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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 1
Average Mileage:
50,620 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Ford Explorer drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 2 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #87

Jun 172020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 101,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My wife experience "spontaneous acceleration" of our Ford Explorer. My wife was pulling into a walgreens parking lot, slowed down to turn into a parking space when the car lunged forward at a high rate of speed. My wife had her foot on the brake as she was entering the space, but the brake could not control the car. There was an extreme and spontaneous acceleration. Once the car hit the pole, it automatically shifted into reverse even with my wife applying the brake. The car came to a stop after hitting a parked truck. Additionally, the air bags did not deploy even though there was enough force on the front end to make the airbags deploy.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #86

Jun 092020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 1 miles
My 2013 Ford explore keeps cutting off completely while driving. A wrench comes up on my dash and also terrain management come up. I pull over cut the car off wait a minute and it starts. I understand this happens quite often with Explorer. Shouldn't Ford be responsible for this due to being very dangerous. Please look into this🙏

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #85

May 282020

Explorer 4-cyl

  • 64,586 miles
At first the car was vibrating a little when downshifting from 45 to a stop. After a few months, the engine sputters and then seizes up and dies when put in drive from park and also from park to reverse. When stopping the car still feels like the downshift is faulty and when at the complete stop the feels like it going to lose power and die. The car has no trouble codes. Took the car to the dealership and the mechanic seem to immediately know what was wrong with the car. They troubleshooted it and called to tell me that they couldn't find any issues, but that it has to be a internal transmission issue and would have to remove transmission and tear down for inspection or replace with a new transmission on a 8 year, 64000 miles, 1st owner car. This car has low miles, stored inside a garage and is maintained at the dealership for oil changes and maintenance.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #84

May 132020

Explorer 4-cyl

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transfer case makes a lot of noise I have to replace it. I am electric wreck steering makes a lot of winding noise.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #83

Mar 132020

Explorer

  • 107,000 miles
Computer voice comand 80 mph governor

- Toddville, MD, USA

problem #82

Feb 132020

Explorer

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing out of the drive way the power steering ceased and became difficult to maneuver. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to owatonna Ford-Lincoln located at (1001 hoffman dr nw, owatonna, mn 55060 507-451-7860 ) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering gear and cam bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

- Owatonna, MN, USA

problem #81

Feb 032020

Explorer

  • 46,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Steering become hard cant move the wheel or make any turn... and the light of service power steering and service advance trac came on. I almost have a accident do to this problem.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #80

Jan 292020

Explorer

  • 94,000 miles
2013 Ford Explorer limited 4WD 3.5L became undriveable in a matter of 4 days. It started as a squeal as I accelerated from a stop and quickly escalated to lurching, pulsating and bumping at all speeds. Mechanic initially thought it was a caliper that was locked up but when I brought it back 2 days later after the problem persisted and worsened he realized that the transfer case was faulty. He noted that Ford is notorious for faulty transfer cases and horrible warranties that end before the parts go. I'm told that my vehicle could lock up at any moment and cause me to not be able to react putting my families safety and those around me in danger. Help please! I'm told this is a common issue and not isolated to my vehicle. Multiple phone calls to Ford have me on hold for 15+ minutes with no sound and then phone call ends without the chance to talk to a representative. My vehicle had roughly 94,000 miles at the time. Repair cost was estimated between $3,000 - $5,000.

- Simsbury, CT, USA

problem #79

Dec 022019

Explorer

  • 49,000 miles
It occurs 1 to 4 times while I'm driving. All of a suddenly the the gas pedal doesn't work and the terrain management system is off. I have to turn off the engine in the middle of the road in order for it to work again. Also, there's a weird smell coming coming out when all windows are closed and the ac is on.

- Dededo, GU, USA

problem #78

Dec 102019

Explorer

  • 90,000 miles
My car began lurching when I was driving and began leaking oil. When I took it in, I found out the pto needed repaired. The transfer case was filled with metal and covered in metal shards. Mechanic said the car wasn't driveable and would be dangerous to have on the road.

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #77

Dec 122019

Explorer

  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Received a message on my dashboard " power assist fault", the steering was stiff and could not turn. Turn off the car for 10 minutes and the steering was functioning ok. Later in the afternoon, I was about to hit the gas pump as my steering went stiff again. Now am scared that this may cause accident

- Mebane, NC, USA

problem #76

Sep 222019

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
Since I've had this vehicle it jerks back and clicks as the transmission switches gear. Normally between 3 and 4th gear it seems. More importantly its overheating and leaking coolant! same issue as Fusion and other SUV Ford offers. This seems to me like a fire hazard that should be recalled in all Ford. It leaks when parked. And overheats if the ac is in use. The leak was out of nowhere and suddenly. The fuel sensor is also weak.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #75

Sep 162019

Explorer

  • 164,194 miles
Tapping noise after turning car off. Burning smell but no visible smoke.

- Hollywood, SC, USA

problem #74

Jul 132019

Explorer

  • 76,000 miles
Transfer case leak and failure at ~76000 miles. No apparent cause. Leak creates burning smell in cabin of vehicle

- Thorndale, PA, USA

problem #73

Jul 182019

Explorer

  • 65,000 miles
Front sway bar links have been knocking over 1 year ago. At the time my car was only 5 years old. At first the Ford dealership they thought it was valve body in the suspension the first time they checked. Explorer was jerking when I slowed down to a stop. The second time I took it in they said it was the throttle body. They replaced that because I complained that I have had so many problems with a 5 to 6 year old car. Only has 77,000 miles on it.

- Newburgh, IN, USA

problem #72

Apr 232019

Explorer

  • 86,133 miles
Does not show up in park when in park. If the in park is not lit up it will leave relays will be left open and run down battery.have looked on line and there hundreds of thousands of this issue on multiple different vehicles.

- Pekin, IL, USA

problem #71

Aug 012019

Explorer

  • 82,755 miles
Transfer case leak and failure at 82755 miles. No apparent cause. Car lurched forward twice and almost hit vehicles in front of car

- Berkley, MI, USA

problem #70

May 072019

Explorer

  • miles
Pillars flying off car and power transfer unit not working

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #69

Jun 232019

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
When I shift it to park. It doesn't recognize it and when you turn of the car. A sign comes up on the dash screen saying 'shift into park'. and it drains your battery because the system is waiting for you to shift it. Also you can't use the factory remote start.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #68

Jun 102019

Explorer

  • 36,500 miles
Engine was revving and jerking in to the next gear while accelerating the first time after starting the car. After the first cycle through gears, the issue no longer happened. While being a 2013, the vehicle has only 36,500 miles on it. The vehicle requires replacement of valve body and selenoid body due to the seals in the direct clutch being "destroyed." The transmission had to be completely taken apart to find the cause, costing nearly $4,000 in repairs.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

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