What 2,224 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON SAYING DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NOT LATCHED AND MY DOOR STARTED TO OPEN. I PULLED OVER AND COULDN'T GET THE DOOR TO LATCH SHUT. AFTER WORKING WITH IT IT LATCHED SO I COULD GET HOME. THE NEXT TIME I GOT INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE THE SAME THING, MY DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THIS TIME I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE AND COULD NOT. THE LATCH IT STILL BROKEN, A PIECE OF THE HANDLE ACTUALLY FELL OFF. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF , KEPT IN A GARAGE , LOW MILES ETC. OUR FRIEND MENTIONED THEIR FORD HAVING A RECALL ON THE DOOR LATCH. DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T IMPLEMENTED ON ALL 2013 EXPLORERS.

NHTSA ODI 11172286

THE INSIDE SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL FILLS WITH WATER. THIS APPARENTLY IS AN ENGINEERING ISSUE SINCE I SAW THINGS ONLINE ABOUT IT. MOLD IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS PROBLEM GROWING ON THE WHEEL COVER. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11170794

WHEN DRIVING DOWN I-75 HEADED TO WORK, DOING 65 MPH BOTH MY WINDSHIELD TRIMS FLEW OFF MY CAR AN STARTED MAKING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME! HOW HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED?

NHTSA ODI 11162886

SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED OR IN MOTION. WATER INTRUDES THU THE FRONT DOME LIGHT, THE SIDE, THE REAR SEAT BELT, AND OTHER AREAS. WATER WAS STANDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FEET AREA AND IT FILLED THE REAR SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. HAD PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE FORD DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO CLEARED THE TWO REAR DRAINS ON THE SUN ROOF, BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTICS IN A WATER CLOSET THEY HAVE IN THEIR SHOP. DIAGNOSTIC REPORT NOTES "WATER IS FOUND COMING IN FROM THE TAIL GATE BODY SEAMS" DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE SEAM SEALER IS APPLIED AT THE FACTORY DURING MANUFACTURING PRIOR TO THE PAINTING. APPARENTLY THIS FACTORY SEALER HAS FAILED. UNCLEAR IF SEALER COMPOUND WAS DEFECTIVE, OR WAS IMPROPERLY APPLIED. BOTTOM LINE IS THE FACTORY SEAL HAS FAILED, THE SEAMS ARE NOW COMPROMISED RESULTING IN THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT FORD SOLD ME IS SUPPOSED TO COVER SEALS AND GASKETS, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS FINE PRINT DEEP IN THE BOWELS OF THE CONTRACT THAT EXCLUDES BODY ISSUES EVEN IF THE ROOT CAUSE IS POOR MATERIALS, POOR QUALITY, OR WORKMANSHIP BY THE MANUFACTURER. DEALER INDICATED THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED PREVIOUSLY ON THIS MODEL. SIMPLE WEB SEARCHES SHOW A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS AND ADJACENT MODEL YEARS BUT YET RECALL YET FOR THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED FORD'S SUPPORT LINE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NO RESOLUTION AS OF THIS WRITING. DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE A BODY SHOP.I WENT TO THE BODY SHOP OWNED BY THE DEALER AND RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF $738. THEY EMPHASIZED "PRELIMINARY" AS THEY'RE UNSURE HOW EXTENSIVE THE SEAM SEAL FAILURE MAY BE. THIS ISSUE NOT ONLY IMPACTS THE SAFETY (WATER AND ICE IN INTERIOR) BUT ALSO CREATES A HEALTH HAZARD FROM MOLD, MILDEW, SICKENING SMELL.

NHTSA ODI 11162574

THE FRONT HOOD PAINT HAS BUBBLED AND PEELED OFF THE FRONT EDGE. APPEARS TO HAVE BUBBLED IN MORE PLACES, NOW AWAITING EVEN MORE PEELING. OBVIOUSLY A PAINT DEFECT. ALTHOUGH I WILL ENTER A DATE - IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT DEFECT. (SPEAKING WITH OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS - A COMMON COMPLAINT.) #2 ALSO, FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE CAR DRIVER DOOR SENSOR (?) LIGHT (HENCE THE CEILING LIGHTS) STAY ON (ALTHOUGH THE CEILING EVENTUALLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING). THIS INDICATION THAT THE DOOR IS AJAR / NOT CLOSED IS FREQUENT AND OFTEN AND HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA SEVERAL TIMES - WITH NO REPAIR / FIX. IT IS NOT CONSTANT BUT FREQUENT.

