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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
21 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,677 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2013 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 3 of 16)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #262

Mar 132020

Explorer

  • miles

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

I have been having problem with my emergency brakes, the brake light system is present and i have took it to brake check and they inspected it and they said everything look good i have had this problem for several months

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #261

Oct 052021

Explorer

  • miles
I drive a 2013 Ford Explorer Limited 4WD. While driving to the store last week I entered a roundabout when suddenly the wrench icon showed on my dash with a message display that read, "terrain management fault." The car would not accelerate even when I pressed the pedal all the way to the ground. My momentum took me out of the roundabout where I pulled over in a parking lot. As I put the car in park It begin to shake in idle. I turned the engine off and waited a few seconds then tuned it back on. The car drove just fine after that for about two days then this incident happened again twice in one day. I took the vehicle to the local ford dealership and they said they could not get the issue to present again so there was nothing that they could do. I took the car back home and it has happened a few more times. This is a total of about 7 times in the past 3 weeks and Ford cannot help remedy this issue. These incidents have put my family in dangerous situations. When researching online I found multiple accounts of this same issue. According to online forums it looks like it may be a problem with the throttle body.

- Jefferson City, MO, USA

problem #260

Dec 022019

Explorer

  • 88,500 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the contact started to smell an abnormal gasoline and exhaust odor inside the vehicle. The contact started to feel a burning sensation in her eyes and chest. Additionally, the contact developed a headache and rolled down the windows, turned off the air conditioner to eliminate the odor inside the vehicle. The contact decided to drive back to the residence because of the fumes. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The local dealer was contacted to have the vehicle diagnosed a second time however, the contact was informed that there was an out of pocket cost for the inspection. The contact declined the inspection due to the cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,500.

- West Monroe, LA, USA

problem #259

Jun 182020

Explorer

  • miles

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

Sulfer smell through cabin vents during acceleration. This occurs every time I moderately accelerate. I've told the dealer and of course they were unable to duplicate issue. I'm told this is a very common issue and has been ignored by Ford. I've reported this before and heard nothing back.

- Leeds, ME, USA

problem #258

Jul 202021

Explorer

  • miles
Rear back glass has shattered on two separate occasions. First, in November after using auto start to warm the vehicle. Second, almost three years later while driving in the summer. Had to pay for replacement out of pocket.

- Williamston, MI, USA

problem #257

Jul 052021

Explorer

  • miles
The traction control, hill assist and abs light comes on and when it does the stability light warning come on also. When traveling in mountain you don-??t know if the braking system is working or not

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #256

Jun 072021

Explorer

  • miles

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

Unknown. Get gas fume smell inside cabin of vehicle and other times it will smell like rotten eggs when accelerating spoke with the dealership and they don't seem concerned

- Riverton, IL, USA

problem #255

Apr 122021

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,843 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated upon opening the front passenger-??s side door, the contact noticed that the front passenger-??s side door would not remain closed. The contact stated that the door ajar warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 112,843. The consumer stated the driver's door was recalled for the same issue.

- Crosby, TX, USA

problem #254

Feb 092021

Explorer

  • 230,000 miles
I feel very nauseous, dizzy and have a headache after driving my vehicle a short distance. Vehicle also smells like fuel strongly inside the car.

- Brandon, SD, USA

problem #253

Dec 072020

Explorer

  • miles
I am a 100% disabled veteran and I need a reliable vehicle. Please advise me of my options related to my safety recall. I received a safety recall notice 19S17/NHTSA recall 19V-435 in June 2019 for the rear suspension toe links. The work was completed on July 2, 2019. I received another safety recall notice 20S62/NHTSA recall 20V-675 for the rear suspension toe links (same issue) in Dec, recall dated Nov 2020. I contacted the Ford dealership and scheduled an appointment for Dec 7, 2020. My advisor stated to me that my car had failed inspection and my vehicle would be kept overnight. She also stated the parts were on back order. I was taken to enterprise to obtain a rental vehicle. I called Ford headquarters to explain to the agent my vehicle had failed inspection and was at the dealership. The agent stated that Ford had cancelled the recall and only certain models were affected. I was still perplexed because my vehicle failed inspection. My advisor sent me a text on Dec 9, 2020 stating the eta is Dec 11 when the part would be sent, and she would provide me with an update on Dec 11, 2020. She called me on Dec 10 or Dec 11, 2020 and stated that Ford had cancelled the recall and that I could pick up my vehicle. I told her I was confused because my vehicle failed inspection. She stated that Ford headquarters was called, and she was also confused as to why Ford had cancelled the recall. The invoice never stated that the part(s) failed only the recall was listed. If I had not promptly called when I received the safety recall I would never have made the appointment, never had known the part(s) failed and never contacted Ford headquarters. If the dealership states that the part did not fail, then why was I provided a rental for a week? also, when I typed in my VIN on owner.Ford.com and NHTSA.gov zero recalls came up. Thank you for your attention for my concerns.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #252

