There are 15 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2011 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
Windshield trim panels came loose and were slapping the drivers and passengers side windows. Read article in paper with 164 complaints. Cost me over $800 to replace
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the sun roof exploded unexpectedly. There was no impact to the sun roof that could have caused it to shatter. The sun roof shards fell inside the vehicle onto the contact and her children however, there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the sun roof frame had separated and was defective. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The insurance company inspected the vehicle and concluded that it was a manufacturing defect. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED CAUSING A VISIBILITY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER SAM SCISM MOTORS (5019 FLAT RIVER RD., FARMINGTON MO) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER FROM THE MOON ROOF CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO FREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEVITTOWN FORD (3195 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, LEVITTOWN, NY 11756, (516) 336-4718), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,800.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH THE SUN ROOF IN THE CLOSED POSITION, WATER LEAKED FROM THE SUN ROOF INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. COURT ST. FORD (558 WILLIAM LATHAM DR, BOURBONNAIS, IL) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *TR*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BLOWING COLD AIR INSTEAD OF HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION FORD NORTH CANTON (5900 WHIPPLE AVE NW, NORTH CANTON, OH 44720 (330) 238-3206) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,416. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP HAS LIST OF MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR DEFECTIVE PARTS AND TV NEW STORY WITH SAME PROBLEM AND CONSUMER REPORT HAS RECORD OF POOR PARTS UPDATED 8/20/18*JB
ALL OF THE WINDSHIELD TOP MOLDING AND HALF THE RIGHT SIDE HAS BLOWN OUT OVER LAST 2 HIGHWAY TRIPS. WINDSHIELD IS ORIGINAL AND HAS NEVER BEEN WORKED ON. USUALLY OCCURRS AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH OR ABOVE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT SAW A PIECE FLY OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT STOPPED TO INSPECT THE WINDSHIELD AND NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE WAS CONNECTED TO THE PANEL OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT CALLED ALL STAR LINCOLN FORD (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 TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE WINDSHIELD AND TO SEND IT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
I HAD STARTED THE CAR BEFORE OUR TRIP WITH THE REMOST START AND IT WARMED UP FOR 10 MINUTES. WE WERE ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO OUR TRIP AND DRIVING DOWN THE I-96 EXPRESSWAY IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI NEAR EXIT 43 (28TH STREET), 65 MPH, 9:45PM, 32-33 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND RAINING, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON AS WELL AS AUTO TEMP CONTROL AT 70 DEGREES. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REAR WINDOW LOUDLY EXPLODES INWARDS AND SHOWERS OUR 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WITH GLASS (SHE WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN THE THIRD ROW) AS WELL AS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF IMPACT, NO SNOW OR ICE IN THE CAR, NO ROCKS, NO BULLETS. WHERE IT OCCURRED THERE WERE NO OVERPASS OR SIGNS OVER THE ROAD (NOTHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON OUR CAR). AFTER INSPECTING THE WINDOW, IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE WHOLE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED WITH A LARGE GAPING HOLE IN THE LOWER MIDDLE (12" X 18") WITH MOST OF THAT GLASS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER HAD CAME THROUGH THE HOLE AND WAS INSIDE THE CAR (BUT STILL ATTACHED TO ITS OUTSIDE POSITION). THE EDGES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR WINDOW HAD BROKEN OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT EXTERIOR DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD PANEL DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE A-PILLARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. *JS
AS I AM OUTSIDE TALKING TO A NEIGHBOR I HEAR A WEIRD SOUND, THEN I SEE PIECES OF DEBRIS ON THE GROUND NEAR THE REAR OF MY 2011 EXPLORER, AS I GET CLOSER I SEE PIECES OF SHATTERED GLASS JUST CRUMBLING BEFORE MY EYES AND FALLING ONTO THE GROUND. AS I LOOK UP MY REAR WINDOW LIFTGATE GLASS IS JUST SHATTERED. I CANT BELIEVE MY EYES BECAUSE I KNOW NOBODY OR NO OBJECT HIT THE GLASS. THIS HAS TO BE A FORD DEFECT IN THE GLASS AND HAS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THEM. HOWEVER THEY ARE DENYING ME THE RIGHT TO BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED. THE EXPLORER BARELY HAS 11,000 MILES ON IT. AND I AM JUST SICKENED OF FORD FOR NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
I HAVE A 2011 FORD EXPLORER AND THE SUN VISORS DO NOT ALLOW ME TO MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS TO BLOCK THE SUN. WHEN THE VISOR IS FULLY OPENED I CANNOT MAKE 1/4 OR 1/2 INCH ADJUSTMENTS. I ALMOST HAVE TO BRING THE VISOR HALF WAY DOWN BEFORE IT HOLDS IN PLACE. THEN IT BLOCKS MY VIEW OF TRAFFIC. I'VE NOTIFIED CHAMPION FORD KATY AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I CAN MAKE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS WHEN THE VISOR IS FACING ME. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS MANUFACTURED OR INSTALLED BACKWARDS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026