Body problems of the 2011 Ford Explorer - part 1

Recall 24s02??. Exterior a-pillar applique trim clip on Ford Explorer 2011 -dealership: pearson Ford, 10650 n michigan road, zionsville in 46077 -August 2024: I notified the Ford dealership that the rubbery part around the a-frame on drivers side windshield was coming off and there has been a recall on this part. They looked at it and said the part was on back order. -over the next few months the rubbery part that attaches to window came completely off. -I continued to notify Ford dealership throughout the next several months, and they continue to say the part is on back order. -April 2025: after filing a google complaint, tyler with customer service called back and said he will contact me when the a-frame is ordered and in the shop. [xxx]: I was on the highway and the right side a-frame (part of the body) completely flew off and hit the car behind me. May 26-29th, 2025: I have attempted several times to get ahold of someone at this dealership (text, phone messages), and no response. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Referencing recall 24v031: a and b pillar trim clips fail and cause cover to fly off while driving. * puts driver and others at risk by part releasing from clips and flying off while driving. * I just lost my 4th one and have been waiting for parts at corning Ford (530-824-5434) to fix this issue since August of 2024 when we originally took the vehicle in for repair. * after viewing my other cover, it is also near detaching and flying off without warning. * I feel the lack of attention and available parts for this recall is causing unnecessary risk to drivers and others on the road. Please take action in that Ford motor company completes this recall and fixes our vehicle.

In the 2021 Ford Explorer there are multiple leaks due to rain / water damage. The back of the trunk has a leak that has water running down the side into the third row seat it causes rust on to the spare tire, it’s causes fog to be on the inside of the car causing issues to see. There is also leaking in the front of the car that comes out through the light unit above all electric panel. This leaking is causing the ceiling lights to have issues, drips into the dashboard with all the electrical items causing the unit to short, which is where the rear camera display occurs.

Driving and b pillar on the driver side came off my vehicle. Then later while driving the b pillar broke while driving down the interstate, luckily no one got hurt when it broke in half. Now I have it taped up so water doesn’t go into my vehicle.

Driver side window panel flew off during my drive on the interstate directly after I noticed it being loose for the first time. 3rd row seatbelts leak when it rains on both sides. Rear backup camera is opposite/flipped and goes in and out. Trunk will close on you after opening it up with the car not running. It will not sense movement when the car is off and continues to shut resulting in harm.

Trim on left side a-pillar detached at highway speeds causing further damage to vehicle. The plastic trim and rubber seal detached and were damaged along with door trim and left marks on the driver window glass and upper door sash from the rubber seal.

I was driving on interstate 95 when the trim that covers the driver's side a pillar began to flap for a few seconds before flying off the car. It smashed the b pillar and cracked it before ultimately flying directly at the car behind me narrowly missing it. It was difficult to maintain control of the vehicle due to the sudden noise, it felt like the car was suddenly under attack.

The windshield trim on the driver's side flew off of the vehicle when I was traveling on the interstate (at interstate speed - about 70 mph). It did not hit another vehicle, but certainly could have if another vehicle had been to my left or close behind my vehicle. I was unable to stop and retrieve the part. No inspection has been made by police, insurance, etc. I now need to have the trim piece replaced, and I am nervous about the windshield trim on the passenger side possibly doing the same thing.

Driver's seat windshield panel flew off while driving. Part number bb5z-7803145-aa.

Passenger side windshield trim came off while traveling on freeway at 85 mph hit the windshield. Then about hit the car behind us and about hit a car next to us. The car is available for inspection.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the front windshield trim detached and flew off the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 150,000.

I read an article online dated 1/31/23 that indicated that the NHTSA was investigating windshield trim panel issues on certain year models of the Ford Explorer. My 2011 Ford Explorer driver-side windshield trim panel flew off the vehicle while driving at highway speeds (70+ mph) on may 3, 2021, so I wanted to provide this information and photos of the damage. I agree this is a serious issue for this make and model that should be addressed. This was an expensive repair and dangerous for other drivers on the road. I can provide additional information if needed.

