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What 2,222 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,222)Crash / fire / injury (78)Steering (831)Body & structure (435)Engine (224)Electrical system (160)Fuel system (153)Transmission & drivetrain (119)Suspension (79)Engine & cooling (67)Visibility & wipers (62)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (45)

10 of 2,222 complaints match · Body & structure · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Apr 24, 2024Body & structureCrash

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH the driver's side A-Pillar trim was blown off of the vehicle by the slipstream. The contact stated that the trim piece crashed into a vehicle that was following behind the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that both vehicles had stopped and that the driver of the second vehicle indicated that a small chip was made by the piece of trim that had struck at approximately mid-windshield on the driver's side. The contact stated that the trim on the passenger side A-Pillar was becoming loose. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not yet available.

NHTSA ODI 11584879

Sep 30, 2019Body & structureEngine1 injury

WHEN IDLING CABIN FILLS UP WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE SMOKE FROM MUFFLERS. FELL ASLEEP IN THE CAR WHILE IDLING, WOKE UP DIZZY AND THRU UP SHORTLY AFTER, STRONG HEADACHE AFTER. RUST AROUND THE LOCK ON THE TRUNK LID.

NHTSA ODI 11258919

Sep 24, 2019Body & structureEngine3 injuries

INITIAL COMPLAINT TO FORD DEALERSHIP RE: EXHAUST ODORS IN CABIN, POSSIBLY RELATED TO USE OF AIR CONDITIONING (INSPECTED 5/4/16, MILEAGE 47,450, NO REPAIRS COMPLETED). PERFORMANCE RECALL 17NO3 COMPLETED 10/22/18. EXHAUST ODORS WORSE AFTER RECALL. FORD DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AGAIN ON 10/30/18. RECOMMENDED USING RECIRCULATION OF CABIN AIR AT ALL TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING HAS SINCE STOPPED WORKING. PER DEALERSHIP REAR A/C LINES NOW NEED REPLACEMENT, EXT. COST OF $2,100. CABIN EXHAUST ODORS CONTINUE AND INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD IS FOGGING. ODORS WORSE WHEN STOPPED AT STOPLIGHTS. MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OF CO DETECTION IN CABIN WHILE IN MOTION IN RURAL AREAS. ELEVATED COHB WITH VARIOUS HEALTH SYMPTOMS AND CHILDREN NOW COMPLAINING OF CAR SICKNESS. VARIOUS AREAS OF RUST ALSO REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP AND NEW AREAS APPEARING (I.E. NEAR DRAIN VALES OF THE LIFTGATE). *DT *AS

NHTSA ODI 11257832

Sep 18, 2019Electrical systemBody & structureFire1 injury

SMELL OF SMOKE, AND TAPPING NOISE PRIOR TO FIRE. SMOKE CAME FROM NEAR THE CENTER CONSOLE BETWEEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT. FIRE STARTED. MADE A COMPLAINT PRIOR ABOUT SMELL OF SMOKE AND NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 11256307

Sep 11, 2018Body & structureCrash

THE VEHICLE IS ROLLING AWAY WHILE IN "PARK". IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED FOR OTHER FORD VEHICLES BUT THE EXPLORER IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS OCCURRENCE TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF OUR GARAGE AND INTO FENCE AND TREE. THE SECOND TIME, IT ROLLED OUT OF A PARKED SPOT WHILE MY WIFE WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND CLEARLY OBSERVING THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN "PARK".

