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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
21 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,237 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 14 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #79

Feb 122017

Explorer

  • miles

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

When my car is in park and running, it fills with exhaust fumes

- Hannacroix, NY, USA

problem #78

Dec 292016

Explorer

  • 45,293 miles
We experience noxious fumes in the cabin when either the heater or air conditioner are on. It smells like exhaust or industrial chemicals or rotten eggs (hard to describe). Our local Ford dealership claimed it came from a leaking water pump (which they replaced under warranty) that saturated the under engine cover due to a leaking water pump. Driving in the winter actually requires we crack several windows and sometimes only use the butt warmers as it's too toxic smelling. The local dealership even acknowledged the smell, but again attributed to the leaking coolant. It's particularly worse when the system is in the recirculating mode. Sitting idle at a light or waiting for someone with the system on is probably the worst, particularly when in recirculating mode.

- Southport, NC, USA

problem #77

Feb 152016

Explorer

  • miles
Air system, exhaust. I have been complaining to my dealership for over a year about the horrible air that is coming into my car when we use the A/C or heater. We have resorted to not using it because we can't stand the smell. I get my car serviced regularly at the Ford dealership where I bought it. They state since there is no recall there is nothing they can do to fix it. It is anytime the air is turned on and specifically the air for the back passengers.

- Weiser, ID, USA

problem #76

Dec 012016

Explorer

  • 45 miles

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

Exhaust smell in the interior of the vehicle when driving. Get random head aches feel sick to my stomach sometimes.

- Cadillac, MI, USA

problem #75

Oct 012016

Explorer

  • 51,000 miles
There is an exhaust smell (like burnt hair) inside the cabin when the car accelerates, especially a hard acceleration and often when the air conditioning is on. Certified dealer cannot identify cause of issue or how it occurs.

- Rocklin, CA, USA

problem #74

Jan 112013

Explorer

  • miles
Exhaust coming into the cab while accelerating.

- Mccordsville, IN, USA

problem #73

Jan 012017

Explorer

  • 10,000 miles

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

The car has rotten egg bad/smell inside the car since the early of the car ownership. We brought to car to the dealer 2 years ago trying to figure it out the source of the smell, but was told it was due to the mildew. Currently, the car still have rotten egg smell coming from the air outlet. The smell is strong when it is idling. I am worry about the safety of my family.

- Mercer Island, WA, USA

problem #72

Oct 072016

Explorer

  • 65,000 miles
When accelerating we get a very strong sulfur smell in the cabin. Most of the time it is so strong that we have to roll down the windows.

- Owasso, OK, USA

problem #71

May 102012

Explorer

  • 17 miles
When accelerating rapidly a strong exhaust odor enters the cabin of the vehicle. Odor results in headache and at times nausea. However, odor is not as prominent if the car accelerates gradually only if accelerating quickly ie...merging onto the highway. This has been a problem since I purchased my vehicle May 10, 2012. I have inquired about this issue multiple times when the vehicle has been in to the purchasing dealer for service and was told each time that "no problem could be found or duplicated".

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #70

Jan 022017

Explorer

  • 39,000 miles
Strong smell of gas coming out of the air vents, happens all the time driving at any speed, or parked SUV has only 40000 miles.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #69

Jan 082017

Explorer

  • 63,000 miles

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

My 2013 Ford Explorer was in park got out of vehicle to unload my mobility scooter, while I was at back of vehicle, the vehicle started rolling away from me, wife yelled at me the vehicle was rolling away, I jumped back into vehicle and put my foot on brake, started vehicle and backed it up a few feet from where I originally parked it, note vehicle was on a slight incline from garage door. The vehicle shift lever was in park at time vehicle was moving. Note every now and then the park message about not being in park comes on when vehicle park shift lever is in park. At the time of this incident no message was displayed on instrument panel this event happen on 01-08-2017 at around 9:15 pm at are apartment in tulsa Oklahoma.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #68

Feb 082016

Explorer

  • 67,000 miles
Carbon monoxide smell is coming out of vents when A/C is used. It usually starts happening after the car is warmed up. The smell is so strong I often have to turn off air conditioning and roll down the windows to allow the air to be cleared out. Often get headaches from this smell.

- San Clemente, CA, USA

problem #67

Aug 032014

Explorer

  • miles
During heavy acceleration... for example when I'm entering a highway... really strong smell of engine fumes enter the cabin... every time. I have a 2013 Ford Explorer XLT - very happy with my Ford otherwise.

