2011 Ford Explorer reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2011 Ford Explorer from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,493
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 723 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 6
- see below
- Reported harm
- 48 reported crashes · 30 injuries · 4 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#170
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Ford median
+1,156
median 338 across 514 Ford records
Vs 2009-2013
+1,220
median 274 complaints in 614 records
Top component share
48%
Steering: 723 complaints
What owners report fails — 2011 Ford Explorer
- STEERING 723
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 112
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 90
- ENGINE 83
- POWER TRAIN 62
6 recalls on record for the 2011 Ford Explorer
- NHTSA 24V031000 · 2024 · STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 21V746000 · 2022 · SUSPENSION:REAR A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 19V435000 · 2019 · SUSPENSION:REAR A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 15V171000 · 2015 · STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increas
- NHTSA 14V286000 · 2014 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increa
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2011 Ford Explorer
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2011 Ford Explorer units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Ford Explorer reliable?
NHTSA has 1,493 consumer complaints on record for the 2011 Ford Explorer and 6 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (723 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2011 Ford Explorer units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Explorer?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (723), unknown or other (112), electrical system (90), engine (83). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2011 Ford Explorer?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2011 Ford Explorer. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.