Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Ford Explorer electrical problems
severe 37 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
1fire
What stands out
Owners have filed 37 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some 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 vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. This may be due to a poor electrical connection at the blower motor speed control. If the blower motor speed control is determined to be the causal part, replacement of the electrical connector pigtail harness (14S411) to the blower motor speed control is also recommended to avoid repeat repairs. Use pigtail harness service part numbers 3U2Z-14S411-ZEA or CU2Z-14S411-FA, as both parts are interchangeable. Refer to Wi
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 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 vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. This may be due to a poor electrical connection at the blower motor speed control. If the blower motor speed control is determined to be the causal part, replacement of the electrical connector pigtail harness (14S411) to the blower motor speed control is also recommended to avoid repeat repairs. Refer to Wiring Diagram, Cell 5 for recommended splicing procedures. Refer to Wiring Diagram, Cells 54/55 to obtain the se
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 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 vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. This may be due to a poor electrical connection at the blower motor speed control. If the blower motor speed control is determined to be the causal part, replacement of the electrical connector pigtail harness (14S411) to the blower motor speed control is also recommended to avoid repeat repairs. Refer to Wiring Diagram, Cell 5 for recommended splicing procedures. Refer to Wiring Diagram, Cells 54/55 to obtain the se
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 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 procedure not being properly completed. To clear this DTC, use the Ford Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) service tool or Ford J2534 Diagnostic Software, select - Toolbox - Body - Security - PATS Functions - Parameter Reset. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the procedure. This procedure will transfer the existing Key ID information between the modules without the need of having 2 programmed PATS keys present. There is no need to program keys when the PCM is going to be replaced. Additional information c
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Electrical gremlins dominate this model. The SYNC infotainment system crashes repeatedly—screen goes black, radio stops, climate controls freeze, and backup camera dies. One owner took their vehicle in for SYNC repair 4 times since 2011 with no fix; another went to the dealership 13 times for the same issue.
The APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module) is the real killer. It fails silently, disabling the touchscreen and knocking out backup cameras, defrosters, and proximity alerts. Replacement costs around $1,300, and Ford's nationwide parts backlog has some customers waiting six months. One owner's camera failed again just months after spending $1,000 on the first replacement—the root cause is moisture in the wiring harness that Ford hasn't fixed.
More serious: the electrical system can shut down without warning while you're driving. One owner lost all gauges, steering assist, and brake assist at 45 mph; another experienced engine stall with loss of power at highway speed and ultimately needed a $7,000 head gasket repair. The park indicator switch fails ~95% of the time, preventing remote start.
Power steering cuts out intermittently. Airbag lights stay on despite repeated tensioner and wiring repairs. One vehicle caught fire while parked—fire department cited wiring malfunction. AC systems overheat engines or fail outright; blower motors randomly spike or drop speed, making windshields fog dangerously while driving.
Hazard lights either don't work or turn on by themselves and won't shut off. These are not dealer-service inconveniences—they're safety failures that occur while you're moving.
Same Ford Explorer electrical reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
SYNC infotainment system crashes and reboots
The SYNC touchscreen and related controls freeze, go blank, or reboot without warning. When this happens, owners lose radio, climate control, navigation, backup camera, and cruise control functionality. The system may recover on its own or require multiple visits for software updates and hardware replacement.
When: Varies; often within 1-2 weeks of continuous operation; sometimes immediately after startup; can occur while driving or at rest
Symptoms owners cite: Touchscreen freezes or goes black; Radio stops or changes volume/track uncontrollably; Climate controls unresponsive; Navigation unavailable; Backup camera goes down; Cruise control disables; Screen displays 'SYNC maintenance' message; Wipers stop working; 4x4 system disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replacement of SYNC module and reprogramming; software updates and reinstallation; APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module) replacement ($1,300); multiple repeat visits required; some owners report 4+ service visits with no permanent fix
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA ID 10044905 Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 12M01; extended warranty on APIM up to 5 years from purchase date but limited coverage; NHTSA ID 10053471 warranty closed
APIM module failure
The Accessory Protocol Interface Module stops functioning, disabling multiple vehicle systems. The infotainment screen becomes unlit or non-responsive, and safety features like the backup camera and defrost systems fail to operate.
