2013 Ford EXPLORER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford EXPLORER has 2773 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 34.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: power steering failure while backing up and driving. turning vehicle off and on causes power steering to work. very hard to steer, not safe to drive... dealer is putting a hole new power steering unit in... *tr. ⚠️ 16 fire reports filed.

16 fire reports 40 crash reports 60 injuries

2773

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

34.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

834 complaints

30%

• POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE BACKING UP AND DRIVING. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON CAUSES POWER STEERING TO WORK. VERY HARD TO STEER, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE... DEALER IS PUTTING A HOLE NEW POWER STEERING UNIT IN... *TR
• AS I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A LIGHT, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY IN THE CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IT WAS BRIGHT YELLOW AND SAID ADVANCE TRAC FAILURE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTROL THE SUV AND IT TOOK EVERY OUNCE OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH IN ME TO PULL INTO A PARKIN
• I DROVE MY RECENTLY ACQUIRED AND NEW FORD EXPLORER SPORT FOR FIRST TIME ON THE HIGHWAY ON MARCH 4, 2013. WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS A TRUCK, I LOST CONTROL OF FRONT END TO POINT OF SWIRLING AND NEAR COLLISION WITH THE TRUCK. I DON'T CONSIDER THIS A FLUKE AS SAME HAPPENED A WHILE LATER DURING SAME HIG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 12 crashes

“POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE BACKING UP AND DRIVING. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON CAUSES POWER STEERING TO WORK. VERY HARD TO STEER, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE... DEALER IS PUTTING A HOLE NEW POWER STEERING UNIT IN... *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

433 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER LOWER DOOR SEALS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SLIP RESISTANT SAFETY TREAD. THE PASSENGER SLIPPED AND FELL WHEN ENTERING THE DOOR AS HER FOOT WAS PLACED ON THE DOOR SEAL. THE PASSENGER SLIGHTLY BUMPED HER HEAD
• RECENTLY TRADED A 2011 FORD EXPLORER FOR A 2013. THE 2011 DEVELOPED A CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE SEAM ON THE FRONT UNDERSIDE EDGE OF THE HOOD. WE DID NOT WANT OUR 12K MILE CAR PAINTED ON SO WE TRADED IT FOR A 2013 FORD EXPLORER WE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED. 3 WEEKS AND 300 MILES LATER I OPENED THE HOOD W
• MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED!! I WAS SITTING IN MY VEHICLE, PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE TIRES AND AROUND MY VEHICLE. I SAW NOTHING UNUSUAL SO I GOT BACK IN, TURNED THE AIR OFF AND THAT'S WHEN I DISCOVERED IT WAS THE SUNROOF. I HEARD CRACKLING OF GLASS. G

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER LOWER DOOR SEALS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SLIP RESISTANT SAFETY TREAD. THE PASSENGER SLIPPED AND FELL WHEN ENTERING THE DOOR AS HER FOOT WAS PLACED ON THE DOOR SEAL. THE PASSENGER SLIGHTLY BUMPED HER HEAD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

352 complaints

13%

• I JUST BOUGHT A 2013 FORD EXPLORER LAST WEEK AND I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH BURNT OIL SMELL GETTING INSIDE THE CABIN EVEN WITH A/C IN RECIRCULATION MODE. IT IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT TO PAY OVER 40K FOR A BRAND NEW SUV AND BEEN DEALING WITH SUCH AN ISSUE. I HAVE A NEWBORN AND I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT WI
• THERE IS A FOUL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE, MAYBE BURNING PLASTIC ON THE VEHICLE OR EXHAUST. THE FUMES GETS INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT CAN MAKE IT UNBEARABLE WHEN YOU HAVE THE AC ON. YOU CAN NOT STAY IN THE CAR. THE AC HAS TO BE TURN OFF AND ALL WINDOWS OPEN IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. I BROUGHT THE VE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE SEEPING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A ROCK FRACTURED THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“I JUST BOUGHT A 2013 FORD EXPLORER LAST WEEK AND I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH BURNT OIL SMELL GETTING INSIDE THE CABIN EVEN WITH A/C IN RECIRCULATION MODE. IT IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT TO PAY OVER 40K FOR A BRAND NEW SUV AND BEEN DEALING WITH SUCH AN ISSUE. I HAVE A NEWBORN AND I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT WI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

