hour and I managed to veer onto someone's lawn and hit the emergency break. I was told that there was oil leaking into the engine that cause a complete engine failure. No sensors went off prior to the incident and I have only gotten my car repaired at the Ford dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11113280, filed 2018-07, 65,000 miles“While driving and while just starting the vehicle, the power steering and terrain management systems ding loudly on the left side of the display while telling me I have an error. While driving, the power steering did go out briefly but came back.”
NHTSA complaint #11245230, filed 2019-08, 99,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10160931May 10, 2019On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A even if grease was…
- 10127405Nov 2, 2017Some vehicles may exhibit a no start condition with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and a DTC P161A after PCM replacement. This may be due to the parameter reset…
- 10095858Feb 27, 2017Some 2007-2016 edge/mkx/flex/mkt/mkz/mks/taurus/taurus police/explorer/explorer police equipped with all wheel drive (awd) and built on or before 30-jun-2016 may exhibit a…
- 10039121May 10, 2011Ford: there may be a sluggish acceleration or hesitation feeling when rolling to a stop. This will be followed by a harsh bump.
- 10039053Mar 1, 2011Ford: if there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration.
- 10039072Jan 1, 2011Ford: there may be a loss of power, hesitation, surge, or lack of throttle response while driving. The brake over accelerator feature may be activating.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 7% |
| 2025 | 16 | 15% |
| 2024 | 1 | 5% |
| 2023 | 12 | 11% |
| 2022 | 61 | 23% |
| 2021 | 127 | 28% |
| 2020 | 504 | 40% |
| 2019 | 35 | 12% |
| 2018 | 50 | 7% |
| 2017 | 125 | 7% |
| 2016 | 215 | 9% |
| 2015 | 86 | 5% |
| 2014 | 80 | 5% |
| 2013 | 119 | 5% |
| 2012 | 55 | 7% |
| 2011 | 64 | 5% |
| 2010 | 28 | 24% |
| 2009 | 3 | 9% |
| 2008 | 36 | 24% |
| 2007 | 57 | 27% |
| 2006 | 296 | 47% |
| 2005 | 99 | 20% |
| 2004 | 460 | 35% |
| 2003 | 335 | 30% |
| 2002 | 1,502 | 46% |
| 2001 | 42 | 11% |
| 2000 | 133 | 14% |
| 1999 | 115 | 9% |
| 1998 | 103 | 5% |
| 1997 | 104 | 6% |
| 1996 | 120 | 8% |
| 1995 | 119 | 14% |
| 1994 | 86 | 7% |
| 1993 | 72 | 8% |
| 1992 | 77 | 12% |
| 1991 | 69 | 11% |
| 1990 | 2 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2011 Ford Explorer
742 complaintsOther or unknown
118 complaintsBody and structure
110 complaintsElectrical system
95 complaintsEngine
83 complaintsAir bags
44 complaintsFuel system
40 complaintsBrakes
28 complaintsElectronic stability control
28 complaintsSuspension
24 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
23 complaintsEngine cooling
21 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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