When: Around 29,000-60,000 miles; some failures after extended parking periods
Symptoms owners cite: Infotainment screen not illuminated or goes black; Backup camera non-functional; Front and rear defrosters inoperable; Radio unavailable; Climate controls unresponsive; Proximity alerts disabled; Navigation unavailable
Repairs/costs cited: APIM replacement required; cost estimates $1,300; some covered under extended warranty program for 5 years from purchase; parts reported on nationwide backlog with waits over 6 months
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty on APIM to 5 years; NHTSA ID 10044905 and 10053471; coverage limited to actual failure, not preventive replacement
Electrical system power loss and instrument panel failure
The vehicle loses electrical power to critical systems while driving, causing sudden loss of engine power, instrument panel blackout, and loss of steering/brake assist. Symptoms appear 15-25 minutes after a warm restart. The vehicle may stall or regain power spontaneously after several seconds to minutes.
When: Occurs specifically when vehicle is warm (parked 1-5 hours after driving) then restarted; within 15-25 minutes of that restart; reported at 22,000 miles mileage range
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls suddenly; Loss of steering assist; Loss of brake assist; Instrument panel goes dark (except radio, interior lights, door locks); Gauges stop functioning; Check engine light, low oil pressure warning, temperature warning appear suddenly; Rocking/surging motion before stall
Repairs/costs cited: No repair identified in narratives; vehicle able to restart after 10 seconds to 5 minutes; dealership diagnostic testing inconclusive; one case resulted in $7,000+ engine repair (head gasket replacement) at Duncan Ford, Christiansburg VA
Park indicator switch failure
When the vehicle is placed in Park, the park indicator light fails to illuminate approximately 95% of the time. This prevents remote start from working and causes the car chime to ring continuously. The shift mechanism itself may not be reliably registering park position.
When: Ongoing intermittent issue; reported at time of complaint with 2-month history
Symptoms owners cite: Park indicator light does not illuminate; Remote start non-functional; Car chime rings continuously; Dashboard message 'SHIFT TO PARK' appears; May require multiple attempts to get shift to register park position
Repairs/costs cited: Park indicator switch replacement; dealership estimate ~$500
Adaptive cruise control malfunction
The adaptive cruise control system detects vehicles in adjacent lanes as obstacles and applies full emergency braking, creating sudden deceleration and collision hazard for following traffic. The system also disables due to SYNC module errors.
When: Intermittent; occurs during normal highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Full braking applied without driver input; Detects semi-trucks in adjacent lanes as obstacles; Cruise control suddenly disables; SYNC error causes adaptive cruise shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: No permanent repair identified; issue related to SYNC module malfunction
Backup camera failure
The rear-view camera stops working intermittently or completely. Failures often result from moisture ingress into the wiring harness causing corrosion. Replacements are expensive and temporary; the problem recurs after several months to years.
When: Intermittent around 50,000-100,500 miles; recurrence after replacement in 1 year or less
Symptoms owners cite: Rear view camera non-functional; Camera works intermittently (approximately 50% of the time); Screen freezes while backing up; Backup camera system goes offline
Repairs/costs cited: Camera replacement cost approximately $800-$1,000; moisture/corrosion in wiring harness cited as root cause; Ford nationwide parts backlog reported at 240+ units with waits exceeding 6 months
Blower motor speed control malfunction
The AC/heat blower speed randomly increases or decreases to full or low speed without driver input, accompanied by clicking sounds from the blender motor assembly. This creates windshield fogging and driver distraction.
When: Intermittent; affects vehicles with under 60,000 miles; occurs in both summer and winter
Symptoms owners cite: Blower speed randomly changes to full or low; Clicking sound from blender motor unit; Windshield fogging or failure to defrost; Front and rear climate controls unresponsive in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Motor blender replacement; one failure at 29,416 miles, second failure one year later on different blender motor; estimate over $2,000 for full AC system replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Second motor blender replacement covered under extended warranty program
AC/heating system failure and engine overheating
The air conditioning produces weak cooling or no cold air while idling or at speed. When AC is on, the engine overheats and vehicle blows hot air instead. Similarly, heat operation causes engine overheating and smoke from exhaust. Low coolant levels are not the cause.
