2011 Ford Explorer: jerking or lurching

Filed Dec 12, 2025 · Steering · 193,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was a grinding sound coming from the steering column while making left and right turns. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel jerked while driving and making left or right turns. The contact stated that three unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the traction control warning light was also illuminated. Additionally, there are unknown messages displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the diagnosis was unknown. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.

Filed Oct 18, 2024 · Steering · 226,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the son was driving and accelerating from a stop light the power steering suddenly failed causing the vehicle to "jerk" to the right. During the failure, the "power steering" warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V286000(STEERING). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 226,000.

Filed Dec 1, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · 205,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V746000 (Suspension). The contact stated that on two occasions while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the vehicle began jerking to the right. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 205,000.

Filed Jun 26, 2023 · Steering · IL

On my 2011 Ford Explorer, the power steering went out while driving. The wheel suddenly tightened and I was unable to turn the wheel. Also, the Terrain Management Fault light and Service AdvanTrac light ignites right before the wheel stiffens. The wheel would stiffen or loosen while driving and causing the wheel to jerk and the car to potentially glide into another lane. After turning off the vehicle and letting it sit for a while the steering wheel may loosen temporarily. I took the vehicle to Ford after visiting their website and seeing there was a customer satisfaction program regarding the EPAS Power Steering. The Ford dealership informed me that the program expired in February of 2021 and I would need to pay over $3000 to have the issue fixed.

Filed Sep 28, 2022 · Fuel system · WI

9/25/22 My 2011 Ford Explorer xlt would start jerking when pushing on the gas paddle and then would start losing speed or power. Today is the third day this has happened so I looked on YouTube and entered my symptoms of my car and it suggested it could be my (electronic position sensor). And YouTube told me there is an extended warranty on this part. I have 140000 miles this vehicle. This vehicle has not been inspected or confirmed by a dealership as of yet. There was no warning when this problem began and no warning lights on the dashboard. I am very hesitant in driving this vehicle around town , fearing it may stop completely.

Filed Jun 11, 2021 · Steering · CA

Car suddenly lost power steering and traction control during a turn. Made the car very difficult to steer correctly since it occurred in the middle of a turn. Steering wheel essentially jerked out of hand creating a very hazardous situation.

Filed Oct 4, 2016 · Acceleration · 90,000 miles · MI

2011 ford explorer xlt: upon rapid acceleration (example: accelerating onto highway via highway entrance ramp) vehicle looses momentum then lurches forward. Vehicle is not smoothly transitioning from lower gears to higher gears. Vehicle purchased from ford dealer, certified used with approximately 70,000 miles. Issue occurred at approximately 90,000 miles.

Filed Jul 28, 2014 · Transmission · 20,652 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 ford explorer. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would jerk violently. In addition, the vehicle would decelerate on its own and failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The dealer re-installed the software, transmission sensor, and shift control cable, but the failures recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 20,652.

Filed Jan 23, 2014 · Steering · 28,000 miles · GU

Our first indication of steering problems happened around september 2013. A dashboard error "service advancetrac" message kept illuminating. First the dealer replaced a "sensor" that didn't fix it. Then a software update, that didn't work. They then replaced the "rack and pinion", in this car I am told it is an electronic steering motor. That did fix the problem with the error message, however at times the entire dashboard and "infotainment" screen would go blank and reboot. All seemed fine for a few month's until an unexpected event occurred in january 2014. I was driving my 2011 ford explorer on thursday, january 9, 2014 on andersen air force base in guam. It was a bright, sunny day, and weather conditions were ideal. I stopped at the post office and when I turned left to enter a parking space, I noticed the steering was a little jerky. I didn't think much of it until we were leaving, and the steering continued to be choppy. When I left the parking lot, the car did not respond cleanly when I turned the wheel. I mentioned the my daughter that something was wrong, but I wasn't sure what was happening. As I entered a roundabout turn before exiting the air force base, the steering went out completely momentarily. It felt like I was driving on ice! The brakes worked properly, and I was able to slow down and navigate safely out of the turn. I had no problems driving straight, but turning was jerky. I called my husband to let him know what was happening, and I drove slowly home approximately four miles from the base. The car was turned into the dealer who "could not replicate the error". The "service advancetrac" error happened again on 22 jan , went into the dealership and I was told again that they could not replicate the error.