292 complaints

11%

• WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON (DOES NOT MATTER IF IT'S ON FRESH AIR INTAKE OR RECIRCULATING), THERE IS A DEFINITE ODOR OF GASOLINE EXHAUST IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CAN BE DUPLICATED AT ANY SPEED, FROM A DEAD STOP OR ACCELERATING DURING A PASSING MA
• AT ANY SPEED EXHAUST FUMES GET INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WITH VEHICLE IDLING AND CLIMATE CONTROL TO OFF POSITION, I LET IT IDLE 5 MIN. THEN TURNED CLIMATE CONTROL TO ON POSITION AND NOTHING BUT FUMES COME OUT THRU AIR VENTS. I BOUGHT THIS EXPLORER 10/23/12 AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 12/12/
• I JUST BOUGHT A 2013 FORD EXPLORER LAST WEEK AND I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH BURNT OIL SMELL GETTING INSIDE THE CABIN EVEN WITH A/C IN RECIRCULATION MODE. IT IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT TO PAY OVER 40K FOR A BRAND NEW SUV AND BEEN DEALING WITH SUCH AN ISSUE. I HAVE A NEWBORN AND I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT WI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON (DOES NOT MATTER IF IT'S ON FRESH AIR INTAKE OR RECIRCULATING), THERE IS A DEFINITE ODOR OF GASOLINE EXHAUST IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CAN BE DUPLICATED AT ANY SPEED, FROM A DEAD STOP OR ACCELERATING DURING A PASSING MA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

159 complaints

• AS I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A LIGHT, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY IN THE CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IT WAS BRIGHT YELLOW AND SAID ADVANCE TRAC FAILURE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTROL THE SUV AND IT TOOK EVERY OUNCE OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH IN ME TO PULL INTO A PARKIN
• ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAS GONE "OFF ROUTE" WHILE DRIVING TO A DESTINATION. OFF ROUTE MEANS THE GPS IS STILL DISPLAYED BUT THE MARKER IS MOVED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROUTE ON THE MAP. THIS INDICATES TO THE SYSTEM THAT IT IS "OFF ROUTE" AND STARTS DISPLAYING MESSAGES AND ADDITI
• AFTER ENTERING A HIGHWAY MY HORN HONKED AND THE MESSAGE "NO KEY DETECTED" APPEARED. THE VEHICLE NEVER DIED BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER A DOZEN TIMES. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP, WHERE THE SAME CONCERN WAS DUPLICATED, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS SOME SORT OF INTERFERENCE WITH THE RADIO FREQUENCY OF THE KEY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“AS I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A LIGHT, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY IN THE CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IT WAS BRIGHT YELLOW AND SAID ADVANCE TRAC FAILURE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTROL THE SUV AND IT TOOK EVERY OUNCE OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH IN ME TO PULL INTO A PARKIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2773 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE BACKING UP AND DRIVING. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON CAUSES POWER STEERING TO WORK. VERY HARD TO STEER, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE... DEALER IS PUTTING A HOLE NEW POWER STEERING UNIT IN... *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER LOWER DOOR SEALS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SLIP RESISTANT SAFETY TREAD. THE PASSENGER SLIPPED AND FELL WHEN ENTERING THE DOOR AS HER FOOT WAS PLACED ON THE DOOR SEAL. THE PASSENGER SLIGHTLY BUMPED HER HEAD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I JUST BOUGHT A 2013 FORD EXPLORER LAST WEEK AND I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH BURNT OIL SMELL GETTING INSIDE THE CABIN EVEN WITH A/C IN RECIRCULATION MODE. IT IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT TO PAY OVER 40K FOR A BRAND NEW SUV AND BEEN DEALING WITH SUCH AN ISSUE. I HAVE A NEWBORN AND I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT WI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON (DOES NOT MATTER IF IT'S ON FRESH AIR INTAKE OR RECIRCULATING), THERE IS A DEFINITE ODOR OF GASOLINE EXHAUST IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CAN BE DUPLICATED AT ANY SPEED, FROM A DEAD STOP OR ACCELERATING DURING A PASSING MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)