There are 12 stored owner reports matching the brakes leading-label group for the 2011 Ford Explorer in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 12 of 12 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)Entire braking system on this 2011 with only 140,000 miles apparently all failed simultaneously. Dealer required replacement of rear brake pads, rotors, calipers, brake booster, master cylinder and wanted to replace the entire ABS control assembly - which I declined. Brakes had a "soft pedal" when I took it into the dealership and when I left the dealer apparently sabotaged the brake system as it was undrivable at that point. Dealer even requested I waive my rights prior to taking the vehicle (see attached). It appears Ford manufactured a vehicle that their own technicians can't figure out to properly repair without replacing the entire system that fails with low miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THE EXTENDED TRAVEL PLAY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER (SHAWNEE MISSION FORD LOCATED AT 11501 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, SHAWNEE, KS 66203), AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS ARE SEIZED. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM ONLY WHEN THE BRAKE PADS HAD WORN DOWN TO METAL ON METAL AND WERE CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE. I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP. *TR
LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME UNSTABLE FOR BRIEF SECOND WHEN THE CALIPER GRABBED THE ROTOR WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. YOU COULD FEEL THIS IN THE STEERING AND WOULD HAVE TO CORRECT AT EACH DIP OR BUMP IN THE HIGHWAY. BRAKE PAD WORN TO FAILURE POINT BEFORE IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM. *TR
DURING TRAFFIC IN HOT WEATHER ON HIGHWAY THERE IS SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE AND SMOKE COMING FROM REAR DRIVER TIRE AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY TO CHECK THE NOISE. AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY I FELT ALL 4 METAL WHEELS AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND OTHER WHEELS WERE WARM TO THE TOUCH. I HAD THE EXACT SAME CONDITIONS ON PASSENGER REAR BRAKES LAST SUMMER AT ~50,000 MILES, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED REAR PASSENGER CALIPER IMMEDIATELY. THIS TIME THEY CLAIM ARE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE SEIZING OF CALIPER AFTER 3 MILE TEST DRIVE AND CALIPERS APPEARED TO BE IN WORKING CONDITION. I ARGUED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY OCCUR DURING LONG DISTANCE HIGHWAY TRAVEL AND MAY NOT HAPPEN ON SHORT TEST DRIVE. DEALERSHIP ARGUED THAT IT IS FORD POLICY NOT TO PERFORM WARRANTY REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WORK WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED BY CUSTOMER. I AM VERY UPSET THAT I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR STARTING ON FIRE EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON HIGHWAY. 2011 FORD EXPLORER XLT 3.5L V6 TIVCT. NORTHWEST CHICAGO IL. *TR
RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED, CREATING SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT TO WHEEL AREA. CALIPER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SAME ISSUE WITH LEFT REAR CALIPER ON 5-1-15 AT 42K MILES. LEFT CALIPER REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, AS IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. SAME ISSUE WITH RIGHT REAR CALIPER AGAIN ON 5-26-15 AT 44K MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CALIPER WAS OK AFTER CLEANING THE AREA. THERE APPEARS TO BE CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THESE REAR BRAKES ON BOTH SIDES.
TL* THE CONTACTS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BREAKS WOULD CONSTANTLY SQUEAL EVEN WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THE CALIBER, ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND THE TURN SIGNAL CLUSTER. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND ROTORS FAILED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
I PULLED INTO A PARKING STALL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THEY FAILED AND I ONLY STOPPED AFTER HITTING THE GLASS DOORS OF A CLOSED BUSINESS. I DID NOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND WAS STOPPED DUE TO THE BUSINESS' GLASS FRONT DOORS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 37 YEARS AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. NO ONE WAS HURT THANKFULLY, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED OTHER EXPLORERS FROM OTHER YEARS (2005, 2007 & 2009) ALSO HAD SIMILAR BRAKE FAILURES AND FORD COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEMS ON THOSE CARS, BUT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT. SEE WWW.EDMUNDS.COM & TYPE IN "EXPLORER BRAKE FAILURE". CHECK OUT POSTS #12, 37, 38, 39, 40 AND 42. FORD DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, BUT THEY CLEARLY FAILED. I DON'T WANT SOME INNOCENT PERSON HURT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE DOWN THE ROAD. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THE ABS SYSTEM IS COMMANDING INPUTS TO THE BRAKES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TORQUE. THIS HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS. THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND THE CAR IS STILL UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
MY NEW FORD EXPLORER IN ENGAGING THE BRAKES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. IT APPLIES ONE BRAKE AT A TIME AT ALL SPEEDS. IT TORQUES THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE POINT OF LOSING CONTROL. *TR
I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, AS I WAS BRAKING THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING, AS I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE, JUST BEFORE THE CAR HIT THE GARAGE DOOR WHICH WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ENGAGED, FULLY, STOPPING THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ONLY, THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND INSTEAD OF HITTING THE GARAGE DOOR IT STRUCK A CONCRETE COLUMN TO THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT OF THE GARAGE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR DID NOT ENGAGE SO I WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. WE CONTACTED FORD, FILLED OUT AND RETURNED THE PAPERWORK THEY REQUESTED, AFTER ALMOST FOUR MONTHS OF THE VEHICLE SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON FORD THEY DECIDED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I AM NOT SURE HOW THEY COULD COME UP WITH THAT ASSUMPTION AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP FORD NEVER CHECKED IT. WE HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THE ONE SKID MARK FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND NONE FROM THE OTHER THREE TIRES. *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.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: May 4, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.