2011 Ford Explorer Engine

Burnt exhaust smell in cabin after hard acceleration. The smell is overwhelmingly bad causing nose and eye burning and coughing. To remedy the smell the windows have to be rolled down to air out the cabin.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at various speeds, the engine overheated. The contact stated that the water pump was leaking, and the contact replaced the water pump himself. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was scanned with an ODB scanner an engine overheating code was retrieved. The contact stated that the radiator cooling fan failed to turn on. The contact stated he had installed a new temperature sensor, but the vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

My son was on the highway and his Ford Explorer 2011 just stopped, he could have been killed! He was able to get off safely and had car towed. Our mechanic told us today it is the Water Pump leakage and we need to take to Ford. We called Ford and they said at least $5,000 to repair possibly more. This is a huge safety concern when the act can just stop dead on highway. There are no safety recalls on this water pump. My son was lucky to make it off the highway alive.

The internal water pump failed in my 2011 Ford Explorer without any warning signs and the coolant then leaked into my engine causing catastrophic engine failure. We were driving on a busy highway and the Ford Explorer simply started shutting down in the left lane. Nothing would happen when I pushed the gas petal and suddenly all the lights started flashing and heat went to above high. I was barely able to get over to the shoulder as smoke started to come out of the front of the engine. We were extremely afraid of getting hit since the car stalled on the highway only feet from the exit ramp. The car was towed and diagnosed at the Ford Dealership: Internal water pump failed causing engine failure - water mixed with oil. The car received state inspection and oil changed 17 days prior. Paid for engine replacement at the Ford Dealership with costs over $11,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump and determined that water had leaked into the engine and mixed with the engine oil, resulting in engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 113,000.

Was driving down the highway and my car lost power and put me in a very dangerous situation. Looking into the issue, i found out the waterpump was damaged in which is inside the engine and extremely expensive repairs (3000) dollars or more but the engine has been compromised with alot of coolant into the oil. My car is down and im still paying on it so im in very tough situation and believe the manufacturer should fix this situation.

There are exhaust gases entering the vehicle cabin. This is primarily at startup, while sitting at idle in traffic and under acceleration. After visual inspection it appears to be coming from a cracked passenger side exhaust manifold. This is an obvious safety issue and I believe it should have been included in TSB 14-0130 but was told my VIN was not included.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a popping sound then the vehicle stalled. The contact then stated that he attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but not assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

While driving on a busy road. My ford explorer suddenly died. I was driving with my children. The water pump suddenly went bad causing my engine to seize. This is the second time that I have had to replace the water pump and in which I have almost been part of an accident. The repairs have been very very costly.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The low coolant message was displayed. The contact was able to pull off to the side of the road. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the engine had seized. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while a friend was driving approximately 45 MPH, the driver inhaled an excessive amount of carbon monoxide. The friend accidentally drove into a ditch. The vehicle was pulled out of the ditch by nearby residents. The driver was not injured. There were minor damages to the passenger’s side front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed a failure with plugs underneath the engine. The plugs were not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the engine temperature hot warning light illuminated as the vehicle began to stall. The contact pulled off to the side of the road as a white smoke started coming from the vehicle. The contact waited for the vehicle to cool down before opening the hood and discovering that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant in the reservoir; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact then called a family member who was able to jumpstart the vehicle; however, after several miles of driving, the failure recurred. The contact coasted the vehicle into a Walmart parking lot where she purchased more coolant; however, the coolant immediately leaked out of the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic and it was determined that the water pump had malfunctioned which led to the engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred her to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The vehicle was then towed to another independent mechanic where it remained in their possession and was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND JUST STOPPED. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ALARMS WENT OFF BEFOREHAND. ONCE THE CAR STOPPED, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AN ALARM SOUNDED. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO FORD. THEY CALLED THIS MORNING AND SAID THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. THEY QUOTED $8,000.00. 8 WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND THEN THE POWER STEERING ALARM CAME ON. TOOK IT TO FORD AND HAD THE POWER STEERING REPLACED AT A COST OF $1800.00. THEN, LESS THEN 2 WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. AND AGAIN, NO WARNING LIGHTS UNTIL THE POWER STEERING WEN OUT. FORD SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MY TIRES HAD LOW TREAD AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY FRONT TIRES, WHICH WE HAD THEM DO. 8 MONTHS AGO, THE TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, THE WATER PUMP WAS PLACED ON THE INSIDE OF ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WATER PUMP FAILED, COOLANT ENTERED THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. JEFFERSON MOTOR CO INC, LOCATED AT 141 LEE ST, JEFFERSON, GA 30549, (706)367-5217, WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $8,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 3 YOUNG KIDS ON A BUSY ROAD, MY WATER PUMP FAILED AND CATASTROPHICALLY DAMAGED MY ENGINE. MY CAR TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO WARNING. WE WERE ALMOST INVOLVED IN A HORRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO MAKE AN ABRUPT STOP. HAD HE HIT MY CAR, WE WOULD HAVE SPUN BECAUSE OF THE FORCE. THE WATER PUMP FAILS AND BECAUSE IT'S INSIDE THE ENGINE, IT DAMAGES THE ENGINE IN SECONDS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM PUTS PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF KIDS. LEAVES YOU STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET. WITHOUT WARNING THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN PREVENT PUTTING OUR LIVES IN DANGER THIS WAY. FORD STATES THAT WATER PUMPS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE AND ITS MANUAL DOESN'T STATE THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER CERTAIN MILES. REPAIR SHOP IS QUOTING 6,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE.

