Home · 2013 Ford Explorer Hev · Complaints

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)

45 of 2,222 complaints match · Electronic Stability Control (esc) · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Oct 1, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

DRIVING THE CAR AND WARNINGS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWING POWER STEERING AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILED. I COULD BARELY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THANK GOD I WAS ON A SIDE STREET NEAR HOME. IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OR EXPRESSWAY I WOULD LIKELY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK.

NHTSA ODI 11362250

Aug 28, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY POWER STEERING ASSIST WENT OUT MULTIPLE DAYS AS I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE. I TURNED IT OFF AND IT TURNED BACK ON. ON THE FOURTH DAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME IT TURNED OFF ON ME AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON BUT THE POWER STEERING REMAINED OFF AND MY OTHER SENSORS TURNED OFF AS WELL-STABILITY CONTROL ETC.. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY AND NEW BATTERY. IT COST ME $2770 TO FIX. THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN FOR MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FOR THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11351773

May 7, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

LOST OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, COMING FROM AN OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALERSHIP. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, AND WAS ABLE TO MANAGE NOT TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS COULD'VE BEEN FATAL, AND FORD NEED TO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323669

Feb 29, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE POWER STEERING RACK AND EPS SHUTS DOWN AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND HAD THE EPS RESET TWICE AND IT STILL POPS UP THE SENSOR FOR THE EPS AND SHUTS MY POWER STEERING DOWN. I'VE ALMOST CRASHED MY VEHICLE TWICE AND HAD IT TOWED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11315336

Feb 16, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO THE STEERING WAS GETTING TOUGH WITH LITTLE NOISE LIKE CLUNKING, TOOK THE EXPLORER TO A FORD DEALER WAS TOLD MY FRONT STRUTS NEEDED CHANGED. HAD THAT DONE, DID NOT FIX MY STEERING PROBLEM. SAID MY VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL FORD HAD ON THE STEERING RACK. NOW JUST YESTERDAY I START MY CAR AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS STUCK NO MOVEMENT. TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND GOT MOVEMENT BUT NO POWER STEERING IT'S A MANUAL. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON 1. "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" 2. "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC". ALSO NOTICED MY TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED MUST HOLD IN PLACE TO SIGNAL.

NHTSA ODI 11309539

Feb 6, 2020SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

STEERING BECOME HARD CANT MOVE THE WHEEL OR MAKE ANY TURN... AND THE LIGHT OF SERVICE POWER STEERING AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC CAME ON. I ALMOST HAVE A ACCIDENT DO TO THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11307585

Dec 16, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Visibility & wipers

THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP & THE TURN SIGNAL & WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK. AT FIRST , I COULD TURN THE VEHICLE OFF & IT WOULD RESET BUT IT STARTED HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AT A LOW SPEED OR WHEN I WOULD PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT IN AUGUST 2019. MY PARTICULAR 2013 FORD EXPLORED DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS & IT COST $2,300 TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11289283

Dec 4, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

UPON STARTING VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTANT POWER STEERING FAILURE ALSO SHOWING STABILITY CONTROL ERROR. VEHICLE IS 2013 EXPLORER WITH 95K MILES. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING SEEMS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE FOR NOW. RESEARCED AND SAW RECALL 14V286000 FOR SAME REPORTED ISSUES, BUT SEEMS THAT MY VIN DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE DESIGNATED VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11286872

Nov 18, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AND IS REPORTING ERROR POWER ASSIST SYSTEM FAILURE. THE STABILITY CONTROL OS ALSO REPORTING AN ERROR. THE BEHAVIOR IS THE SAME AS IS DESCRIBED IN RECALL# 14V286000, BUT THE VIN CHECK DOESN'T INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE RECALL. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS BY OTHERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE AND ARE ALSO FINDING THEIR VINS ARE ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. INTERMITTENTLY I USED TO GET THE POWER ASSIST SYSTEM FAILURE MESSAGE WHEN I WOULD FIRST START THE CAR, BUT AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE. HOWEVER, A FEW DAYS AGO THE SYSTEM FAILED PERMANENTLY. FORTUNATELY IT OCCURRED WHILE TUE CAR WAS STATIONARY, IN MY DRIVEWAY. I'M TAKING CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIR TOMORROW, HOWEVER, I'M EXPECTED THE REPAIR TO COST AROUND $2000. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH A CRITICAL PART CAN HAVE SUCH CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHEN THE CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 116,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OWNED CARS WITH OVER 200,000 MILES THAT DID REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11280949