- Zionsville, PA, USA

problem #66

Aug 032016

Explorer

  • 36,000 miles
There is carbon monoxide in the cabin while stationary and in motion.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #65

Oct 262016

Explorer

  • 40,000 miles
I have 2013 Explorer Sport.. I have exhaust fumes entering the cabin through the vents(HVAC). Well know issues that seems to have no resolve according to Ford. Although they did issue a service bulletin back in 2014. From what I have read it doesn't seem to solve the problem. Many people still have fumes after the "fix".@$700-$850. Warranty does not cover the cost. A classs action law suit has been filed and awaiting for settlement decisions. Carbon monoxide is not something I want to expose my family to on a daily basis. Ford needs to find a fix or a recall need to happen. My dealer is cooperating and will be assessing the issue. But from what I read only one person has had a positive outcome from Ford. I hope this complaint will help push Ford to make a better effort to resolve this major issue.

- Marina, CA, USA

problem #64

Oct 242016

Explorer

  • miles
Blinker design is flawed. When pressed lightly, the blinker "blinks" 3 times and turns off. This is ok, but when you want to actually turn your blinker on, you have to apply much more pressure than usual. As a result, I often flash the high beam lights. This has happened on multiple occasions and has made motorists angry with me when, unfortunately this was unintentional. It makes me look like an aggressive driver and all I am trying to do is turn my blinker on. Since I know this is an issue, I am purposely careful and this still occurs way too often. I now consider not using my blinker or just using the one with 3 blinks (which is not sufficient) to avoid accidentally flashing my high beams at the car ahead of me. This should be repaired, as it is not functional and unsafe.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #63

Oct 112016

Explorer

  • miles
Experiencing strong sulphur smell inside vehicle. (during acceleration and when rear air is on). Drove vehicle all summer with my children riding along and I thought my 8 year old was experiencing car sickness. We would have to pull over because he would get sick to the point of throwing up many times. I just figured it was car sickness because I didn't smell any fumes (it all makes sense now, carbon monooxide is odorless). When riding in our other vehicles, it never happened. He rode 5 hours to the beach and 5 hours home in my husbands 2013 GMC 2500 and didn't get sick once. I took my car to the dealership to have the wheel bearing replaced today (10/11/16). I told them to check the catalytic converters to make sure they weren't plugged because of the odor (the strong odor started yesterday). They call me and tell me there is a tsb *service bulletin" and certain 2011-2015 Explorer have exhaust fumes leaking into the vehicle. It all started to come together. I called Ford and because my 36/36,000 warrenty ended (I have 45,672 miles on it now), there is no coverage. I even purchased the extended Ford plan and they said it won't cover it either. I have to pay them $480 to try to fix it. I've read peoples experiences and their solution to fix it hasn't worked for anyone. I bought a carbon monoxide detector today and when I pick it up tomorrow, I am going to place it in the car where my 8 year old sits and turn the air on. I will also record the results on the detector to see what happens. Extremely disappointed in Ford! they haven't even made anyone aware of this problem and they don't intend too! its a big secret for them because that is one of their best selling vehicles. And good luck getting it covered!

- Everett, PA, USA

problem #62

Oct 062015

Explorer

  • 24,000 miles
Exhaust small after high acceleration lasting about five minutes then diminishing. Setting of the HVAC system seems to be irrelevant, on or off. I previously brought this vehicle to my local Ford dealer approximately a year ago (2015) for this specific exhaust smell issue but they said they couldn't duplicate the issue. This issue has been and continues to occur.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #61

Aug 062016

Explorer

  • 25,000 miles
The door ajar light stays on. The door sensor does not work. The interior lights remain illuminated draining the battery. The problem has been ongoing for the past three months. The recall list for Ford on this issue keeps expanding - this week to include Ford edge. Obvious problem with Ford need a recall as dealer will not cover.

- Lake Orion, MI, USA

problem #60

Jan 012016

Explorer

  • miles
The "door ajar" lights do not go off for the front passenger and front drivers doors. It appears the doors are shut, but the censors do not go off. Because the censors do not go off, the dome light stays on making it hard to see at night and draining the battery. The doors do not lock making it a safety issue. When the drivers door censor is on, it sets off other alerts like "shift to park" and "engine is on" because it thinks the doors are open and it continuously beeps or alerts me. This has been happening for almost one year. I took it to the dealership and they charged me to clean the latch. They said this had been an issue with other Explorer and sometimes it helps, sometimes it does not. It did not help. I have been dealing with it for almost a year. The dome light stays on even when the keys are not in the ignition. These censors come on when the engine is started, in park, and sometimes randomly while driving.

- Mulvane, KS, USA

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