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY VEHICLE REACHES 50MPH, I EXPERIENCE HESITATION AND/OR A PUTTING SENSATION THAT CONTINUES UNTIL I ACCELERATE TO 60MPH OR DROP TO 49MPH OR BELOW. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KOONS FORD OF BALTIMORE FOR SERVICE, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT OIL HAS BEEN SEEPING INTO MY AIR INTAKE SYSTEM AND SATURATING MY AIR FILTER. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS DUE TO THE DESIGN FLAW ON THE FACTORY INSTALLED VALVE COVER GASKET. I LEARNED THAT THE ISSUE OCCURS ON SEVERAL FORD VEHICLES INCLUDING 2011-2013 EXPLORERS AS THE DEFECTIVE VALVE COVER WAS USED ON THOSE MODELS AT THE TIME THE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE EXISTING VALVE COVER REPLACED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED VALVE COVER THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY CREATED TO RESOLVE THE OIL LEAKAGE/OIL SEEPAGE ISSUE. MY AFTERMARKET WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS AS THEY DEFINE THE REPLACEMENT PART AS "BETTERMENT" TO THE VEHICLE OR INSTALLATION OF AN UPGRADED PART. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT KOONS, THE VALVE COVER INSTALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IS OBSOLETE AND WOULD NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE EVEN IF IT WERE STILL AVAILABLE. I MUST HAVE THE NEWLY DESIGNED VALVE COVER INSTALLED IN ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE, STOP THE OIL FROM SEEPING IN AND AROUND THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM AND THROTTLE BODY AND TO ALSO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS IS APPROXIMATELY $700. I CONTACTED THE FORD CORPORATE OFFICE AND LEARNED THAT THEY COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ADVISED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL FUME ODOR WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AND RECOMMENDED TO REPAIR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE WATER PUMP IMMEDIATELY FAILED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR WARNING SIGNS. MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOT UP AND MY ENGINE SEIZED. THE ENGINE IS UNABLE TO BE TURNED ON AT THIS TIME.

MY 2011 FORD EXPLORER ONLY HAS 104K MILES. IN OCTOBER OF 2018 THE CAR REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WITH NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WHEN I GOT IT TO FINALLY TURN BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN TO BE CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THE ANTIFREEZE HAS SPILLED INTO THE ENGINE AND WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE! I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE STEERING LOCK RECALL AS WELL AS NEEDING THE RADIATOR REPLACEMENT IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF MY PURCHASE. ALSO, NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THOSE INCIDENTS EITHER! I CURRENTLY HAVE THIS CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NO ANSWERS FROM FORD. THE COST TO FIX IS OVER 6K! I NOTICED A RECALL BEING ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER MY MODEL CAR IS NOT INCLUDED! THIS SHOULD INCLUDE ALL FORD VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. EVERY TIME THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, FUMES ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUMMERVILLE FORD (9700 DORCHESTER RD, SUMMERVILLE, NC 29485) FOR AN EVALUATION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. *BF *AS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 35-40 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHUDDER. THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE BLOCK OR HEAD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT CALLED WILLOW BROOK (7301 KINGERY HWY, WILLOWBROOK, IL 60527, (630) 986-5000) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND SWERVED WILDLY, BUT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GENE LANGLEY FORD (3500 EASTEND DR, HUMBOLDT, TN 38343, (731) 784-9311) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW MOTOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,575. *BF*JB