NHTSA ODI 11128734

Nov 20, 2017Body & structureVisibility & wipers1 injury

CONDITIONS: THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN. THERE IS TRIM MOLDING ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD OF THE 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOLDING FLEW OFF, LEAVING EXPOSED A STRIP OF WEATHER STRIPPING, WHICH WAS COVERED WITH A BLACKISH GLUE. AS A RESULT OF THE MOLDING HAVING FLOWN OFF, THE NOW UNSECURED WEATHER STRIPPING WAS REPEATEDLY HITTING THE WINDSHIELD LEAVING IT COVERED WITH THE STICKY RESIDUE FROM THE GLUE. WHILE THAT ON ITS OWN MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO BAD, IT WAS RAINING AND THE AUTOMATIC WIPERS HAD ENGAGED. THIS RESULTED IN THE WEATHER STRIPPING GETTING CAUGHT UNDERNEATH ONE OF THE WIPERS AND SMEARING THE GLUE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD RENDERING IT COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE COMBINATION OF THE GLUE FROM THE WEATHER STRIPPING COMPLETELY OBSCURING MY VISIBILITY, THE WIPERS BEING RENDERED WHOLLY INOPERABLE, AND THE HEAVY RAIN WAS A DEVASTATING COMBINATION. I WAS ON A HIGHWAY, DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR, WITH MILD TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHILE IT WAS RAINING, AND IN THE SPAN OF LESS THAN FIVE SECONDS: (1) THE TRIM TO MY WINDSHIELD FLEW OFF IN TRAFFIC; (2) THE GLUE ON THE WEATHER STRIPPING THAT WAS HELD IN PLACE BY THE TRIM BEGAN REPEATEDLY FLAPPING ON THE WINDSHIELD; (3) THE WIPERS, ALREADY ENGAGED, GOT CAUGHT ON THE FLAPPING WEATHER STRIPPING, AND SMEARED THE GLUE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD; AND (4) THE WIPERS WERE LEFT COMPLETELY INOPERABLE DUE TO THE WEATHER STRIPPING THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT ON. ESSENTIALLY, IN THE SPAN OF LESS THAN FIVE SECONDS, I WENT FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE AND DRIVE WITHOUT ISSUE TO HAVING TO DRIVE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI 11047363

Sep 12, 2016Body & structureCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY OPENED FOR NO REASON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE SUDDEN DOOR OPENING CAUSED ME TO SWERVE AND I HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR ON A SIGN POST. UPON EXAMINATION AFTER PULLING OVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE APPEARED TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT HAD FALLEN APART, A SMALL LATCH IN THE HANDLE WAS BROKEN CAUSING IT COME LOOSE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE DOOR FOR NO REASON. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ENDED UP HAVING TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO RESOURCEFULNESS OF MY HUSBAND, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS AND REPAIR THE DAMAGES OURSELVES BUT THE COST OF THE PARTS ALONE TOTALED IN EXCESS OF $400.00.

NHTSA ODI 10905947

Mar 25, 2016AirbagsBody & structureCrash1 injury

I WAS STANDING AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS REAR ENDED BY A SPEEDING DRIVER. I WAS CATAPULTED INTO THE TRUCK STANDING IN FRONT OF ME. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS TOTALED, AS WELL AS THE FRAME BENT FROM THE REAR; WHERE I WAS HIT ORIGINALLY ONLY MILLISECONDS BEFORE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG PROTECTION, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. A FIREMAN ON SCENE COMMENTED THAT HE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE IS IN THE POLICE IMPOUND LOT, BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURIES. I HAVE SINCE SHOWN THE PICTURES TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, EVEN MECHANICS; AND THEY HAVE ALL STATED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE AIRBAGS, SINCE THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS DEMANDING THAT I RELEASE THE VEHICLE TO THEM IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI 10851716

Oct 9, 2013Engine & coolingBody & structure1 injury

AFTER ALL THE NEW CAR SMELLS BEGAN TO WEAR OFF WE BEGAN TO NOTICE WHAT SEEMED TO BE EXHAUST FUMES WHEN WE WERE DRIVING UP HILLS. WE SOON NOTICED THAT IT HAPPENED ANYTIME UPON HARD ACCELERATION. THE SMELL IS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR EYES BURN AND WATER FROM UP IN THE DRIVER SEAT. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS COMING FROM THE REAR BUT TRIED IN ALL POSITIONS AND OFF AND STILL HAVE IT. THE FORD FIX WITH THE NEW VENT, SEALANT, ETC. WAS DONE AND HAD NO EFFECT ON IT. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP A SECOND TIME AND THE OPPOSITE VENT WAS REPLACED, STILL NO CHANGE. WE BROUGHT IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP A THIRD TIME AND IT WAS CHECKED FOR IMPROPER BODY SEALS AND WEATHER STRIPS WITH NOTHING FOUND. WE ARE NOW TOLD WE HAVE TO JUST WAIT AND SEE IF FORD COMES UP WITH A FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10547404

Aug 31, 2012Body & structure1 injury

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 AND SUSTAINED AN ABRASION TO THE LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE DOOR SEAL WAS A MANUFACTURERS DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.

NHTSA ODI 10473133

Working with the data? Download all 2,222 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Ford Explorer Hev verdict →