Right front axle/control arm failing (snapped cleanly in 2) 3 times within 2 years. First time may have been subsequent to low speed front end collision. Second & third times driving less than 25 mph with no collision until after hearing the snap & subsequent loss of steering. Second time failure occurred while accelerating from a full stop & turning left on a city street. Third time I'd been driving straight approximately half a mile on a city street with speed no greater than 25 mph. Last two replacement/repair done by progressive insurance certified repair facility.

I noticed that my wheel well where the spare tire is stored, had water in it about 2 inches deep. I removed the 3-4 drain plugs and allowed water to drain out and time to dry. I think it has been leaking a while because the tire jack and wheel well had obvious rust. Then I noticed a smell of mildew in the rear of the vehicle and several items in the rear cargo area were damp. Since then, it is apparent there is a water leak in the rear. It only happens when it rains.

Se cuela agua y baja por los cinturones DE la tercera fila, se llena DE agua el compartimiento donde va la goma DE repuesto.

This vehicle was in for a recall for the electrical power steering. Recall was done on the vehicle in 2014 now in 2019 at 150,000 miles and again the same problem only this time it cost me $1,800 to get fix just to have the same problem recur 3 times. I also got into an accident. This is more than a safety issue and I notice a lot of people complaining about the same thing. When will Ford decided to address this issue!.

When it rains, the rain comes in the truck and seeps through the seatbelts, the front passenger interior handle, the two lights in the top of the truck (above the console), the sterio in the back, the passenger side under the dashboard, through the trim of the windows on driver and front passenger side, and inside the sunroof (yes, the windows and sunroof is closed). This happens if the truck is sitting in driveway, and when driving. My guess is that something was not properly sealed when the truck was being made.

I have leaks through the seat belts on my third row. My car has a mildew odor from these so it has been happening for a while. I had carmax fix a leak that I noticed in 2016 but now 2 yeats later it is really bad. I looked up online possinle fixes and fou d hundreds of owners with the same issue and no fix. Ford is very difficult to deal with for the repair. Pleas look into this faulty issue and require a welding fix on the seems by Ford. Seems all information I have found with the issue is with the new Explorer body starting with my 2011 year. Leak occurs qhen it rained or when car is washed. It is so much water that we currently can not use the third row seatong as a seat. It is constantly wet.

Noticed serious water leak in rear tire storage compartment. Analysis indicated water penetrating from cracks in the machine welds at the corners of where the roof line meets the back tail gate as well as the stamped machine welds at the two lift gate hinges. Created mold problem when tire cover and sponge pad became soaked. Concerned rust at the corners, hinges and tire compartment will eventually give way.

When I purchased this vehicle two years ago I noticed a water leak which ran down the 3rd row seat belts. I contacted my dealer and they weren't going to cover the repair, but after some help from my service adviser they covered most of it. Now, 2 years later, it is leaking again and worse. My passenger side front seat floorboard fills with water when it rains. Water is also leaking from the headliner and dripping on the electronics in the center instrument panel. And the leak at the 3rd row seat belts is back. Research indicates that it is the sunroof causing the problem. Ford says that they don't have a recall so it will not be covered by them. I'm furious that such an expensive car would have this recurring issue and Ford turns a blind eye. There are reports all over the internet of people with the same problem. It is not an unknown issue, just one that is not being addressed by Ford.

Driving about 65 miles per hour on the highway, passenger side windshield trim flew off the car into traffic behind me (no previous damage, nor looseness etc. ). When we stopped to see what happened, realized the driver's side had also come loose, but was still attached to the vehicle.

Driver’s side black plastic a pillar windshield trim piece detached as I was driving on the highway. Startled me but I kept my composure. No other damage. Piece could have hit another vehicle behind me or a motorcyclist. When I stopped I confirmed the piece missing. Seems only held on by tape and velcro.

My husband bought my car from a used Ford dealership 2 years ago. In the two years we have had to replace the molding around the front windshield 3 ones. The passenger side flew off while driving down a road and we replaced it. The driver side flew of 2 times after being replaced. We went to the Ford dealership and they said I'm sorry there is nothing we can do. He even told us that 4 other people came in wth the same problem.

