Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,096 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 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Ford Explorer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 11)

problem #201

Oct 222023

Explorer

  • miles

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

I bought the car from auction. The car was Represent like "Run and drive". But the car come with a lot of rust into the frame and this problem means a structural damage. The car it is not good for driving and it is not possible to be registered.

- Lovech, ME, USA

problem #200

Feb 042024

Explorer

  • miles
every time it rains, water comes inside the vehicle on the back side, noticed water coming from the third row seat belts, that cause a bad smell inside the vehicle and cost a lot of money to get that fix, Unknow how to fix, I called the Dealer the stated that is a known problem with this vehicles.

- Campbell, CA, USA

problem #199

Jan 022024

Explorer

  • miles
The windshield makes a loud cracking sound (for the last 4 months- this is how ong ive owned it) and a few weeks ago, the sound happened and the window cracked from the frame toward the center (about 7").

- Bremerton, WA, USA

problem #198

Dec 012023

Explorer

  • miles

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

While driving on highway, I started hearing a humming/vibration sound on the right side around the windshield. When we stopped, I noticed the trim molding around my windshield (passenger side) had flown off while driving. When we got back on the road we no longer heard the humming/vibration sound so it seems that the sound was coming from windshield trim molding. As of now, I have not received any notification of it hitting another vehicle so hopefully it did not.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

problem #197

Dec 082023

Explorer

  • miles
While driving down a major highway, the trim/molding on the passenger side of the windshield flew off. The underlying bracket is still attached to the vehicle. The flying debris could cause other drivers to swerve to avoid the debris and potentially causing an accident. A local Ford dealership said there is not a recall for this issue. I found an article in USA Today that states several others who own 2011-2019 Explorers have had this same issue. There were no warnings that this piece was going to fail. Since there is not a recall I will be forced to purchase and repair my own vehicle.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #196

Nov 212023

Explorer

  • miles
The windshield trim panel on my 2013 Ford Explorer detached and flew off the vehicle without warning while I was driving on the highway. If the detached piece hit another motorist it could cause harm. This vehicle is up to date on it's regular maintenance and no warning was given for the part.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #195

Oct 072023

Explorer

  • miles

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

The passenger side front windshield molding blew off during highway driving and almost hit the car traveling behind.

- Prospect Heights, IL, USA

problem #194

Jun 302023

Explorer

  • miles
Driver-side A-pillar trim piece broke and partially detached from vehicle while driving on an interstate (appx 70mph). Initially, one small and quick pop noise was heard, but the sound came from outside and it was assumed it was road debris. Approximately 15 seconds later, the left A-pillar trim piece suddenly partially detached from the body of the car in such a fashion that the bottom clip was broken, but still attached only by a weak bond to the rubber seal beneath the trim piece and the top of the trim piece was sticking away from the vehicle by approximately six to eight inches. We immediately pulled off to the side of the interstate and the A-pillar trim piece was debonded from the rubber seal by a gentle pull. Had this weak bond with the rubber seal not been there, the entire A-pillar trim piece could have easily completely detached and become a hazard to other vehicles traveling on the interstate, potentially flying off and hitting another vehicle or puncturing a tire. There were no previous signs of wear, damage, or malfunction to the A-pillar trim piece. This incident is not reproducible, and was not inspected by any outside party. The broken A-pillar trim piece and pictures of the failed attachments are available for inspection upon request.

- Lebanon, MO, USA

problem #193

Aug 122023

Explorer

  • miles
Was driving on the highway at normal speed and the windshield trim on the drivers side flew off.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #192

Jan 102023

Explorer

  • miles
Windshield Trim Panel Detachment. Driver side panel detached while driving app 60 mph on the highway. Began with rubber underneath plastic panel breaking off and flying away followed by the panel flying off in two pieces and hitting the vehicle behind me before shattering on the roadway.

- Crestwood, KY, USA

problem #191

Jun 302021

Explorer

  • miles

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

When I first purchased vehicle noticed passenger side windshield frame cracked, so I asked dealer to repair which they did. 2 weeks later driving on the freeway at 70 mph the piece flew off. Luckily I was in the lane next to exit and no cars were hit. I then purchased the kit to replace the one lost and same thing happened again but this time on a side road going 45-50 mph. I hope this gets taken care of by Ford because it is getting to be costly!!

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #190

Dec 142022

Explorer

  • miles
Side pillar flew off while driving

- Tallassee, AL, USA

problem #189

May 262023

Explorer

  • miles
The trim on the front windshield blows off constantly at highway speeds. I-??ve had this car for a little over a year now and we-??ve already replaced it four different times. Every time, it stays on about a month before it detaches and blows off again. The last time, it just barely missed the car behind me. I haven-??t replaced it since then because I am terrified the next time it happens, a motorcyclist will be behind me and it could hit them and cause a fatal accident. This is a SERIOUS issue that needs addressed! I should not be scared to drive my car over 45 MPH for fear of causing a serious accident! On top of that, not replacing it means it now leaks into my car when it rains. I love my explorer but the trim on it is absolute garbage..

- Shelbyville, TN, USA

problem #188

Mar 042023

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle A pillar flew off while driving on the highway and almost hit a vehicle behind me.

- Tamarac , FL, USA

problem #187

Apr 192023

Explorer

  • miles
Over several months at highway speeds the windshield trim on left and right of the windshield flew off. Appeared to be meagerly attached with clips and Velcro strips. These two strips are connected to the forward roof pylons, exposing the weather seals and allowing water to leak into the interior

- Miami Lakes , FL, USA

problem #186

Apr 012023

Explorer

  • miles
The driver side windshield panel flew off/broke off while driving at 55-60 mph.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #185

Mar 282023

Explorer

  • miles
The driver-side outer windshield trim moulding panel flew off of my vehicle while I was driving at highway speed. Upon inspection, I discovered the passenger-side panel is loose, as well, and could detach at any time.

- Morton, IL, USA

problem #184

Mar 192023

Explorer

  • miles
Windshield Trim on right side passenger came off while driving on the freeway luckily no was behind at the time to avoid further collision

- Wrightwood, CA, USA

problem #183

Sep 022022

Explorer

  • miles
On September 2, 2021, I was driving with my young son in the car. I had to pick him up from daycare due to severe weather(High winds and tornado warning in effect). I heard something hit my window, then my sons window, while driving 55 mph on the highway. I looked in the rearview and could'nt tell what it was. I dropped my son off at home with my mother and then noticed the entire A Pilar was missing on my 2013 Ford Explorer. I was shocked to say the least. I waited a few months to get this repair complete due to money restraints. Within those few months I noticed many other vehicles similar to mine by make and model were missing the same piece. Which I thought could no way be just a coincidence. I finally decided to get this eye sore fixed before it caused any more damage to my vehicle. I called my local body shop and they said that piece needs to be replaced by an auto glass shop. So then I thought, this is going to be expensive. I called my local auto body shop. Found out it would be $300 to replace both A pillars because you cant just have one. You need the pair. So I paid that and now that I know this is a known issue with my model vehicle I would expect more investigation or some sort of reimbursement for this.

- Florence, AL, USA

problem #182

Sep 282022

Explorer

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, she heard a popping sound on the driver-€™s side of the vehicle. The contact stated that when she arrived at her residence, she became aware that the windshield trim panel had detached from the rear windshield and cut the rubber seal around the window. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the driver-€™s side windshield trim panel was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Wickenburg, AZ, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?