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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver and the front passenger’s side of the vehicle crashed into the shoulder lane wall. No warning lights were illuminated. The air bags had not deployed. No injuries were sustained; however, medical attention was sought. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the axle on the front passenger’s side wheel was cracked and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the engine mounts also needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

NHTSA ODI 11675366

I MOTHER OF 3 (15, 13 & 11) & WIFE GOT INTO A MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 17TH, 2020 AT ABOUT 8:10AM DRIVING SOUTH ON THE WHITESTONE EXPRESSWAY SOUTH A HIGHLY TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY WITH 4 DRIVING LANES. POLICE REPORT NO. 2020-109-2709. I EXPLAINED TO ALL INSTANCES INCLUDING POLICE, PARAMEDICS, TOW COMPANY, CAR INSURANCE, FORD AUTO DEALER, REPAIRING SHOP, ETC. THAT MY CAR SIMPLY FAILED ME. I SUDDENLY LOST 100% CONTROL OF THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR AND I WAS FORCED INTO INVADING ALL THE LANES TO MY LEFT AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FAR-RIGHT SIDE. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER FOR OVER 30 YEARS I WAS TOTALLY AWARE AND FOCUSED ON REGAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE, THE CAR SPUN OUT AND I GOT EVENTUALLY HIT ON THE BACK REALLY STRONG. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED SEVERAL RECALLS RELATED TO THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE REAR TOE LINKS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS REPAIR WAS PERFORMED TO MY CAR AN EXPLORER BY THE STAMFORD FORD LINCOLN SFL ON AUGUST 11TH, 2020 BUT THE MOST RECENT RECALL I FOUND OUT JUST YESTERDAY NOV 23RD THAT WAS ISSUED ON OCTOBER 30TH, 2020 (NO COMMUNICATION WAS SENT TO ME BY EITHER THE AGENCY OR THE FORD MOTOR CORPORATION). IT IS MY CIVIL DUTY TO COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE COMMUNITY TO AVOID THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS, ANYONE THAT OWNS A FORD EXPLORER 2013-2017 COULD DIE AT ANY TIME FOR THIS ONGOING UNRESOLVED ISSUE BY FORD. EVERY FAMILY DESERVES TO DRIVE A SAFE CAR. PRESENTLY, I AM RUNNING THE RISK THAT MY CAR GETS TOTALED BY THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE STAMFORD BODY REPAIR SHOP THAT WORKS ALONG WITH THE SFL IN WHICH CASE I SIMPLY MIGHT NEVER GET THE EXPLANATIONS THAT I DESERVE FOR THE MECHANICAL FAILURE AND I WILL BE ALSO LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THE NEED TO GET A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE FOR MY FAMILY. REQUESTING KINDLY YOUR HELP TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER. DMV CT MENTIONED I SHOULD SEEK YOUR HELP ON THE MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 11376441

MEMORANDUM FOR FORD CORPORATION, CLAIM DIVISION FROM: [XXX], OWNER OF 2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT, VIN#[XXX]. RE: PUNITIVE DAMAGES DUE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. RECALL# 19S17 MA'AM, SIR, I OWN A 2013 FORD EXPLORER, VIN#[XXX]. IN DECEMBER 2015, I MOVED TO GERMANY IN UNDER US ARMY ORDERS AND EXPORTED MY SUV TO OUR MILITARY INSTALLATION IN VILSECK, GERMANY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR, EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS AND TWICE LOST CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN TWO ACCIDENTS IN MARCH, 2016 AND NOVEMBER, 2017. OVER MY DEPLOYMENT TO GERMANY, I SOUGHT HELP FROM LOCAL FORD SITES IN BAVARIA, SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS TO FIX THE ISSUE THINKING THE BRAKES ARE THE ISSUES AND IN TIMES CHANGING TIRES, BUT IN VAIN. WHEN, I ATTEMPTED TO IMPORT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE HOMELAND UPON MY RECENT PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) BACK TO HURLBURT FIELD, FL, I FOUND OUT THAT THE SUV WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR A DEFECT IN THE REAR TOE LINK, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF CRASH (FORD RECALL# 19S17 AND NTHSA RECALL# 19V435). I OBTAINED A WAIVER TO IMPORT THE CAR AND CALLED WORLD FORD PENSACOLA AS SOON AS MY CAR LANDED IN THE US ON JANUARY 27, 2020 TO SCHEDULE A FIX. THEY FIXED THE ISSUE ON JANUARY 29, 2020. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT FORD HAS MY UPDATED ARMY POST OFFICE (APO) ADDRESS BUT HAD NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THIS IMPORTANT RECALL (I HAVE MAIL FROM FORD TO MY APO ADDRESS BUT NOT FOR THE RECALL). FOR THE FOREGOING REASONS, I DECIDED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH FORD CORPORATION FOR ALL OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO THE MISHAP, INCLUDING MY ACCIDENT IN 2016 AND 2017. I CONTACTED YOUR HQ ,BUT IN VAIN. HE IGNORED MY PHONE CALLS AND MY EMAILS. THEREFORE, I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU IN WRITING. I AM ASKING, AT THIS POINT, ONLY FOR REPAIR EXPENSES AND NOT ASKING FOR MEDICAL BILLS STEMMING FROM THE ACCIDENTS ($ 1732.90 AND 5000.04 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331703

VEHICLE HAD TOE LINK REPLACED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECALL 19V-435 ON 8-19-19. ON 9-10-19, THE REPLACEMENT TOE LINK FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH. THE DEALERSHIP REPORTS THE TOE LINK FAILED AT THE WELD.

NHTSA ODI 11267244

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