On 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 not applied from the factory. Also verify that the engine/transmission alignment dowel pins are present as well as the engine crankshaft dowel pin, if equipped, when installing the transmission. Failure to adequately lubricate the converter hub greatly increases the likelihood of the flexplate cracking in the future. Missing dowels may cause a misalignment issue also resulting in a premature failure. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 307-01.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Ford Explorer powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2011 Ford Explorer have filed 45 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 56,458 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
45
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Explorer | 54 |
| 2008 Explorer | 35 |
| 2009 Explorer | 3 |
| 2010 Explorer | 27 |
| 2011 Explorer (this page) | 45 |
| 2012 Explorer | 42 |
| 2013 Explorer | 95 |
| 2014 Explorer | 69 |
| 2015 Explorer | 65 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 45 powertrain 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 powertrain 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.
FORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Explorer powertrain generates consistent complaints across three major categories. Power loss in motion is the most dangerous: owners describe the engine suddenly cutting acceleration to 1–5 mph while driving 35–65 mph, with an orange wrench light appearing but no warning beforehand. Dealerships cannot reproduce the issue during test drives, and diagnostic scans often show nothing. One owner was charged $650 for throttle body replacement; another paid over $700. Ford's Customer Satisfaction Program addressed electronic throttle body failures in other models but excluded the Explorer.
Power steering failures appear frequently. The system loses assist suddenly, making the steering wheel extremely heavy or locked, especially at low speeds—a critical safety problem in traffic or turns. NHTSA Recall 14V284000 (Ford 14S05) and 14V286 (14S06) cover power steering gear replacement under warranty through December 2015 or 150,000 miles. However, multiple owners report dealerships refusing to perform recall work or stating they need direct authorization from Ford headquarters. One dealer quoted the part on back order with over 800 units pending.
Transmission sensor and shift-to-park failures create rolling hazards. The shifter fails to register park position, triggering continuous warnings even when locked in park. One vehicle rolled 13 feet down a driveway while in park. Ford has recalled this issue on the 2011 Edge and other models but not the Explorer, despite owners documenting identical problems. Water pump failure causing catastrophic engine damage and sudden stalling/jerking during acceleration round out the roster of unresolved complaints.
Same Ford Explorer powertrain reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of Power Steering Assist
Electric power steering system loses assist, making the steering wheel extremely heavy and difficult to turn, especially at low speeds. Owners report the steering wheel becoming unmovable or requiring excessive force to operate.
When: Occurs while driving at various speeds, from city streets to highway speeds. One complaint notes the issue at 161,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely heavy or locked; Service power-steering warning message displayed; Traction control off warning; Power steering warning light illumination; Sudden loss of power steering assist while turning or driving
Codes mentioned: Steering torque sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 14S05/NHTSA Campaign 14V284000 covers power steering gear replacement under warranty (parts and labor) before 150,000 miles or end of December 2015. Some dealerships declined to perform recall repairs. One owner reports power steering gear replacement was recommended. Some owners mention the part being on back order at dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall Campaign 14V284000 (Ford Recall 14S05) and NHTSA Campaign 14V286 (Ford Recall 14S06) issued. Warranty coverage for replacement before 150,000 miles or December 31, 2015. Ford Corporate declined to provide repair assistance on at least one complaint. Some dealerships refused to perform recall work.
Sudden Power Loss During Acceleration/Driving
Engine loses power suddenly while driving, limiting vehicle speed to 1–5 mph despite accelerator being fully depressed. Orange wrench icon appears on instrument panel. Symptoms clear after turning engine off and restarting.
When: Occurs during normal driving at 35–65 mph on highways, city streets, and bridges. One complaint describes multiple occurrences over a 30-day period; another reports four occurrences in a single day. Mileage ranges from 20,652 to 83,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle speed drops to 1–5 mph despite accelerator fully depressed; Orange wrench icon (powertrain malfunction) on dashboard; Engine runs rough or shudders; Vehicle limps along at minimal speed; AWD off warning displayed; Symptoms resolve after restart; Check engine light illumination
Codes mentioned: Code suggesting brakes and accelerator depressed simultaneously (unconfirmed by owner)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to reproduce issue during test drives. Multiple diagnostic attempts found no error codes. One owner charged $650 for throttle body replacement. Another charged over $700 for throttle body repair. Throttle body not covered under powertrain warranty according to one dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Customer Satisfaction Program 13N03 addressed Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) issues but did not include Ford Explorers. No recalls issued for Explorer throttle body failures despite owners noting similar issues in other Ford models.
Electronic Throttle Body Failure
Electronic throttle body malfunctions cause vehicle to lose acceleration control and limp at minimal speeds. Wrench warning light illuminates. Issue is intermittent and repeats after restart.
