Home · 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept · Complaints

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

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 (2,224)Crash / fire / injury (78)Steering (832)Body & structure (436)Engine (224)Electrical system (160)Fuel system (153)Transmission & drivetrain (119)Suspension (79)Engine & cooling (67)Visibility & wipers (62)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (45)

832 of 2,224 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 19 of 34

Dec 28, 2019Steering

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR THE POWER ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SAFE SPOT USING MUCH STRENGTH TO DO SO. 2013 FORD EXPLORER 74,700 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11291747

Dec 24, 2019Steering

MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE NOT SURE IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A RECALL WITH THE POWER STEERING OR NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11291135

Dec 18, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SEIZED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. DURING THE FAILURE, THE MESSAGE 'POWER STEERING ERROR' WAS DISPLAYED. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. CANTON ALL STAR FORD (17849 1-20, CANTON, TX) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11289800

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 14, 2019Steering

STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING MAKING A RIGHT TURN. POWER ASSIST LIGHT CAME UP WHEN POWER STEERING GAVE OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11289025

Dec 14, 2019Steering

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN CITY AND HIGHWAY TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT FORWARD AND NOW HAS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY

NHTSA ODI 11289051

Dec 12, 2019Steering

JUST TODAY I VIEWED ONLINE TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS DUE TO MY PASSENGER SIDE HEAT NOT WORKING....BY VIEWING ONLINE I WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED ON MY VEHICLE THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT, AND WAS WANTING TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE ISSUE IS IT STATES THE LAST DATE TO FIX WAS IN AUGUST.

NHTSA ODI 11288665

Dec 12, 2019SteeringTransmission & drivetrainAirbags

RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD " POWER ASSIST FAULT", THE STEERING WAS STIFF AND COULD NOT TURN. TURN OFF THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE STEERING WAS FUNCTIONING OK. LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, I WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE GAS PUMP AS MY STEERING WENT STIFF AGAIN. NOW AM SCARED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI 11288788

Dec 11, 2019Steering

STEERING RECALL 14S06 ,MY CAR, WAS MANUFACTURED 14 MARCH 2012,,, THERE IS A RECALL THAT INCLUDED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE INCLUDING THE ADVANCETRAC AND SERVICE POWER STEERING SOON PROBLEM ON EXPLORERS MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME PLANT UNTIL 28 FEBRUARY 2012,,,,, I GET THERE HAS TO BE A LINE BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ACCOMODATE A FAITFUL CUSTOMER. LOOKING THROUGH THE REST OF NHSTA THERE ARE EXTENSIONS OF THE ELECTRIC ASSIST REPROGRAMMING TO CORRECT THE ADVANCETRAC COMPUTER PROBLEM TIL 2023 HOWEVER ONLY IF THE EXPLORER WAS UNDER THE 28 FEBRUARY 2012 ORIGINAL RECALL. AGAIN MY CAR CAME OFF THE LINE, 14 MARCH 2012. I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 NUMBER EXCEPT WERE SORRY YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS AS THE CARS MANUFACTURED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO YOURS IN THE SAME PLANT, BUT WE HAVE TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE AND THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY RELATED TO SOMETHING ELSE. THE DEALER HAS SOME RESOURCES TO WORK WITH YOU BUT YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO THEM. MEAN TIME I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE LOCAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ED, THIS CASE WAS OPENED LAST WEEK AND THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY HOPING TO HEAR POSITIVE NEWS ABOUT THE COMPUTER ISSUE AFTER SPENDING TMY OWN $1200 TO REPLACE A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE CLEARLY BEEN COVERED IN THIS RECALL 14S06 I CANNOT DRIVE IT SINCE I GOT IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITH THOSE TWO MESSAGES (BOTH ADVANCETRAC AND SERVICE POWER STEERING SOON) IN THE DIC,,, I GOT HOME AND SHUT OFF RESTARTED, NO STEERING , I REPARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH "ZERO ASSIST" I ASSUME IT WILL NEED TO BE TOWED TO THE NEXT LOCATION.

