2011 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1481 complaints
1481
Total Complaints
65,000mi
Median Mileage
STEERING
Top Issue
48
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

30,000 25th Percentile
65,000 Median Mileage
110,304 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING
719
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
111
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
89
ENGINE
82
POWER TRAIN
62
STRUCTURE
54
STRUCTURE:BODY
47
AIR BAGS
44
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
35
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
28

Severity Assessment

48
Crashes
4
Fires
30
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"LEAR CORPORATION AND FORD ALREADY KNEW THAT A SPACER/WASHER WAS LEFT OFF THE EXPLORER BY THREE ROTATING LEAR EMPLOYEES ON THE NIGHT SHIFT. THESE EMPLOYEES WERE NOT PENALIZED IN ANY WAY. THE SHIFT STINKS OF NEPOTISM AND EVERY OTHER EOE/EEO MISDEED. OTHER EMPLOYEES, NOT MEETING NUMBERS(NOT QUALITY ISS..."
"I HAVE A 2011 FORD EXPLORER AND THE SUN VISORS DO NOT ALLOW ME TO MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS TO BLOCK THE SUN. WHEN THE VISOR IS FULLY OPENED I CANNOT MAKE 1/4 OR 1/2 INCH ADJUSTMENTS. I ALMOST HAVE TO BRING THE VISOR HALF WAY DOWN BEFORE IT HOLDS IN PLACE. THEN IT BLOCKS MY VIEW OF TRAFFIC. I'VE NO..."
"TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO PRESSED THE BRAKE HIS FOOT REST ON A BAR THATS NEXT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGN AND THEY COULD NOT ALTER IT. T..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28