NHTSA ODI 11156411

WE RECENTLY BEGAN SMELLING A PUNGENT 'SULFUR' OR 'ROTTEN EGG' LIKE SMELL THAT COMES AND GOES IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF OUR EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TYPICALLY THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHILE OR JUST AFTER DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS/ACCELERATING. WE BELIEVE THIS IS IN LINE WITH OTHER INSTANCES PEOPLE HAVE HAD IN EXPLORERS OF POSSIBLE EXHAUST LEAKS INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN SPACE OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE 83,000 MILES ON OUR 2013 AWD 3.5L EXPLORER LIMITED. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER UNDER CUSTOMER SERVICE SATISFACTION PROGRAM SERVICE # 17N03, BUT THEY STATED OUR SPECIFIC VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS SERVICE & THUS WOULD NOT COVER THAT SERVICE FIX FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11144783

WINDSHIELD TRIM RANDOMLY FLEW OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ST 70 MPH AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BEHIND ME.

NHTSA ODI 11142772

THE WELD SEAM SEALANT USED ABOVE THE TAILGATE HAS FAILED AND BEGUN CRACKING, ALLOWING RAINTO ENTER THROUGH THE POORLY DONE WELDING, AND DRIPS INTO MY CARGO AREA THROUGH THE REAR SPEAKERS, DOWN THE SEATBELT, AND ONTO MY SEATS. LUCKILY I HAVE A CARGO LINER WHICH HELPS AVOID MY SEATS FROM GETTING SOAKED. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER PARKED OR MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 11141317

METAL BODY CRACKING ON UPPER AREA PANEL WHERE LIFTGATE HINGES ARE. CREATING WATER DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR PART OF THE THIRD ROW. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND THE CRACKS ARE GETTING BIGGER.

NHTSA ODI 11140735

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (REUTHER FORD, 1325 MCNUTT ST, HERCULANEUM, MO 63048, (636) 931-9393) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRACKETS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ODI 11132891

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

SMELL OF EXHAUST INSIDE CABIN UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE FORD COMPLEMENTARY REPAIR DONE IN JULY. DEFECT STILL OCCURRING.

NHTSA ODI 11128364

NOTICED LEAK INTO SPARE TIRE WELL YEARS AGO AND JONES FORD IN N. CHARLESTON COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. 8/13/2018 TOOK OUR VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND FOUND THE WATER POURS DOWN THE THIRD ROW SEATBELTS ANYTIME IT RAINS. THERE IS NOW MOLD IN THE CARPETED AREA BELOW THE 3RD ROW SEATS. THE LEAK HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY, DRIVING, ANYTIME IT IS RAINING.

NHTSA ODI 11120206

'DOOR AJAR' STAYS ON CAUSING THE DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF CHILDREN ARE IN CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11115843

I HAVE A DOOR AJAR LIGHT THAT WILL NOT TURN OFF FIRST IT WAS JUST THE DRIVER SIDE NOW IT IS AFFECTING BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN IN MOTION AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11114253

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE FORD DEALER IN 2013. FIRST ISSUE, FRONT EDGE OF HOOD THE PAINT HAS BEEN BUBBLING AND COMING OFF. RUST IS UNDERNEATH. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SECOND ISSUE AND MOST IMPORTANT, WE HAVE BEEN LOSING THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS CAUSED ERRATIC STEERING AS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO TURN ON AND OFF. THE STEERING WILL BIND AND WHEN YOU TRY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND OVER COMPENSATE AND THE ELECTRIC STEERING RE-ENGAGES, I'M ALL OVER THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE OTHER THAN FIX IT FOR $1900-$2300.