NHTSA ODI 11288415

Dec 9, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO TOMBALL FORD (22702 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77375, (281) 378-3160), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,100. *LN

NHTSA ODI 11288002

Dec 9, 2019Steering

I LOSS POWER ON STEERING WHEEL WHILE I WAS DRIVEN. STEERING WHEEL SHUT DOWN I WAS LUCKY THAT POWER CAME BACK I REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I'M SCARE DRIVEN THE SUV

NHTSA ODI 11288016

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

Dec 4, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AND ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND THE RACK AND PINION UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JACK MADDEN FORD (LOCATED AT 825 BOSTON-PROVIDENCE TURNPIKE, NORWOOD, MA 02062, (781) 207-9009) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND RACK AND PINION UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11286920

Nov 30, 2019Steering

SUSPENSION TOE LINK

NHTSA ODI 11283012

Nov 29, 2019Steering

OCCASIONALLY THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I COULD KILL THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT AND IT WOULD RETURN TO WORKING. HOWEVER NOW THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11282833

Nov 26, 2019Steering

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TWICE IN 2 DAYS WHEN STARTED AND DISPLAYED A WARNING "POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT". THE CAR HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO FIX ON OUR VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11282417

Nov 22, 2019Steering

WITH THE CAR PARKED OVERNIGHT, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE TO EXIT MY DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" ALERT ON DASHBOARD. DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 250 METERS WITH NO POWER STEERING, STOPPED, POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE, STARTED IT BACK UP, STILL HAD LIMITED POWER STEERING, AND ADDITIONAL ALERTS INCLUDING "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" WITH ESC OFF LIGHTS. DROVE FOR A ABOUT 100 METERS AND POWER STEERING ASSIST RESUMED. THIS HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY WITH ANOTHER DRIVER, SO IT ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11281770

Nov 22, 2019Steering

FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I HAD TURNED MY CAR ON AND THE FAULT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY. PREVIOUSLY WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR I WOULD RESTART MY CAR AND THE ERROR WOULD RESOLVE. THIS TIME THIS DID NOT CLEAR THE ERROR.

NHTSA ODI 11281682

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

Nov 13, 2019Steering

STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING HAVE TO SLOWLY PUT ON BRAKES TO STOP SHUT MOTOR OFF AND RESTART VEHICLE. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GET IN AND START VEHICLE,STEERING WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED BUT WILL MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WITH STEERING LOCKED HAVE TO TURN KEY OFF AND RESTART VEHICLE TO UNLOCK STEERING. SOMETIMES STEERING UNLOCKED UP IN COLD WEATHER AND HAVE TO TURN ON ENGINE AND FLOOR HEAT FOR 45 MINUTES TO UNLOCK STEERING. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF STEERING LOCKING UP WITHOUT ERROR MESSAGE ON DASH NOW ERROR MESSAGES HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT AND SERVICE ADVANCED TRACTION ARE FLASHING ON DASH. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS BETWEEN 10/29/2019 AND 11/12/2019

NHTSA ODI 11279860

Nov 12, 2019Steering

UPON STARTING VEHICLE, STEERING WHEEL TIGHTEN UP AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER, COULD NOT BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE AT WORK- POWER ASSIST ERROR LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST TIME (1 MONTH AGO) I WAS PARKED ON A HILL SO THOUGHT MAY HAVE BEEN A FLUKE. TODAY I LOOKED THE ERROR UP AND SAW FORD HAS RECALL FOR 2011-2013 BUT MY 2013 VIN IS NOT PART OF BATCH. BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO EXTEND THE 'WINDOW' AND ADD MORE VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ISSUE! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ODI 11279494

Nov 11, 2019Steering

THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE DASH SAID THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAULT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNING IT ON AND OFF SEEMED TO RESET IT, AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON. BY RESEARCH, THIS IS COMMON IN 2013 EXPLORERS, AND WAS A RECALL, BUT NOT ON MY VIN. IT IS GOING IN FOR REPAIR WITHIN THE WEEK. IT APPEARS THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE MODELS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!

NHTSA ODI 11279347

Nov 7, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, WHICH FAILED TO RESET THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRIENDLY FORD (2250 SOUTH RD, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601, (845) 462-1900) WHERE A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SELECTED FOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11278641

Nov 6, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HUBLER FORD (2605 IN-44, SHELBYVILLE, IN 46176, (317) 392-2557) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000(STEERING) WITH THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11278426

Nov 4, 2019Steering

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD BY OUR HOUSE WITH OUR 3 CHILDREN IN THE BACK AND MYSELF AS A PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT ROUGHLY 40MPH HAD A LIGHT FLASH THAT READ SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC. SHE THEN LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND COULD NOT PULL OFF THE ROAD. SHE COULD ONLY BRAKE. WE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. IT REGAINED STEERING FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER IN A PARKING LOT. IT IS NOW AT THE FORD GARAGE TO GET LOOKED AT. IT IS SUPER DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF SHE WAS TRAVELING AROUND A TURN. IT HAS 50000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11278163

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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 Police Intercept verdict →