YearToAvoid

2011 Ford Explorer Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 40 Fuel System complaints for the 2011 Ford Explorer, 3% of its 1,197 total complaints for the year. Owners report exhaust odor entering the cabin, inaccurate fuel gauge readings, and gas cap/tank venting issues, at a median 49,000 miles. No related recall is listed.

Fuel System complaints
40
3% of 1,197
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
49,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Exhaust fumes enter the passenger cabin during medium to heavy acceleration, especially above 3,500 rpm.
  • Fuel gauge shows a full or 3/4 tank shortly after fill-up, then drops sharply after a short drive.
  • Gas pump nozzle shuts off early during fueling and fuel drips or streams from under the vehicle, reported by owners as a blocked tank vent tube.
  • Check engine light comes on tied to a gas cap or solenoid fault despite the vehicle having a cap-less fuel tank design.
  • Throttle body sticks in the open position, described by an owner as a safety hazard at speed.

When 2011 Ford Explorer fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 7, 2011, latest Apr 1, 2024.

2011 Ford Explorer fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month4Dec 2011Jun 2014Apr 2015Jul 2016Oct 2017Nov 2018Oct 2020Mar 2023
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2011 to Apr 2024; peak Aug 2017 (4).

Fuel System recalls for the 2011 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by Explorer model year

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

  1. 20109 (8%)
  2. 201140 (3%)
  3. 201234 (4%)
  4. 2013153 (7%)
  5. 201471 (4%)
  6. 201594 (5%)
  7. 2016112 (5%)
  8. 201749 (3%)
  9. 201823 (3%)
  10. 201917 (6%)
  11. 202042 (3%)
  12. 202126 (6%)
  13. 202236 (13%)
  14. 20233 (3%)
  15. 20240 (0%)
  16. 20253 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA lists 40 Fuel System complaints for the 2011 Explorer, which is 3% of the 1,197 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Ford Explorer fuel system?
No related recall is listed in the data for this fuel system issue.
At what mileage do fuel system problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure for these fuel system complaints is 49,000 miles.
Did the fuel system problems cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA records show 1 crash and 0 fires tied to these fuel system complaints, along with 6 injuries reported.
What kind of fuel system problems do owners describe most?
Owners most commonly describe exhaust odor entering the cabin, inaccurate fuel gauge readings after fill-up, and fuel leaking or dripping during pumping.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.