How many engine complaints does the 2011 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 113 engine-related complaints for the 2011 Ford Explorer, which is 9% of all 1,197 complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2011 Ford Explorer engine?

No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the engine problem area on the 2011 Ford Explorer.

At what mileage do 2011 Ford Explorer engine problems usually show up?

The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2011 Ford Explorer is 78,401 miles.

What engine symptoms do 2011 Ford Explorer owners report most?

Owners describe exhaust fumes entering the cabin during acceleration, cooling fan failures leading to overheating, and instances of unintended acceleration or overheating in slow traffic.

Were there any crashes or fires linked to 2011 Ford Explorer engine complaints?

NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint set includes 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 7 injuries.

2011 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 113 engine complaints for the 2011 Ford Explorer, 9% of all complaints filed for that model year. There are no related engine recalls on file, and median mileage at failure sits at 78,401 miles.

Engine complaints: 113; 9% of 1,197
Crashes reported: 3
Fires reported: 1
Injuries reported: 7
Median mileage: 78,401 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

Owners report exhaust fumes entering the cabin during medium to heavy acceleration, such as merging onto a highway.
Cooling fans have failed, causing the engine to overheat, run rough, and stall, with coolant boiling out of the overflow.
Some describe unintended acceleration, with the engine climbing into the 6,000 to 7,000 rpm range and the vehicle becoming hard to control.
Others report the vehicle failing to start along with a key-not-detected warning message.
Engine overheating has been reported at idle or during slow stop-and-go traffic, in some cases recurring after a dealer repair.

When 2011 Ford Explorer engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 5, 2011, latest Jun 15, 2026.

113 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2016 Q3 (8).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Explorer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201031 (27%)
2011113 (9%)
2012103 (12%)
2013316 (14%)
2014272 (16%)
2015299 (17%)
2016530 (22%)
2017317 (19%)
2018129 (18%)
201926 (9%)
2020162 (13%)
202169 (16%)
202238 (14%)
202313 (12%)
20241 (5%)
202514 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2011 Ford Explorer have?: NHTSA lists 113 engine-related complaints for the 2011 Ford Explorer, which is 9% of all 1,197 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Ford Explorer engine?: No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the engine problem area on the 2011 Ford Explorer.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Explorer engine problems usually show up?: The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2011 Ford Explorer is 78,401 miles.
What engine symptoms do 2011 Ford Explorer owners report most?: Owners describe exhaust fumes entering the cabin during acceleration, cooling fan failures leading to overheating, and instances of unintended acceleration or overheating in slow traffic.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to 2011 Ford Explorer engine complaints?: NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint set includes 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 7 injuries.