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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
21 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,581 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 2 of 15)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #280

Jan 192023

Explorer

  • miles

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

The windshield trim (passenger side) was detached and flew off my car, while driving on a highway at 75 mph.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #279

Feb 012023

Explorer

  • miles
The SUV will swerve into other lane when it switches gears. Replaced both struts. Odor in the cab. Coolant will not stay and after spending $1000 for repairs, it still cannot be fixed. Cracked head gasket.

- Jena, LA, USA

problem #278

Jun 152022

Explorer

  • miles
The trim piece on the windshield post along the side of the windshield fell off while traveling on a highway. It flew into the air and may have struck another vehicle. We replaced that piece on the drivers side of our car but a few months ago the trim on the passenger side flew off while traveling. This causes a safety problem to other drivers and could cause an accident. The first piece of trim was replaced. The problem has not been reviewed by the manufacturer, police or a insurance representative. There was no warning that this problem was about to occur.

- Mifflinburg, PA, USA

problem #277

May 092022

Explorer

  • miles

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

2011-2019 Ford Explorer Windshield-Outer Trim Molding Passenger Side With Clips7- molding detached - randomly while driving on the interstate - had to purchase new molding and trim - recently saw the info on the news and felt the need to report - it was scary when it detached and startled me - HAVE RECEIPTS AND PICTURES I SENT TO PARTS COMPANY TO OBTAIN THE RIGHT PART

- Horn Lake, MS, USA

problem #276

Feb 012020

Explorer

  • miles
I've had to replace the windshield trim panel piece three times because they keep flying off.

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #275

Jul 122021

Explorer

  • miles
On July 12, 2021 on I-20 about 25 miles from Atlanta, the front windshield driver's side molding flew off without previous warning. This is on a 2013 Ford Explorer. This was a piece about 3" wide and 2 feet long that flew into the lane behind me and could create a safety issue for drivers behind me. I saw on the newspaper today that 16- other people have report. I did have it replaced at aElders Body Shop at my expense ($307) and they also refastened the right piece which was loose.

- Bishop, GA, USA

problem #274

Aug 172022

Explorer

  • miles

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

Passenger side windshield trim panel flew off and hit another vehicle after it bounced off the road. I replaced the trim parts for about $65. It appears that the seal and then the plastic retaining clips failed to secure the trim panel.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #273

Nov 012022

Explorer

  • miles
I have owned this car since 2013 - since it was new. For the 2nd time, I am getting messages saying "switch to park" when I put the car in park. The first time was in 2017 after about 48000 miles. When I took it to the dealer they replaced a part of the transmission. Now again it is happening in 2022 at almost 72000 miles. Obviously the replacement part is just as bad as the original - probably worse since the 2nd time it only lasted about 24000 miles. I now have had to pay to replace a part of the transmission 2 times. Is this a message I could have ignored" Is it only a faulty sensor? Or is the transmission really not in park" Who knows what else it wrong with the transmission. If you google "switch to park ford explorer" you will see that there are many many others with the same problem. Even the dealer's service person when I brought it in to be fixed a 2nd time said they see this problem a lot. I have bought and driven Fords for the last 40 years - usually past 100000 miles each - and have never had this problem occur.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #272

Aug 222022

Explorer

  • miles
Ac is not blowing cold air, it is also making a hissing noise. I got it inspected by an independent service center, and was told it will be expensive to repair. It is very common with my year and make of vehicle. A freon leak it is very dangerous for a person to breathe in, and can cause significate damage to me and my baby.

- Ocilla, GA, USA

problem #271

Jun 062022

Explorer

  • miles
Transfer case stopped working within 4 days. Known to be an ongoing problem for this vehicle. Made a screeching sound, locked up, clicking sound inside case and rendered vehicle undriveable instantly.

