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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the steering wheel was turned left, however, the steering failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the steering proceeded to go forward. In addition, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle slid onto the grass and crashed into a barrier. The air bags deployed. The engine seized. The vehicle started, and the vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The contact stated that this was an extremely terrifying situation. The contact was the only occupant in the vehicle. The contact sustained a skinned left shoulder and a stiff neck, however, no medical attention was required. No Police report was filed. The vehicle was damaged to the passenger's side front grill. The contact stated that due to his fear, the vehicle had not been driven since the crash occurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. In addition, the contact was a certified mechanic and stated that the failure indicated a possible failed electronic steering module. The contact referenced recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000(Steering) which had a similar failure description, however the contact VIN was not associated with the recall. The dealer was made aware of the failure, however the contact was informed that the contact's vehicle was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the contact's VIN was not associated with any unknown recalls. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,953.

NHTSA ODI 11623989

I own a 2013 Ford Explorer. While driving in the rain exiting the freeway at approximate speed of 25 MPH the steering wheel seemed to lock up and then was extremely difficult to steer, making it impossible to maneuver the vehicle causing me to hydroplane across several lanes until I crashed into a mature bush. Causing damage to my radiator. I have not taken it to the dealer and have only shopped around for independent mechanics. I am not sure of the extent of other damage. I just became aware that this is a similar problem for other owners. The car is currently undrivable and is going to cost me a large amount of money - now the registration has lapsed (cannot smog) and I have DMV fees to. This was a solo car accident and no other people were in my vehicle at the time. I saw the recall notice (recently) on NHTSA but my VIN number is not included. I have not contacted anyone yet regarding this - I am already have trouble with FORD regarding covered repairs and being charged for a rental car (that was supposed to be included) Not sure what to do! Now i am making payments on a vehicle that i cannot drive and i cannot afford to purchase another one.

NHTSA ODI 11595170

the car keep saying power steering assist this is the second time the steering gear went out

NHTSA ODI 11546335

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH with her three-year-old in the vehicle, the power steering assist fault warning light illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult to turn, causing the vehicle to strike a street pole sign. The contact stated that she was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained neck injuries but did not receive medical attention. A Police report was not filed. The contact was concerned for her safety and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with an electrical power steering assist failure. The contact was informed that the electrical power steering assist needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the part required to fix the vehicle was no longer in production. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 200,060.

NHTSA ODI 11513075

My 2013 Ford Explorer Sport lost control while driving. My wife ran off the road while driving going around a curve because the power steering went out without warning. Luckily, she was not in a place where she did not hit anyone but had a near miss with a pedestrian walking on the side of the road. I noticed in the past that the power steering fault indicator came on a few times when starting the vehicle. After turning the SUV off and back on, everything worked fine. I notified them at the dealership the last time I was getting serviced and they said it was a common problem but for some reason, there was no recall for my VIN. After reading the complaints online for this issue, I find it disturbing that this is not a safety recall. I can only imagine how this could have turned tragic while driving down the mountain last weekend if this happened while on a downward descent, my family could have been killed. This is scary to think about and I am surprised that more people have not been seriously hurt or killed due to this electrical malfunction. I also don't understand how the same year models have recalls on the same part but because of the factory location that this is not covered on some VIN numbers. This should defiantly be a recall that is reconsidered. Thank God that she was able to vear enough to miss the pedestrian walking.

NHTSA ODI 11479799

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle was jerking. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering assist before the driver lost control of the vehicle. The traction control warning light was illuminated along with the service power steering message displayed. The driver sustained injuries to her arm however, no medical attention was provided. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 188,000.

NHTSA ODI 11438871

The electric power steering assist failed on my explorer while driving causing me to lose control and hit the ditch. There was a recall with this problem on the 2011-2013 models but both Ford and my local Ford dealer advised me that my vehicle is not part of the recall. It’s the same problem as the existing recall but mine is not included.