NHTSA ODI 11111301

THE FRONT A-PILLAR MOLDINGS SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS IN TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11110598

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WAS LOOSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE DRIVER'S DOOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED SUNNYSIDE MOTOR CO., INC. (944 MAIN ST, HOLDEN, MA 01520, (508) 829-4333) AND A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11110263

NOTICED WATER LEAK COMING OUT OF SEAT BELT HARNESS AREA IN THIRD ROW. WATER LEAK IS CAUSING ENTIRE AREA TO BECOME WET IN THIRD ROW. MILDEW SMELL IS NOW PRESENT. AFRAID THERE MAY BE MOLD GROWTH CAUSING HEALTH ISSUES. I PUT TOWELS AROUND THE SEATBELT TO CATCH WATER AND THEY ARE SOAKED WHEN I CHANGE THEM OUT. RAIN WATER COMES LEAKED ON WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED OR WHILE IN MOTION. I AM NOT AWARE OF WHERE THE LEAK IS STARTING OR HOW TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11101040

I PURCHASED A USED EXPLORER IN LATE JUNE OF LAST YEAR WITH APPROX 25000 MILES ON IT. THE A-PILLAR MOLDING FLEW OFF IN TRAFFIC LAST WEEK AND I JUST FOUND OUT, THESE PARTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT FORD NEEDS TO REPLACE AND REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ODI 11093223

PAINT PEELING ON HOOD. THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD HAS PEELING PAINT. IT BEGAN JUST AFTER THE 36 MO WARRANTY EXPIRED AND FORD HAS NOT MADE ANY EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I RECENTLY SAW ANOTHER EXPLORER, SAME YEAR, MODEL WITH EVEN WORSE PEELING PAINT ON THE HOOD. I HAVE INCLUDED THE PICTURE OF THAT CAR AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11091286

THERE ARE FAULTY WELDS IN THE ROOF SEAMS UNDER THE REAR LIFT GATE. THIS ALLOWS WATER TO ESCAPE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, ALONG THE HEADLINER, AND DOWN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS. WATER ACCUMULATES IN REAR CUP HOLDERS AND FLOOR BOARDS. ISSUE WAS REPAIRED ONCE BEFORE, FAILED AGAIN NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER.

NHTSA ODI 11090029

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IN THE SECOND ROW REFUSED TO LATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY. THE SUN/MOON ROOF HAS LEAKED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CAUSING ME TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT WE SHOULD BLOW AIR INTO THE TUBES TO KEEP THEM CLEAR EVEN THOUGH WE ALWAYS PARK IN THE GARAGE AND AT WORK THERE ARE NO TREES AROUND THE PARKING LOT TO HAVE ANYTHING BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRAIN TUBES. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH SUN ROOFS AND NEVER HAD THEM LEAK OR NEED TO BE BLOWN OUT EVEN WHEN THEY WERE STORED 100%V OUTSIDE. AGAIN NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH WE HAD LESS THAN 40K MILES AND A FORD CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY. THIS IS A BAD DESIGN AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE SUN ROOF WAS STUCK OPEN ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TRIM PILLAR FLEW OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. IT IS NOW COMING LOOSE AGAIN AND I DO NOT EXPECT IT TO LAST MUCH LONGER WITH HOW LOOSE IT IS. IT IS A DANGER TO ANYONE DRIVING BEHIND ME AS IT COULD FLY OFF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A BAD DESIGN AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. THESE EVENTS HAPPENED OVER MULTIPLE DATES BUT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF A WAY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS AS WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11083472

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING ABILITY RETURNED TO NORMAL THE NEXT DAY. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AGAIN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT BECAME LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT CHAPMAN AUTO STORE (6744 E BLACK HORSE PIKE, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ 08234, (609) 646-2000), BUT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI 11080868

VEHICLE IN MOTION WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD SLOW DOWN TO A CRAWL AND LOSE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. YELLOW WRENCH WARNING LIGHT WOULD THEN LIGHT UP. HAPPENED TWICE AND ALMOST HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALSO WOULD EXPERIENCE BURNING SMELL WHEN ACCELERATING UP A HILL. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO DEALER BUT THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE.

NHTSA ODI 11074216