2011 Ford Explorer: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Dec 2, 2015 · Acceleration, Airbags · 43,000 miles · CA

I began experiencing problems with the steering wheel mounted controls while driving, which were intermittent. First, the volume button failed and then cruise control functions failed. The cruise control would sometimes cancel on its own, causing a sudden unexplained loss of speed while I thought it was engaged. The "resume" and "cancel" button functions also swapped. "resume" would cancel the cruise control and "cancel" would resume cruise. I only figured this out after pressing cancel while in cruise control to slow the car for traffic ahead of me and it did not respond or slow the car. The car continued at its set speed until I hit the brakes to slow it. The diagnosis for the problem was that the clock spring had failed and it was replaced. I feel this is a serious safety concern, especially since the driver air bag may have also been affected. This car has only 43,000 miles on it. The first time I took the car in for service, they reinstalled software which did not fix the problem. I do not yet have the invoice from the replacement of the clock spring because it has not yet been paid while I test the repair. The clock spring did appear to fix the problem. The car was repaired at perry ford in san luis obispo, ca.

Filed Nov 30, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 83,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while the cruise control was set at 58 MPH. The contact was able to coast the vehicle onto the road shoulder. Once the vehicle was restarted, it resumed normal operation. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 83,000.

Filed Nov 10, 2014 · Steering · 73,000 miles · OK

On cruise control at 75mph heading east on I-44 towards tulsa, ok. Power steering service warning, advance trak warning, terrain management warning become active. Power steering advance trak and terrain management no longer active.

Filed May 11, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 49,116 miles · OK

My wife, and three children were driving at freeway speed with the cruise control set. The power steering failed and the warning lights came on. The controls on the steering wheel locked out and she could not cancel the cruise control. The loss of power steering made it difficult for her to get pulled over. She tried to call me for help but no functions of the sync system worked. She pulled over and waited for me. I restarted the car and the steering was reset. I drove it to the dealership. Today is sunday so I will arrive there tomorrow and have it evaluated. Very hazardous and scary for my wife and the children. Unexpected loss of power steering is a safety issue that can cause accidents.

Filed Nov 30, 2011 · Acceleration, Electrical · 500 miles · CA

More like adaptive 'curse' control. My 2011 explorer limited 4x4 with the adaptive cruise always catches the rear of semi trucks in other lanes, causing it to apply full brakes and people behind me almost crash into me. My 2011 limited is totally factory original, no tow bars. Here in california the semi truck speed is 55 while autos can go 65-70mph (and in most cases everyone goes 80+). So when I'm going along at 65-70 with no vehicles head of me in my lane and the thing goes 100% brakes I almost crash. I also get the cruise control totally disabled because of an error in the sync modules. The sync computer modules control the adaptive cruise, stability control, back up detection system, auto wipers, auto parking system, traction control, 4x4 system, etc, etc. I fear that the SRS is also tied into these same sync computer modules. Ford claims the sync system automatically resets/reboots itself every 24 hours while the vehicle is off to avoid system outages. What happens most of the time is the system will run (even though the screen is off) for about a week until, while driving, the sync computer crashes just like home computers & cell phones do if left on continuously. While this crash is taking place the touch screen freezes, music playing will stop, or change volume, or change track, or change source; wipers will stop working, cruise control will shut off, backup camera system goes down or screen freezes while backing up, 4x4 is disabled, center displays will go blank. My 2011 explorer has been in the ford service dept for sync module replacement and reprogramming 4 times now since jan 2011. Still no fix.