Jan 072021

Explorer

  • miles

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

Hydraulic failure my steering wheel gets stuck and very hard I cant move the vehicle I need to turn it off and back on then is drivable but it has done this to me on the highway with my kids I'm scare when this happens I need to stop and in the highway everyone is driving high speed I dont have time because I cant even turn the wheel because it gets very hard and it has happend to me couple of times

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #251

Jan 112021

Explorer

  • 137,500 miles
Catalytic converter failed at 137,000 miles

- Gretna, NE, USA

problem #250

Nov 032020

Explorer

  • miles
Smelling a weird smell coming from the cabin like carbon monoxide smell.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #249

Nov 242020

Explorer

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while his wife was driving 40 mph, making a slight turn in the roadway she lost control of the vehicle as the steering wheel failed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle went into a slight ditch stopping in a driveway on the opposite side of the road. The contact's wife was not injured. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact called local dealer victory lane Ford, Inc. (903 old rte 66 N, litchfield, il 62056) who informed him that the rack and pinon needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Manufacturer. Was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Walshville, IL, USA

problem #248

Oct 202020

Explorer

  • 94,000 miles
The ceiling around the sunroof on my 2013 Ford Explorer started dripping water during a rain. The next morning I had over an inch of standing water in my car. It had dripped all over the front center of the SUV. Now my floorboards are going to be moldy and musty due to Ford's poor sunroof design. Allowing only a few small holes for water to drain out of the sun roof area is ignorant. After these holes gets clogged the entire thing it gets filled with water and shorts out the motors.

- Doylestown, OH, USA

problem #247

Aug 042020

Explorer

  • 113,000 miles
I have a check engine light on was told it was the fuel lid.it now chugs and seems like transmission. When it rains water gets in car. Which goes into our electricity system. Our usb doesnt work all the time. My controls for sun roof does not work the screen is stuck open. I am on medicein that I can not be exposed to light. Gas problem started right after oil change

- Toddville, MD, USA

problem #246

Sep 172020

Explorer

  • 140,000 miles
I lost communication with the climate controls it says, causing my heat to come on full blast and I can not turn it off. I live in Florida and this is very unsafe.

- Live Oak, FL, USA

problem #245

Jan 122020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles
On January 12, 2020, while driving home to Florida from Georgia, involved in an accident that seriously injured 26 year old driver and her 2 children, ages 8 and 4. although the children were able to go home with weeks of the accident, the driver was left with severe injuries and impairments, traumatic brain injury, and in a coma for nearly 2 months. The 26 year old driver recently came home in March after spending time at brooks rehabilitation, but we recently received a phone call from the dealership where the car was bought about recall 19S17. We are wondering if this recall could have possibly played a part in this accident, as she was braking when the vehicle became uncontrollable and veered off the road, and she went head on into a semi-truck going the other direction on the highway.

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #244

Jan 172020

Explorer

  • 130,000 miles
Complained of faulty power steering error message coming on when starting vehicle for 1.5 years to Ford dealership with no exact response regarding the issue. They said they reset the system and it should work fine afterwards. The next day I still had the issue. I then complained again about it but it was in the shop for numerous issues and that was overlooked/ignored. My power steering has now gone out completely and the recalls for the power steering ended for Explorer manufactured after Feb. 2012 and mine was manufactured in Dec. 2012. I asked if the dealership was required to report issues when customers bring their vehicle in to the shop and they said no. They are only reqiured to report them when they repair it or do work to it, not just assess that there is an issue. Lesson learned, always report your issues here. My power steering could have gone out while driving but thank god it didn't. it went out as I was paying a bill and had turned my car off for less than 2 minutes. Therefore, the vehicle was stationary. It is incredibly frustrating that they want me to pay for something that is a known Ford issue and that my car is currently not able to be driven. Much less, I have complained about the issue and they could have prevented it by letting me know the power steering fault is common and to get it repaired sooner rather than later to prevent a wreck.

- Harriman, TN, USA

problem #243

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

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