Oct 27, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

PAINT BUBBLING ON ALUMINUM SURFACES HOOD AND DOOR SKINS, REFERRED BACK TO DEALER WHO REPAINTS AND REOCCURS UNTIL OUT OF WARRANTEE. STEERING FAILURE INTERMITTENT ACCUTRAC CONTROL REQUIRING TOWING AND COMPUTER RESET. CAN FAIL WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN NO OR DIFFICULT STEERING. MULTIPLE TIMES RESET NO CHARGE. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR $2500

NHTSA ODI 11271351

Oct 21, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING (SECOND INCIDENT, IT WAS REPAIRED BY FORD MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE SAME THING LAST YEAR) MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE KEPT PULLING ME TO THE LEFT, I ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON WITH THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. I WAS SO SHOOK UP, I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR HELP. MY HUSBAND TESTED IT SINCE AND THE PULL IS QUITE NOTICEABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11269855

Aug 28, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

THROTTLEBODY P2111 CODE. LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. NOT COVERED BY FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN 13N03. WHY NOT?

NHTSA ODI 11251954

Aug 5, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, USUALLY OVER AN HOUR, THE WARNING FOR POWER STEERING AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC COMES ON. THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED AND ONCE ITS STARTED BACK UP AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11241701

Jul 4, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

"TAKATA RECALL" ODOR PROBLEM WHEN ACCELERATING. MY CHILD WAS DIAGNOSE BEING ON THE SPECTRUM. MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE WHO KNOWS. THERE IS ALSO A LEAK ON BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS MY KIDS ALWAYS GET DRETCHED WITH WATER RUNNING DOWN THEIR CAR SEAT AND CLOTHES. CATCHING COLDS AND PNEUMONIA. SO FRUSTRATING

NHTSA ODI 11229490

Jun 20, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE JERKED TWICE THEN STARTED DECELERATING RAPIDLY. AT THAT TIME PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT AND I HAD TO PULL OVER ON TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID GETTING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES BUT IT DID NOT STOP SHAKING AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. I TURNED MY CAR OFF HALFWAY ON THE HIGHWAY AND HALF ON THE SHOULDER WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE WRENCH LIGHT WENT OFF AND MY CAR OPERATED NORMALLY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT TAKE MY CAR THAT DAY. I WAS LEAVING FOR VACATION THE NEXT DAY AND PLANNED ON GOING IN MY ELXPLORER BUT DID NOT FEEL SAFE SO I DROPPED IT OFF AT A LOCAL MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR IN WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ON, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON. THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES WITHIN A WEEK. I'M AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT.

NHTSA ODI 11221593

Jun 6, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE POWER STEELING AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON WITH A WARNING. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A CITY STREET AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TURNING.

NHTSA ODI 11218338

May 15, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

POWER STEERING LOSS FOR THE 2ND TIME, EVEN AFTER DEALERSHIP INSPECTION. CLAIMED TO NOT BE A APART OF 2013 RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ODI 11207853

May 13, 2019SteeringBody & structureElectronic Stability Control (esc)

STEERING IS HARD TO STEER. FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME JUST WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING SLOW. ALSO PAINT ON THE HOOD PEELING OFF. TOOK TO A GARAGE FOR THE STEERING AND THEY SAY IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE BUT NO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11207354

May 7, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT.. WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE FAULT COMES ON STEERING GETS HARD HARD TO CONTROL CAUSING MY WIFE TO ALMOST GET TO AN ACCIDENT. IT ONLY COMES ON ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE TO RESET ITS YOU HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MORNING WHEN SHE'S TAKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL IT'S RARE BUT IT'S HAPPENED FOUR TIMES ALREADY

NHTSA ODI 11205960

Apr 19, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

DRIVING ON STRAIGHTAWAY DOING ABOUT 45MPH AND COMING TO A STOP. SERVICE LIGHTS & BELLS POPPED ON AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11202573

Apr 17, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS AND SOME RECALLED BUT NOT ALL. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. CITY STREET. I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING ON A FREEWAY IN PHOENIX WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11196865

Apr 16, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

POWER STEERING ASSIST CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING AND LOST STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ODI 11196831

Apr 13, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ADVANCETRAC LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASH STARTED FLASHING SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW AND SERVICE ADVANCETRAC NOW

NHTSA ODI 11196060

Mar 20, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

POWER STEERING DOWN. WARNING MASSAGE SAID 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' 'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC' 'TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT'. IT IS TOO HARD TO STEER. CONTROL MODULE INTERNAL FAILURE, CODES U3000-49, U3000-96, U3000-71.

NHTSA ODI 11190264

Feb 10, 2019SteeringSuspensionElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ISSUE ALREADY REPORTED.SEE NHTSA LD.NUMBER 11174395.VEHICLE IS AWD. CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT AXIL AREA ONLY. CURRENT MILAGE86644.

NHTSA ODI 11176017

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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 →