- North Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #270

May 232022

Explorer

  • miles

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

Water pump leaking

- White Plains , NY, USA

problem #269

Mar 312022

Explorer

  • miles
I have been going through multiple sites trying to figure out what is going on with my car. I have only had my vehicle for less than a year and I barely even gotten to drive it. I'm now realizing every recall on the vehicle which there was like 13 has not been repaired. And I also have 4 different numbers for the odometer when I when I bought the vehicle at a 177000 but everything is reading at a 169000. I also purchased the vehicle in June not July like the title says. Also one of the titles said plate's not allowed. When I looked it up I believe this is a fleet vehicle and it does not say that anywhere on my title or in my paperwork. It did come from Canada. Is there any way you could possibly help me out with any of this? Also I had broken fuses and missing fuses. I had the 4 dealership look at it and a mechanic look at it and they both told me it looked like someone messed around with the wiring in my car.

- Gaylord, MI, USA

problem #268

Apr 152022

Explorer

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford explore. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH the vehicle engine stop warning lights turned on. The engine started overheating and the contact pulled over and added water. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified. The failure mileage was 72,000

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #267

Feb 252022

Explorer

  • miles
Carbon monoxide levels in the cab. Persistent 10ppm co2 in the cab of the vehicle. Peak at 30ppm. The recall for this issue had previously been completed. 2nd issue was a valve allowed oil to infiltrate the intake which resulted in odor in the vehicle

- Dayton, IA, USA

problem #266

Jan 182010

Explorer

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at various speeds, she heard abnormal loud banging sounds coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that water had been leaking through the sunroof onto the headliner down to the driver-€™s side door and floorboard of the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had damaged the sunroof motor. The contact replaced the sunroof motor himself; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact also stated that the master power door switch keypad on the driver-€™s side door had been blinking continuously and had been draining the battery. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

- Neponsit, NY, USA

problem #265

Jun 012021

Explorer

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while making a right turn at 15 MPH, the power steering assist warning light was illuminated, and the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The contact stated he turned off the vehicle 3-5 times until the warning light turned disappeared, before continuing to drive to his residence. The contact is called LaFayette Ford, Inc. (5202 Raeford Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28304, (910) 424-0281) & Crown Ford (256 Swain St, Fayetteville, NC 28303: (910) 600-6598) and made them aware of the failure. The contact stated that in September 2021, he experienced the failure for a second time. The contact took the vehicle to Crown Ford and was informed that the brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #264

Sep 242021

Explorer

  • miles
See the Recall report.

- Vermillion, SD, USA

problem #263

Nov 102021

Explorer

  • miles
The Power steering failed on my 2013 Explorer XLT. I Brought my vehicle to my local Ford dealership service center: Corwin Ford Reno 3600 Kietzke Ln, Reno, NV. 775-329-8800. The service representative told me that the vehicles core steering had an internal failure and that it would take up to 2 months to get the parts and cost $3,173.39 to affect the steering repair. I asked and was told that Ford has over 1,300 of these specific steering units on back order. This tells me that they not only burned through their reserve supply of that part, but that they also have a demand for 1,300 more ! This is an obvious safety issue which has rendered my Explorer un-drivable. If the failure had occurred at high speed the consequences could have been grave! Apparently, I'm not the only one experiencing this specific issue. In my opinion, the steering was inadequately engineered, resulting in premature failure. My Explorer is my wife's daily driver. It has never been taken "off road" or subjected to any other duress. It is strictly a city/highway vehicle. After contacting Ford (Case No. CAS-34220695-K8P5P6 CRM:0222477) and voicing my concern, All that they offered was to expedite the parts request. I am 63 years old and have owned 16 automobiles, 9 have been Fords. Never have any of them required any service to the steering mechanism, much less a total failure of that system. Ford has an obvious problem with this part and I should not be required to pay over $3,000 to correct their engineering shortcumming. I respectfully request that you intervene on my behalf and attempt to resolve the issue. There are no open recalls or warranties on this vehicle at this time.

- Sparks, NV, USA

problem #262

Mar 132020

Explorer

  • miles
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

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