Known Recalls

Model year record

2011 Ford Explorer

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,621 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V031000

Structure: body: roof and pillars

Component
Structure: body: roof and pillars
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
1,889,110
Reported to NHTSA
2024-01-19
Owners notified
2024-07-18

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

Safety risk

A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V746000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
150,723
Reported to NHTSA
2021-09-22
Owners notified
2022-03-17

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. These vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) replacement part that could seize, and result in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealer will inspect for the presence of a CABJ. If a CABJ of any design is found, the dealer will inspect the tightness of the CABJ, and replace the CABJ, knuckle, and/or toe link as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S43.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V435000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
1,194,173
Reported to NHTSA
2019-06-10
Owners notified
2019-06-26

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

Safety risk

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V171000

Structure: body: door

Component
Structure: body: door
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
194,484
Reported to NHTSA
2015-03-24
Owners notified
2015-07-23

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.

Safety risk

If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S11.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V286000

Steering: electric power assist system

Component
Steering: electric power assist system
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
179,027
Reported to NHTSA
2014-05-29
Owners notified
2014-07-23

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.

Safety risk

If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) software, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of motor position sensor signal when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S06.

Recall campaignNHTSA 11V063000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
1,658
Reported to NHTSA
2011-02-02
Owners notified
2011-02-15

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 EXPLORER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 15, 2010, THROUGH DECEMBER 13, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SECOND ROW 60% SEATS WITH MANUAL RECLINER MECHANISMS THAT MAY HAVE COMPONENTS THAT ARE OUT OF DIMENSIONAL SPECIFICATION. THESE SEATS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK MAY NOT PROVIDE THE REQUIRED STRENGTH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Steering77670,000 mi
Unknown or other12675,000 mi
Electrical system9556,300 mi
Structure90120,000 mi
Engine8583,000 mi
Power train6546,224 mi
Structure: body5680,000 mi
Air bags4564,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system3553,067 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)2841,000 mi
Suspension26125,050 mi
Service brakes2265,000 mi
Vehicle speed control1749,116 mi
Engine and engine cooling1660,000 mi
Seat belts1469,000 mi
Wheels1062,565 mi
Steering: electric power assist system989,000 mi
Visibility/wiper988,000 mi
Seats6—
Visibility629,416 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system585,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic56,059 mi
Traction control system528,472 mi
Equipment4100 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control4—
Fuel system, gasoline43,503 mi
Steering: rack and pinion441,000 mi
Exterior lighting3101,000 mi
Back over prevention2125,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner250 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal29,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings2—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid2179,929 mi
Steering: steering control module2158,355 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars219,595 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control2500 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system229,416 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly255,000 mi
Visibility: windshield27,800 mi
Back over prevention: warnings1—
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel136,800 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1118,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator1—
Electrical system: software119,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe1—
Equipment: electrical1—
Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)1—
Exterior lighting: headlights15 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly128,472 mi
Latches/locks/linkages128,472 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)1104,000 mi
Power train: transmission case/housing1120,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler112,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip128,472 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper119,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor119,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1—
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)1148,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system126,000 mi
Structure: body: door128,472 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate111,200 mi
Structure: interior panels: door1147,000 mi
Tires122,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt130,000 mi
Unknown170,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear149,982 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls122,000 mi
Visibility: windshield: critical fasteners1—

The 2010 model has 10 times as many complaints as this one. The 2012 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.