One problem related to instrument panel failure has been reported for the 2011 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2011 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2011 Explorer.
When driving a warm vehicle (meaning it was driven and then parked for 1-5 hours) then driving it a second time within this time frame, the vehicle will die after driving 15-25 minutes. When this happens, the radio continues to work, the engine shuts off, the interior lights come on and the lights around the speedometer come on. The rest of the instrumental panel is dead. The remote will lock and unlock the doors. The car will remain in this state for anywhere from 10 seconds to 4 or 5 minutes. This has happened 6 or so times in the month that I have had the vehicle. It has happened pulling up to a stop sign and also going 75 mph on the interstate (which is very scary). It has always happened in this 15-25 min timeframe. I have never had it happen in less time than this nor have I had it happen after the vehicle has run cleanly for 25-30 min. I have driven the vehicle to akron, OH and back. It happened twice on that trip. One time after we had driven for ~3 hours, stopped to eat for an hour and then got back on the road. It died about 15-20 min after we were on the road. It stayed in the "dead" state for about 2 min, then started back up and I was able to drive another 3 hours with no issue. It happened a second time when we were getting ready to travel home. We drove about 3 miles to a restaurant, ate for about an hour again. Then when we got on the road to travel back it died about 15-20 min after we got on the road. This time it was only out for about 15 seconds because it came back on and jump started before I could even get it off the road. This is the only time that has happened.