When: Occurs on vehicles under 60,000 miles with minimal seasonal use (2-3 months per year)
Symptoms owners cite: AC produces weak cooling or no cool air; Engine overheats when AC is on; Blows hot air instead of cool air while idling; Engine overheats during heat operation in winter; Exhaust smoke while system running; Interior windows unable to defrost
Repairs/costs cited: Entire AC system replacement quoted at over $2,000
Power steering loss
Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving, making the steering wheel difficult or impossible to maneuver. The failure may be accompanied by loss of brake assist and instrument cluster failure.
When: Intermittent; occurs at 40-65 mph; multiple occurrences over extended period
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes hard to turn; Loss of power steering assist; Loss of brake assist (simultaneous in some cases); Instrument gauges stop functioning; Abnormal noise from alternator/serpentine belt area prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued but owner reports recall is now outdated and Ford states no timeline for repair
Hazard light malfunction
Hazard lights either fail to function when activated or turn on by themselves while vehicle is parked and shut off. Once activated, they may not turn off.
When: Intermittent; can occur while vehicle is parked and unoccupied
Symptoms owners cite: Hazard lights non-functional when activated; Hazard lights activate by themselves; Hazard lights will not deactivate once on; Lights work intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repair required; related to APIM or interface module failure
Airbag system warning light and seatbelt tensioner issues
The airbag warning light remains illuminated and requires multiple repairs including seatbelt tensioner replacement and wiring harness repairs. Some owners report faulty wiring harnesses and circuit jumpers as root causes.
When: Occurs over extended period of ownership; one owner reported 6+ dealer visits for airbag issues
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on; Seatbelt tensioner malfunction; Wiring connection issues
Repairs/costs cited: Seatbelt tensioner replacement; circuit jumpers installed around connections under driver's seat; computer system reprogramming; multiple repeat visits required
Vehicle fire due to wiring malfunction
Vehicle caught fire while parked, off, and unoccupied. Fire department determined the cause was likely a wiring malfunction. The vehicle was destroyed; no injuries reported.
When: Approximately 200,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fire while parked and off
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; not diagnosed or repaired
Engine head gasket failure
Head gasket cracked, allowing water to enter engine, transmission, and fluid systems. Initial presentation was loss of engine power with warning lights (check engine, low oil pressure, temperature) appearing suddenly. No prior symptoms or problems reported by owner.
When: Approximately 3-8 days after first power loss incident; exact mileage not provided
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power while driving; Rocking motion of car; Check engine light, low oil pressure light, temperature warning lights appear simultaneously; Water and oil leaking from engine
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket replacement; water leaked into engine, transmission, all fluids and pipes; repair cost $7,000+; dealership diagnostic fee $230
Alternator and serpentine belt failure
Abnormal noise from alternator assembly and serpentine belt area precedes sudden loss of electrical power. Vehicle loses all power while traveling at 65 mph and must be coasted to a stop.
When: Failure mileage not available
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from alternator/serpentine belt area; Sudden loss of power at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Bergey's Ford (Ambler PA) indicated vehicle needs diagnosis and repair; no warranty or recall applied
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warranty, recall, or manufacturer campaign available
Electrical pump failure
Electrical pump failed, discovered during vehicle service.
When: Approximately 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Electrical pump malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Discovered during service; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; no details on response
Door latch failure
Passenger rear door fails to latch correctly when closed, remaining loose or partially open.
When: Around 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger rear door does not latch correctly; Door remains loose or partially open after closing
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided
Flickering lights and electrical system instability
Dashboard lights, interior lights, and remote functions flicker intermittently. The entire electrical system exhibits faults affecting AC, lights, and remote controls. Issues occur both while vehicle is in motion and parked.
When: Reported around 70,000 miles; ongoing intermittent issue
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights flickering; Interior lights flickering; Remote functions unreliable; Lights flicker while stationary and while driving; AC malfunction concurrent with electrical faults
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair identified in narrative
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had electrical trouble with your 2011 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2011 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 37 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 55,000 and 139,000 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 139,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.