been trying to replicate your problem on a simple 1-11 with 2 fields and can't get it to do so - just typed in expression, exactly as you have, under criteria in query design view.
only thing occurs to me is if it's doing a text sort hence 11, 111, 1111 get in also but would have thought this should have thrown a data type error. would have sent me back to table design view to check type though.
sorry, not being much help here but I must admit only been mangling access for a few months with two days training and a 'for dummies' book so nowhere near an expert!
will watch for the right answer!