When: Multiple occurrences over weeks to months. One owner reports issue happening once weekly for four weeks. Another reports five stalls between July and September 2020.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle loses acceleration despite pedal pressed to floor; Speed limited to 1–5 mph; Wrench warning light appears; AWD off warning; Engine runs rough or shudders; Issue resolves after turning engine off and restarting
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports over one million throttle bodies have been changed. Throttle body replacement costs $650–$700+ cited by owners. One dealership diagnosed throttle body failure in 2020 (work order and invoice available per owner). Diagnostic scans often fail to detect issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for 2011 Explorer throttle body failures, despite owners citing similar recalls for other Ford models. Customer Satisfaction Program 13N03 addressed ETB issues but excluded Explorers.
Transmission Shift-to-Park Sensor Failure
Shift-to-park sensor or electrical switch in gear shifter fails to register when vehicle is in park, causing 'Not in Park' or 'Shift to Park' warning to illuminate continuously even when transmission is locked in park.
When: Failures occur while parked or during normal operation. One owner reports vehicle rolling down driveway with gear in park. Another reports sensor failure at 27,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Shift to Park warning light illuminates continuously; Vehicle will not recognize park position; Warning message persists even after multiple restart attempts; Unable to engage seat movement or other park-dependent features; Vehicle may roll unexpectedly while parked
Codes mentioned: Shift to park sensor failed
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report being given parts lists for shifting issues. One owner notes Ford has recalls on this problem for other vehicles but not Explorer. No repair costs cited by complainants.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Motor Co has issued recalls for this problem on 2011 Edge and other models but not on 2011 Explorer, despite being a known issue on these vehicles.
Unintended Transmission Shift (Drive to Reverse)
Transmission suddenly shifts from drive to reverse without driver input, causing vehicle to skid and lock wheels. Rear-view camera activation coincides with shift. No warning lights precede failure.
When: Single incident reported while driving at 35 mph straight ahead.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts into reverse without driver action; Front and rear wheels lock, causing skid; Rear-view camera activates simultaneously; Transmission lever remains in drive position; Transmission fluid leaked onto ground; Vehicle cannot be shifted into any gear after failure; Front wheels locked and skidding during towing
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid leakage observed. No repair details provided by owner.
Water Pump Failure with Engine Damage
Water pump fails without warning, causing coolant to leak into engine, resulting in catastrophic engine damage. Engine shuts down suddenly on highway. No diagnostic warning until failure occurs.
When: Failure occurred while driving on main highway.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine coolant overtemp warning illuminates; Low oil pressure warning illuminates; Engine shuts down suddenly; Water leaked into engine from pump failure; Extensive engine damage requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Water pump failure confirmed by independent shop. Engine destruction due to water intrusion. Owner notes poor engine design allows water to damage internal components.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford did not respond to owner's complaint beyond taking it down. No warranty coverage or recall mentioned.
Transmission Jerking and Stalling
Vehicle jerks or shudders during acceleration, deceleration, or gear shifting. Engine stalls without warning at various speeds, then restarts normally.
When: First reported at 22,000 miles; worsens over subsequent 8,000 miles. Another complaint notes stalling at 36,800 miles. Vehicle stalls while moving and at stops.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks or vibrates violently during acceleration; Jerking occurs when starting from complete stop or decreasing speed; Vehicle stalls without warning while driving or stopped; Vehicle restarts normally after stalling; Interior lighting dims occasionally while driving; Failure is intermittent
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic unable to duplicate failure. Dealer unable to find cause. One complaint mentions transmission sensor and shift control cable reinstalled by dealer, but failures recurred.
Exhaust Fumes Entering Vehicle Cabin
Exhaust odor enters vehicle cabin at highway speeds, causing owner dizziness and headaches.
When: Occurs when driving at 60 mph on highway. Issue persists after dealer inspection.
Symptoms owners cite: Strong exhaust smell inside vehicle; Owner experiences dizziness and headaches; Occurs at highway speeds (60 mph+)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer checked issue but problem continues.
Engine Overheating During Idle/Stop-and-Go Traffic
Engine overheats when vehicle is idling or in slow stop-and-go traffic conditions.
When: Issue reoccurs after previous Ford service bulletin address.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheats during idle; Engine overheats in slow stop-and-go traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Previously addressed by Ford due to service bulletin, but issue has recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued a service bulletin to address this issue.
Transfer Case Failure
Transfer case fails suddenly without warning. Owner notes this is a known issue with Ford vehicles but Ford refuses to recall it.
When: Failure occurred after multiple other powertrain issues.
Symptoms owners cite: Transfer case fails unexpectedly
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford refuses to recall transfer case failures despite owner assertion this is a known issue.
Vehicle Rolling When Parked in Park
Vehicle rolls down driveway or incline while in park with transmission lever and shifter showing park position. Occurs on multiple occasions.
When: Two documented occurrences: February 11-12, 2019 and February 20-21, 2019. Another incident where parked vehicle rolled 13 feet, then additional 16 inches.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward or forward while parked and locked; Gear shifter indicates park position; Vehicle locked with doors secured; Occurs during weather with snow then rain
Repairs/costs cited: Owner documented with photos but unable to submit.
Synthesized from 45 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2011 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 45 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 36,500 and 85,885 miles, with the median around 56,458. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,500; a quarter make it past 85,885. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.