Took to a shop because of water in rear area coming from seat belts. Got told that the welds around the rear hatch mounts are bad and known for messing up. Dealer would not fix and told me to take to a collision shop to get fixed on my own dime.

I was traveling with my family down a busy highway. The windshield moulding on the driver side flew off. I was going about 70 mph with flow of traffic. No abnormal wind, just wind from speed. Was no reason it should have flew off. I have talked to numerous other Explorer owners and this is a common issue. Some have even had to be replaced more than once. Thank you for your time and I hope there is a solution found to this.

While traveling at freeway speeds a vibration sound could be heard around the front windshield area when a slight cross wind would occur, I was unable to locate the cause until after a couple months of this behavior the passenger side windshield trim piece suddenly departed the vehicle while traveling at 70 mph. The vehicle was serviced at novus glass and the trim was then replaced. However, the new also began falling off after only a few days, and novus glass advised that they see this type of issue all the time, as the plastic tabs that are meant to secure the trim piece often get broken even when installing a new part.

I have, on several occasions, have gotten very very tired while driveing my 2011 Ford Explorer to the point where I have almost fallen asleep behind the wheel driving and have fallen asleep while idiling in the driveway. Not to mention the excruciating headaches ive suffered from recently along with nausea, not to mention the smell of exhaust in the cabin.

Tl- the contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximate 60mph, the contact saw a piece fly off of the windshield and into traffic. The contact stopped to inspect the windshield when she noticed that the plastic piece was connected to the panel of the windshield. The contact called all star Lincoln Ford at 17742 airline hwy, prairieville, la 70769, (225) 490-7645 where the dealer stated that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact take a photo of the windshield and to send it to Ford customer service. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000. Lt.

Driving down road at 70 mph the plastic covering over passenger side front pillar came off, flew over car and landed off road behind me.

Regards from the first year I purchased I have entered the exhaust area of the cabin. From the first year, service, people who attended me in the Ford dealer, told me I could not find a cause or that was part of the design of the unit. I got to take it to 2 different dealers whenever I'm driving and presented me having to climb down or up a hill, it is where the problem arises. I may happen in the express or normal roads. The one last visit for a recall, returned to discuss the problem and now tells me it costs me $ 600 for the repair memo I get how to work with the problem. I have trouble because they spent 36,000 miles. My comment is that from the first year've been reporting the problem and did not have any kind of solution. The smell is now very often and truly bothers to guide and must represent a health problem.

I was driving down i64 east when I started hearing this loud buzzing like noise. Next thing I knew it sounded like something hit my driving side window bounced alone my car and flew behind me causing the driver behind me to Dodge it. . . . I pulled off the interstate to find that the trim was gone alone the driver side windshield. It had hit the drivers side on my car in multiple places and caused long black marks on my side mirror, and rear side panel. Got back on the interstate and not even ten minutes later it happened to the left side. Same exact thing! right passenger side trim flew off hitting my wife's window, scratched the car and caused person behind us to Dodge it. I also had my four children in the car, so everyone was very upset and scared considering that it could have caused us to wreck going 70 mph down the interstate in heavy traffic. I called the dealership (greenbrier Ford) where we bought it and the service manager told me that is too bad, come in and get and estimate, so you can pay to fix your repairs. This is definitely a malfunction with this exterior of the car which I shouldn't be liable for especially considering that it could have caused a major accident and harmed my family. I guess Ford needs someone to die before they recall or fix the problem. Thanks Ford for caring. . . Not. . What has happened to integrity??.

Tl-the contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v171000 (structure) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Ad.

Tl-the contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that rear passenger and driver side door handles failed to operate intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be serviced under NHTSA campaign number:15v171000 (structure) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated the failure mileage was 70,000. Ss.

Tl-the contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 15v171000 (structure) however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Js.

Tl- the contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the quarter panel and hood was showing signs of corrosions. The contact stated that the corrosion continues to expand. The vehicle was taken the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Pam.