WE WERE TRAVELING I-26 FROM SC BACK INTO NC AFTER THANKSGIVING. MY CAR DINGED AND SAID COOLANT TEMP WAS TOO HIGH. THANKFULLY I WAS RIGHT AT A REST AREA AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED IN AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. TRIED ADDING COOLANT AND IT POURED OUT THE BOTTOM. HAD MY EXPLORER TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. TURNS OUT THE WATER PUMP BLEW. IN MOST CASES A WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT IS NOT A BIG DEAL. EXCEPT WHOEVER DESIGNED THIS ENGINE WAS NOT THINKING BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP IS INSIDE THE ENGINE. SO EVEN TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP (A PART COSTING LESS THEN $200), THE LABOR MAKES IT AT CLOSER TO $1500. BUT, ALSO, BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP IS INSIDE THE ENGINE, WHEN IT BLEW, COOLANT AND WATER WENT INTO MY ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE, MEANING THE WHOLE ENGINE NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SO A CAR WITH 71,000 MILES ON IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF A WATER PUMP. I AM THANKFUL I WAS IN A POSITION TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE IF THE ENGINE HAD GONE OUT ON THE BUSY INTERSTATE, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE CRASH. IF A WATER PUMP CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE, THAT IS NOT A CAR I WANT TO BE IN WITH MY CHILDREN. DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO US, BUT TO OTHERS TRAVELING NEAR US. FORD NEEDS TO RETHINK THIS DESIGN. NOT ONLY IS IT COSTLY TO REPAIR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

ITS A KNOWN FACT THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE WATER PUMPS SUDDENLY BREAK WITH NO PRIOR WARNING/SYMPTOM. FLUIDS MIX AS A RESULT, CONTAMINATED FLUIDS MANDATE COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT . FORD MOTOR CO. WILL NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR OFFER ONE BIT OF ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIR COSTS WHEN DEALERSHIPS COULD HAVE OFFERED WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT AS A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ITEM. DEALERSHIP IS NOW ASKING ME FOR $7100.00 TO REPLACE ENGINE WHEN THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN CIRCUMVENTED WITH A SIMPLE MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DEALERS WHO KNOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED PRE-OWNED FROM A FORD DEALER WITH A FORD 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH EXPIRED AS OF MY LAST OIL CHANGE) AND I AM STILL PAYING OFF THE VEHICLE ITSELF. FORD HAD THE AUDACITY TO SAY "YOU CAN APPLY FOR A FORD CREDIT CARD TO PAY FOR YOUR ENGINE" WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT $7,100.00+ TAX IS CURRENTLY OUTSIDE OF MY LUMP SUM CURRENT BUDGET PARAMETERS. FORD ASSUMES NO LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE POORLY MANUFACTURED CARS AND THE CONSUMERS WHO PURCHASE THEM ARE SHEER VICTIMS. NEVER WILL ANOTHER FORD BE PURCHASED WITHIN MY FAMILY AGAIN IF THEY DO NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND OFFER SOME FORM OF ASSISTANCE FOR THIS ALL TOO COMMON MALFUNCTION.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE TRUCK OVERHEATED AT 65 MPH I GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND STOP THE TRUCK NEXT THING I NOTICE IS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD THEN I CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GO TO A LOCAL SHOP NOW THE MECHANIC SAY I NEED A NEW ENGINE,I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE AND THE LABOR THE TRUCK IS NOT EVEN PAY OFF YET, UNBELIEVABLE, NOW THAT I READ UP ON THIS THIS HAPPEN TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HASN'T BEEN RECALL YET SMH