NHTSA ODI 11423531

VEHICLE STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN MOTION NEARLY CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. VEHICLE IS 2 MONTHS OUTSIDE BUILD DATE OF PREVIOUS RECALL FOR STEERING FAILURES. VEHICLE STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEELS IN ANY DIRECTION

NHTSA ODI 11366649

EXPLORER VEERED OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WHILE IN MOTION ON US ROUTE 322 AND COULD NOT BE STEERED BACK ONTO THE ROAD. IT WAS REPAIRED AT CORNELL AUTO BODY. CHIP CORNELL NOTICED A SUSPICIOUS BREAK AND A CRACK IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS DID MY BROTHER, TOM GREEN, WHO IS A RETIRED WELDER AT JOY MANUFACTURING WITH (42) YRS. EXERIENCE. TOM TOOK THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO GRIFFIN-PHILLIS FORD, 2582 PA-257 SENECA, PA 16346 FOR THEM TO SHOW IT TO A FORD REPRESENTATIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11365783

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ODOR CAME FROM THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). DARLING'S FORD VOLKSWAGEN AUDI WAS CALLED AT 207-941-1330 (LOCATED AT 403 HOGAN RD, BANGOR, ME 04401). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 11196630

I WAS DRIVING DOWN AURORA ROAD AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL

NHTSA ODI 11194276

I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES FROM MY HOME TO RUN AN ERRAND. I WAS USING THE HANDS-FREE DEVICE ON MY PHONE AS PER TEXAS LAW. THERE IS ONE WAY EACH WAY WITH A YELLOW DOUBLE LINE DIVIDER AND MANY PEOPLE PARK ON THE SIDE TO CHECK MAIL WALK DOGS ETC. SO I TEND TO DRIVE SO THAT I WON'T HIT THOSE INDIVIDUALS. THE ROAD IS CURVY AND I NOTICED THAT I WAS STARTING TO VEER OFF INTO THE GRASS AND I TRIED TO STEER BACK LEFT AND PRESS MY BRAKES AT WHICH TIME I REALIZED THAT MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND I COULD NOT GET BACK ON THE ROAD. I THEN RAN OVER A FIRE HYDRANT WHICH DID NOT DECELERATE MY CAR NOR DID IT DEPLOY MY AIRBAG; CONTINUING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES I AM THEN HIT A LARGE LIGHT POST WHICH CONTINUED TO NOT DECELERATE THE CAR AND NOT CAUSE ANY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY, AND I STILL COULD NOT TURN MY WHEEL TO THE LEFT (OR TO THE TO THE ROADWAY); THERE WAS A LARGE DELIVERY TRUCK WAITING TO GET INTO THE GATED COMMUNITY ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE AND I RAN INTO THAT VEHICLE STOPPING MY CAR AND TOTALING IT WHERE ARE THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED (PUSHED IN) YET MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS GOING TO POSTED SPEED OF 35 MPH AS I ALWAYS DO. MY CAR HAD RECENTLY BEEN INSPECTED AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE BECAUSE IT IS OUT FOR RENEWAL IN AUGUST 2017. I BOUGHT THE CAR LESS THAN THREE YEARS AGO AS A FORD CERTIFIED USED CAR WITH A 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY ON IT. IT HAD LESS THAN 67,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IF THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN THERE TO STOP MY CAR, THERE IS NO OTHER OBSTRUCTION OTHER THEN A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED.

NHTSA ODI 11020996

POWER STEERING FAILURE. FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, UNABLE TO REPLICATE AT DEALERSHIP. HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT AND STEERING FAILED CAUSING MINOR COLLISION WITH PARKED VEHICLE IN NEXT SPACE. DEALERSHIP STILL UNABLE TO REPLICATE.

NHTSA ODI 10825995

EXITING FROM PARKING LOT AND SPEED OF ABOUT 15 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, NO POT HOLES, AT ABOUT 100 FT FROM THE PARKING EXIT, IT HIT AN ELECTRIC POST. LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION, FENDER, WHEELS,PILLARS, ROCKER & FLOOR, RADIATOR SUPPORT, FRONT LAMPS, HOOD,STEERING ROCK, CRADLE, TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE, FRONT DOOR AND MANY MORE DAMAGE. ALL ARE IN LEFT SIDE. I CHECKED THE VIN BUT IT IS NOT ON RECALL FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEM HOWEVER I SUSPECT POWER STEERING WAS THE CAUSED OF ACCIDENT. IT IS A MAJOR DAMAGED AND THE INSURANCE IS NOT YET DECIDED IF REPAIR OR TOTAL WRECK. I ASKED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER OF THE VEHICLE BUT UP TO NOW THEY HAVE NOT YET CHECK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10702359

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 10629337