Filed Jan 9, 2014 · Steering · 55,500 miles · LA

This is the 2nd time this happened while raining. The first time,about a year ago and while driving 55 MPH, the instrument cluster screen and myfordtouch screens both went black and lost power steering suddenly,but engine was still running. But, all of sudden, then power steering re-energized and made steering wheel jerk causing vehicle to skid momentarily, but I was able to maintain control of vehicle and pull over. The instrument cluster screen then had a message "check charging system." I turned vehicle off and restarted it and vehicle returned to normal. Few days later, took to dealership for routine maintenance and battery and alternator were checked out as being fine. Today, vehicle lost power steering while slowing to a stop to turn into driveway and felt like steering wheel locked up. Had to turn steering wheel with great force to turn into driveway home and the drove about 200ft to carport and power steering never returned and had same check charging system warning message displayed on instrument cluster. Turned vehicle off and power steering returned and no longer had check charging system warning message. Only happens when raining and unable to reproduce for service tech because dealership says they won't test vehicle when it is raining.

Filed Oct 24, 2013 · Steering · 50,000 miles · CA

While driving, power steering assist abruptly fails, as does advance trac stability control. The vehicle becomes much harder to control. If the car is in a turn when the steering fails, the steering wheel lurches and tries to re-aim the vehicle straight ahead, disrupting the turn. Dashboard warnings confirm the steering and advance trac failures. Also, the turn signal sustain fails, so using the turn signal requires constant pressure on the signal arm. On average, this problem has recurred every 2000 miles, at any speed. Turning the car off and restarting "fixes" the problem temporarily until the next failure. Two trips to the dealer for examinations have resulted in no answers - both times the results of leaving the car for several days have been shrugged shoulders and "we couldn't duplicate the problem, and there is no trouble code. It worked fine for us." as is nothing ever was wrong with the car, and even if there were something wrong, there is no way to repair it! How the federal safety agency and ford motor company can allow these vehicles to roam our highways with no recall, or even a technical service bulletin, knowing there is a chance the drivers may lose control and crash, as some already have, is a crime against vehicle safety and against the very mission statement of the federal safety agency. I will be copying this complaint to my elected representative in the united states congress, who in the past has proven to be far more interested in my safety than ford or the federal safety agency.

Filed Sep 3, 2013 · Driver assistance, Lights · 9,000 miles · MO

While driving, power steering assist abruptly fails, as does advance trac stability control. The vehicle becomes much harder to control. If the car is in a turn when the steering fails, the steering wheel lurches and tries to re-aim the vehicle straight ahead, disrupting the turn. Dashboard warnings confirm the steering and advance trac failures. Also, the turn signal sustain fails, so using the turn signal requires constant pressure on the signal arm. On average, this problem has recurred every 2000 miles, at any speed. Turning the car off and restarting "fixes" the problem temporarily until the next failure. Two trips to the dealer for examinations have resulted in no answers - both times the results of leaving the car for several days have been shrugged shoulders and "we couldn't duplicate the problem, and there is no trouble code. It worked fine for us." as is nothing ever was wrong with the car, and even if there were something wrong, there is no way to repair it! How the federal safety agency and ford motor company can allow these vehicles to roam our highways with no recall, or even a technical service bulletin, knowing there is a chance the drivers may lose control and crash, as some already have, is a crime against vehicle safety and against the very mission statement of the federal safety agency. I will be copying this complaint to my elected representative in the united states congress, who in the past has proven to be far more interested in my safety than ford or the federal safety agency.